THE JERICHO MILE
US, 1979, 100 minutes, Colour.
Peter Strauss, Roger E.Mosley, Brian Dennehy, Billy Green Bush, Ed Lauter, Beverly Todd.
Directed by Michael Mann.
The Jericho Mile is an interesting and substantial telemovie, released theatrically in many countries. It is a star vehicle for Peter Strauss, capitalising on his success in the television mini-series Rich Man, Poor Man. However, there is a strong supporting cast including Geoffrey Lewis, Roger Mosely, Ed Lauter. The film combines the prison genre with the sport genre. It preceded Robert Redford's Brubaker with which it has similarities. Again, while hopeful, it does not offer easy solutions. The sport story is effective also - ironic in view of America's non-participation in the Moscow Olympics in 1980. (A similar theme was used with science fiction overtones in Golden Girl.) The film is quite well done in terms of conventional prison material, explores something of the personality of the central prisoner, shows hope and achievement in sport. A satisfying telemovie.
1. Audience response to prison films, sport films? The blending of the two genres? How successfully? An authentic atmosphere about the film? Realistic? Fantasy? Documentary style, a comment on prison and sport? Encouragement?
2. The qualities of the film as a telemovie: colour photography, the use of Folsom Prison, real prisoners for the supporting cast? The rock score and its use? The sport sequences? Special effects and editing?
3. The significance of the title and its explanation by the coach? Murphy's running the mile for success, his own walls coming down? The emphasis on running, hopes? The hopes partially dashed at the end?
4. The effectiveness of the opening collage of the prisoners at sport and recreation, the editing with the beat of the music? This sequence reprised at the end and so forming a framework for what went on? An effective communication of atmosphere, themes to the audience?
5. The use of the conventions of the prison film - how well done in detail: the yard and recreation periods, the walls and guard towers, the cells, Heals, recreation e.g. television, the various aspects of work? The types in the jail -the various gangs and limits and exercises of power? The bosses? The guards? Visiting conditions? The Mafia within the jail, deals, brutality, murder? The administrative authorities and their concern about the running of the prison, concern about prisoners? How authentic did the film seem?
6. The portrait of prisons as such, the treatment of prisoners? Society's attitude towards criminals? Crime. punishment, administration, rehabilitation? The control in prisons? The possibilities of reform? The pressures on administration, on the prisoners themselves? Survival within the prison and on the yard? Public response to prisons? The possibility of trusting authorities to do their best with prisoners such as Murphy? The board meeting and the interrogation of Murphy about committing the crime again? Symbolising public reaction?
7. The central focus on Larry Murphy: seeing him first running alone, his individuality, his attempts to be solitary, non-communicating? His acknowledgment of his crime, accepting that he should be in prison? The masks for facing the past and the future? His friendship with Styles? The visit to the prison psychologist? His responding to the favour about showing the coach and runners around? The race and his winning, his refusing to go in the training? Styles, visit, his reaction against the drug-pushing, Murphy's warning Styles for his safety, being locked in his cell? His grief over Styles' death? The deal with the psychologist and the smashing of the room, the burning of the drugs? His decision to train? The visual presentation of the training and its intensity? The bonds with the coach? Discussions of technique? Seeming to float while running - and the image of the bird floating? The bashing by the black prisoners? The discovery of the truth, their support in building the track, giving him the food in the dining room? The running of the heat and his success? The visualising of the race? The interrogation by the board and their hostility? His being eliminated from the trials? The exhilaration of his final run, sense of achievement, breaking the record, throwing the watch away? What had he achieved? Rehabilitation? His future? The repercussions of this for the prisoners as a whole?
8. The portrait of the warden and his administration, the psychologist and his personal interest in Murphy, arranging the meeting with the coach etc.? The coach and the dreams of his career and helping Murphy?
9. The significance of the meeting of the board and the hostility of the chairman? The significance of the questions raised?
10. Styles and his friendship, looking forward to his wife's visit, the set-up, the visit of the woman and his refusal to go along with her, her arrest and the repercussions, the violence of his death?
11. The white group and their leader, his size, ruling the group, his deals? His arrogance? The killing of Styles? The reaction to the burning of the drugs? The picketing of the fence and the final fight? Audience response to this group? The various lackeys in the group - murdering Styles, at work in the metal industries room?
12. The black group and their exercises, size and strength? Morale? Their self segregation and clashes with the white group? The hostility towards Styles, the confrontation with Murphy? The vigour of his fighting the leader? The discovery of the truth, respect? The breaking of the picket with the Spanish-speaking group? Their work on building the track?
13. Murphy's explanation of his crime, his memories of his father especially when he was six.. his concern for his step-sister? His ability finally to speak about himself? The possibility of personal rehabilitation? The affirmation from the administration, the psychiatrist, from the coach and the running? The reaction from the chairman of the board?
14. Themes of human dignity, crime and punishment, responsibility? Society? Murphy's comment that he couldn't have helped his father because they were desperate and psychological help not readily available? The needs expressed by this film? The effect of a telemovie in changing audience attitudes? Raising social consciousness?
