The Man Who Broke 1,000 Chains

Like many TV movies, "The Man Who Broke 1,000 Chains" has suffered an unfortunate fading into obscurity through no fault of its own. Truly, this film is every bit as good as the Paul Muni original, if only a bit less for being the second go-around.

Director Daniel Mann gives the film a real edge, a surprising sense of desperation from a director who spent a career filming melodramas like "The Rose Tattoo" (1955). In fact, it was his last film before passing away at the age of 78 in 1991. He gives the film real claustrophobia and suspense.

This is one of Val Kilmer's best roles, and he makes you believe he's really experiencing all of this. As the warden, Charles Durning is very menacing, digging his heels into every ounce of hatefulness he can drag out his character. It's an excellent performance. The female roles are well-played within their limits, but the other real standout performance is from James Keach. I always felt that James was every bit as good an actor as brother Stacy, and was quite disappointed when he quit acting for a rather mediocre directing career (save for the stunning "The Stars Fell on Henrietta").

The script is very dark, providing few moments of light. Even in civilian life, Eliot Burns finds his life constantly unraveling. I began to believe that Burns got into trouble more through his lack of foresight than his lack of luck. Overall, it's a very good picture, and an excellent historical document of the chain gang life - nearly as good as "Cool Hand Luke" (1967).

RATING: 7.6 out of 10

This movie, along with Escape From Alcatraz, developed my love for the Prison Movie genre. One of Val Kilmer's better performances. Filmed like a TV movie of it's era, the story is intriguing (based on a true story!). It took me a while to actually find a digital version of this movie. If you like prison movies, you'll love this one.

This was one of the first HBO productions I ever saw, in spite of having HBO for several years. I was spell bound by it.

A man wrongfully convicted for a crime he did not commit, and subjected to the absolute worst period in American penitentiary history.

The kangaroo court, the false testimony, the trumped up charge, the brutalization of an honest man "doing time" shackled to other convicts, and the brutality of the labor itself of "making small rocks out of big rocks."

Based on a true story of how a tragic miscarriage of justice absolutely destroyed an honest man's life. A man who fought for us, for Uncle Sam, for the nation, and was rewarded with misery for most of his life.

You will shake your head, and perhaps shed a tear at Val Kilmer's depiction of an individual who fought back the only way he could.

It is almost a crime that this film is not available to view again. In time I'm sure it will be made available to the public once more.

Rarely do I recommend films about men who have gotten a rotten lot in life, but this is a must see.

The tragic truth is that we still have some miscarriages of justice today, but the US and friendly nations are a bit more methodical in both investigation and meting out appropriate punishments. Even so, there are those who still fall through the cracks. This films looks at a day and age when lots of people fell through the cracks, and tragic consequences thereof.

It is a film about strength of character, and the will to survive with hope that it will all work out in the end.

I won't say "enjoy it", because it's a tough watch. But in my book it is a must see.

This is a well produced and gripping film that effectively captures both the period and the grim reality of a Georgia prison camp. As soon as he met Emily, you just knew what would happen. But it's still worth a watch. I think I spotted one goof. In one scene in 1929 there is a dial telephone. I don't believe they were introduced until the thirties. Also there were not the sort of radio newscasts in the twenties that were used to advance the story. But both are small points in an otherwise excellent film.

Not only do I consider this to be Val's best performance, but I consider it to be the most touching. There are no surprises to be had. It's a gut wrenching and honest indictment of jursisprudence at it's most brutal. I consider it a crime that there is no way to even buy this anymore.