
Brute Force
1947 · Movie · 98 min · ★ 7.3 · 88% critics
Inside a harsh prison, a weary inmate and the men around him endure the control of a cruel guard who rules through fear and pressure. As conditions grow worse, the prisoners cling to hope and begin looking for a way out, even as the odds against them keep rising.
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Details
- Years
- 1947
- Release date
- 1947-07-16
- Language
- English
- Runtime
- 98 min
- Critic score
- 88/100
- TMDB rating
- 7.3/10 (209 votes)
About
You may like this if you enjoy tough, old-school prison dramas with grim stakes and a strong sense of pressure; Not for you if you want a lighter pace or can’t stand stories with brutal guards and prison break tension, like The Naked City or Fury.
Pros: intense prison tension; strong lead performances; bleak mood | Cons: sentimental flashbacks; some uneven pacing; occasionally heavy-handed
Themes
- prison cell
- prison guard
- film noir
- black and white
- prison riot
Cast & crew

Burt Lancaster
as Joe Collins

Hume Cronyn
as Capt. Munsey

Charles Bickford
as Gallagher

Yvonne De Carlo
as Gina Ferrara

Ann Blyth
as Ruth

Ella Raines
as Cora Lister

Anita Colby
as Flossie

Sam Levene
as Louie Miller #7033

Jeff Corey
as 'Freshman' Stack

John Hoyt
as Spencer
Directed by Jules Dassin