**_A maverick prison warden uncovers corruption and tries to make positive changes_**

In 1967-1968, a state penal farm in Arkansas gets a new warden (Robert Redford) who discovers condoned sexual abuse, severe beatings, electrical torture and extortion by inmates with guns who work as "trusty" guards (to save money otherwise spent on salaried guards). Then there’s the lousy quality and meager amount of sustenance for the inmates on a penal plantation that marketed enough produce and dairy products to create profits in the millions.

“Brubaker” (1980) is a fictionalized detailing of Tom Murton’s 1969 book, Accomplices to the Crime: The Arkansas Prison Scandal. It’s a realistic prison drama with the expected grunginess and brutalities revealing how the penal installation was basically a means for the government to make money by treating inmates like property (slaves) to be used, abused and, when necessary, secretly thrown away in holes on the grounds.

The movie’s not as dramatically compelling as it could be since it refuses to permit its characters more human dimension and flesh out interest, yet it raises interesting ideas. For instance, corruption exists when it is knowingly allowed at the higher levels of authority. How can you be an idealist in a world that is not ideal? Do you compromise with the corrupt powers that be in order to get SOMETHING done, or do you take the attitude of no compromise, period? The latter takes true dedication to noble principles, but what good is it if it prevents you from making positive changes?

The movie “Serpico” (1973) shows that it can be done with challenging consequences. I’ll leave it to you to discover how this one pans out.

A young Morgan Freeman shows up in the first act as a deranged prisoner in solitary confinement. He would of course go on to star in the more popular prison flick “The Shawshank Redemption” (1994), both movies shot in the heart of Ohio about 90 miles from each prison location. I should add that, while “Brubaker” is not popular like “Shawshank,” it was quite successful at the box office.

Unsurprisingly, it’s is a mostly male story, but Jane Alexander has a pretty beefy role as a public relations specialist for the governor while Linda Haynes appears as a play thing for one of the corrupt trustys.

If you’re in the mood for a flick in the mold of “Cool Hand Luke” (1967) and “The Longest Yard” (1974), “Brubaker” should fill the bill.

One last thing, the ending was glaringly borrowed for “Dead Poets Society” (1989).

The film runs 2 hours, 11 minutes, and was shot at the former Junction City Prison Farm outside of Junction City, Ohio, as well as nearby New Lexington and Fairfield County Fairgrounds in Lancaster.

GRADE: B-