Our Prisons

Our Prisons

Footage of state prisons ca. 1956 in Kansas. PA-2003 ìOur Prisonsî 00:00:02:19 - 00:29:59:18 B/W Silent 1956 "Our Prisons" (A & B Rolls) Documentary of prisons and reformatory institutions in Kansas and Michigan. Building structures & interiors - Bunks, cots, cell blocks, cafeterias, uniformed guards, inmates, weapons, prison jobs, classes, security, law and order. (lots of black between many shots.) 00:00:02:19 - 00:03:20:14 B/W Silent 1956 SFU. ZO Man in suit sits in an armchair & reads by the fireplace in a fake living room setting. He turns to camera, starts talking. Talking head host. He stands & introduces film. 00:03:20:15 - 00:06:10:24 B/W Silent 1956 Male inmates in uniforms walk in prison courtyard w/ large brick institutional building in BG. EXT sign: Kansas Industrial School for Girls. PAN over grounds. EXT two brick buildings. INT bedroom w/ rag doll on bed - reform schools. Host talks. (black frames between shots) 00:04:56:25 - 00:06:50:21 B/W Silent 1956 EXT Castle-like brick prison. Uniformed guard walks into cell block. Inmate sits on top bunk - guard shuts gate in his cell. CU daily count of prison population by race & length of sentence (99 life termers). Guards look out from brick turret watchtower. Labeled weapons storage area- gas grenades, rifles in case of prison riots. Uniformed prison guards aim pistols on firing line for target practice. SWISH PAN to targets. 00:06:56:09 - 00:09:03:15 B/W Silent 1956 Prison life - work & occupations. Inmate in metal shop sharpens metal piece on grinding press. Inmate hangs wet laundry on clothesline. EXT Brick bunkers outdoors. INT sleeping quarters w/ dormitory-style beds. New Kansas state automobile license plates move on conveyor belt. CU cooks serve food into inmates' trays on line in prison cafeteria 9could pass for factory cafeteria). WS inmates eat at desks. Man serves bread on long pole. Inmates pick up towels from laundry counter. Teacher conducts class in prison. 00:09:08:07 - 00:10:33:22 B/W Sil

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