THE STANFORD PRISON EXPERIMENT

US, 2015, 122 minutes, Colour.
Billy Crudup, Michael Angarano, Moises Arias, Nicholas Braun, Gaius Charles, Keir Gilchrist, Ki Hong Lee, Thomas Mann, Ezra Miller, Logan Miller, Tye Sheridan, Johnny Simmons, Olivia Thirlby.
Directed by Kyle Patrick Alvarez.

This film is based on a book by the doctor who conducted this Stanford Prison Experiment. Of interest to film viewers, the story was filmed in 2001 in Germany, very tellingly and powerfully, Das Experiment.

The experiment took place at Stanford University in 1971. The presiding doctor, he played by Billy Crudup, was interested in students doing more than role-play, investing themselves in characters, prison guards and prisoners, so that the doctor and his staff could film the interactions and analyse them, drawing conclusions about power and the exercise of power.

The film shows the auditions for participation in the experiment, students interested in some extra payment, being asked whether they were more interested in playing prisoners or guards. Some of the corridors of the University Hall were turned into the prison, cells, assembly space, guard rooms.

The experiment was intended to last two weeks but, in fact, ended after six days. The students playing the guards entered more eagerly than expected into the exercise of their roles, enjoying the power, enjoying the humiliation of the prisoners, a dark illustration that power corrupts. The students playing the prisoners are more conscious of their role-play, some of them standing up to the guards, enduring long inspections and interrogations, being put into solitary, wanting to rebel.

The group supervising, the doctor and two associates as well as a former prisoner who is called in as a consultant, filmed the proceedings – but, some of the assistants become uneasy as does the doctor’s girlfriend who is critical, especially when they set up a role-play of a parole panel.

The experiment was brought to an end but the doctor continued his work, wrote his book, married his girlfriend.

There are some strong performances by the young actors, both prisoners and guards.

1. A fact-based story? California? The 1970s?

2. The doctor, his book about the experiment? A film adaptation? (Previous adaptations, especially the German Das Experiment?)

3. California 1971, Stanford University and its status, the scenes at the University, the buildings, offices, corridors? The students? The staff? The psychology department? The planning the experiment, no peer supervision?

4. The aim, studying guards and prisoners and the mutual responses, the role of role-play versus experiment?

5. The doctor, his personality, enthusiasm, his aims, his work, his assistants, Christina? Setting up the prison at the University? The corridors? The plan for the role playing? The discussions, policies, his watching and recording? His expectations?

6. The interview of the students, the doctor and the panel, their questions and the replies, the forms, ticking boxes? The introductions to the various types? The motivations? The financial benefit? Students of the 1970s?

7. The group panel, the discussions about selection, the contracts?

8. Assembling the group, the photo, those to be prisoners, those to be guards, the prison itself, the corridors, the cells, the signs, uniforms?

9. The screenplay and the signalling of each of the six days?

10. The setup, those prisoners, those guards? The prisoners within numbers? The lineups, the role calls, the insistence, the drills? The group, the contrast with different individuals, individuality taken over by numbers? The forceful personalities, confrontations, their being punished, solitary, the humiliations, the physical punishment, sexual punishment?

11. The guards, the chief guard and his control, enjoying himself, acting out, harsh authority – and it being easier for those playing guards than those who had to submit as prisoners? The inherent cruelty and the guards? Their banding together? Relishing the punishment and humiliation? The reaction of the doctor, commenting on their behaviour, letting them go?

12. The doctor, Christina, the relationship, the discussions, her disagreeing?

13. The assistants and their stances, watching, comments and criticism? The former convict, his agreeing to participate, his reactions? The growing obsession of the doctor?

14. The parole board, the interrogations, the effect on the prisoners, their personalities coming through, some agreeing, some resisting? Christina and her reaction?

15. The growing obsession, peer codes and pressure, the decision to stop the experiment?

16. The information about the aftermath? The doctor’s career, marriage?