HELL'S HIGHWAY

US, 1932, 62 minutes, Black and White.
Richard Dix, Rochelle Hudson.
Directed by Rowland Brown.

Hell's Highway is one of several chain gang films made in the early '30s, the most famous of which was Mervyn Le Roy's 1 Was A Fugitive From A Chain Gang. This kind of prison film has been a constant in movie history - a prominent '60s example was Stuart Rosenberg's Cool Hand Luke with Paul Newman.

This film, written and directed by Roland Brown (Quick Millions, Blood Money) portrays the chain gang effectively - even with some brutality. It has as its target politicians and land and road developers of the early '30s. The characters are conventional tor this kind of film but drawn with conviction and strength. Music is by Max Steiner.

1. The popularity of this kind of '30s melodrama? As drama, as social comment and protest? in retrospect?

2. The quality of black and white photography, Max Steiner's score? The authenticity of locations? Brevity? The transition from silent film to sound: the use of sound, editing, the use of profiles and captions?

3. The dedication and the serious intention of the film? The newspaper prologue with headlines about the use of sweatboxes for prisoners, deaths? The film's portrayal of prisons in the '30s? The severity of punishment? The work of the chain gangs? The building of the roads? Administration, the guards political and financial corruption? The need for exposure?

4. The atmosphere of the desert, the irony of the road and its being called Liberty Road? The harshness of the chain gang atmosphere, the quarters, the prisoners in chains, the work of the guards and their attitudes, the boss, the Billings and his finance and wanting the road to be opened, the poor quality of the food, the dormitories, the accountability of the guards to
Billings? His use of the sweatbox? importing it? The governor and his interest? The need for investigation?

5. The background of the prisoners, their crimes, the effect on them, bitterness, escape, their being returned to the gang?

6. Duke as hero? Tough, his place in the gang, the background of his robbing banks? his decent style? his protest? Strength at work? Friendship with Matthew? The set-up for the escape, the hold over the guard who had killed his wife? His brother's arrival, his responsibility for his brother, his decision to return? The clash and his brother going to the sweatbox? Deals with authority, fights? The fight with Max? The visit of his mother and his brother's girlfriend? The gun, the escape, carrying his brother back?
The final confrontation with Billings?

7. Matthew and his ironic humour - the American larrikin and the deadpan irony? The religious overtones? The humorous effect tor this grim film?

8. Max and his glasses, the cook and his swish style, the deaf prisoner - and his being killed because he couldn't hear?

9. The picture of the negro prisoners, prejudice, their work, their singing? The reaction to Popeye?

10. The boss and his sadism, employment by Billings, playing the violin? The guards? Popeye and the taunting of him and his discovery of his wife, killing her?

11. Billings and his use of the sweatbox? his exposure?

12. Authorities, Whiteside and his investigations, his use of the young boy, the recommendations?

13. The value of the social comment of the film, its strength, its taking sides?