Our Prisons

Format: 16mm

Sound: sound

Description: 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 Silent 1956; Man released from prison. EXT Hospital sign. Uniformed guard opens; door as guard escorts inmate out. CU prisoner signs ledger at; window, receives five dollars in cash back. Released inmate & guard; walk down outdoor steps. Guard signals to sentry over gate. Guard; walks released inmate through gate. Freedom.; 00:15:11:03 - 00:18:18:07 B/W Silent 1956; CU legs of male inmates walking through opened door of prison cell.; (More black leader) Card listing penal institutions & industrial; schools where film was shot State Industrial Reformatory; Hutchinson, Kansas. State Penitentiary for Men & Women in Lansing; Michigan. Industrial School for Boys & Girls in Topeka, Kansas.; 00:18:51:27 - 00:22:10:07 B/W Silent 1956; B-roll. Sign- Kansas Industrial School for Boys. EXT: PAN over; brick building. EXT: sign- Kansas Industrial Farm for Women. INT; doors in hallway. MS rag doll on bed blanket. EXT castle-like brick; building. CU date of building's construction in 1864. INT PAN long; cell blocks inside prison. Good over-the-shoulder POV of uniformed; sentry guard looking over prison courtyard. LA sentry stands on; platform. Sentry walks along stone wall by outside of prison. Guard; lowers key on string for man to enter gate. Guard inspects machine; guns. Outdoor targets for shooting practice.; 00:22:17:12 - 00:24:58:06 B/W Silent 1956; Prison life. CU hand w/ drill bit in metal shop. WS rows of inmates; work at sewing machines. EXT building. CU inmate's hand moving car; license plates from hooks to conveyor belt. Inmates work in; industrial metal shop. Inmates stand in line. INT place settings in; empty prison cafeteria. PAN empty shower stalls. CU teacher's hand; writing fractions on classroom chalk board. Inmates under blankets; on cots in sleeping quarters. CU Man hands clothing to inmate; (restituting belongings upon him completing his sentence). CU man; opening cell door w/ key.; 00:25:42:22 - 00:29:59:18 B/W Silent 1956; Talking head host. Titles.