Brute Force

The characters may be caged, but Jules Dassin’s (Rififi) ambition isn’t in his politically exciting, noir-flecked prison thriller. The title reflects the battle of wills between getting away from-minded con Burt Lancaster and sadistic guard Hume Cronyn – as well as Dassin’s unrelenting management.

This is as tough as post-war movies get, with its hothouse atmosphere, Lancaster’s brusque presence and some surprisingly nasty violence. Similarly successful as a subversive critique of the prison system, it’s little bolt from the blue that Dassin was shortly hounded from Hollywood. Bonus doc focuses on Lancaster’s early career.