Penitentiary (1979 film)

For the 1938 film of the same name, see Penitentiary (1938 film).

Penitentiary
Original theatrical release poster
Directed by	Jamaa Fanaka
Written by	Jamaa Fanaka
Produced by	Jamaa Fanaka Alicia Dhanifu Robert Edelen Irving Parham
Starring	Leon Isaac Kennedy Wilbur White Thommy Pollard Hazel Spears Donovan Womack
Cinematography	Marty Ollstein
Edited by	Betsy Blankett Millicevic
Distributed by	The Jerry Gross Organization
Release date	November 21, 1979 (1979-11-21) (USA)
Running time	93 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$100,000 (est.)

Penitentiary is a 1979 American blaxploitation drama film written, produced, and directed by Jamaa Fanaka, and starring Leon Isaac Kennedy as Martel "Too Sweet" Gordone, a man who deals with his wrongful imprisonment as a black youth. The film was released on November 21, 1979.

Plot

Martel Gordone had been wandering aimlessly through the desert when he is finally picked up by an African-American woman driving a van dubbed the "Shaggin’ Wagon". The woman, Linda, who picks him up is actually a prostitute on her way to some clients. On the way to the diner where the two parties are to meet, Linda and Gordone (nicknamed "Too Sweet" because of his uncontrollable addiction to Mr. Goodbar candy bars) spark an interest in each other, but Linda decides to wait until after she has finished with her clients, “You know, honey, it’s got to be business before pleasure, and I’m sure you’re a real pleasure.” They reach the diner and Linda meets with her clients, but when Gordone does not like how she is being treated, he decides to confront the two for their ungentlemanly behavior. The confrontation does not bode well for Gordone, for after a little tussling he is knocked out and falls to the ground. He wakes up to find that he has been charged for the murder of one of the bikers whom he had confronted earlier.

Gordone is sent to jail and becomes cellmates with a man who goes by the nickname of "Half Dead". While in his cell, Gordone has to defend himself from constant advances from the brute. The two battle it out in the cell until the walls are covered with sweat and blood. The wailing and begging attracts a lot of attention from other inmates, who cheer for "Half Dead" to rape the newcomer, but in fact Gordone manages to subdue his assailant and rises triumphantly, telling everybody to "back off".

Gordone is then put in another cell, his new cellmate being an older man going by the nickname "Seldom Seen", who has been in this jail for 35 years (adding up to 50 years as he spent another 15 years in jail in his youth), and has developed his own personal wisdom, out of sheer survival concern, considering himself "the freest man in the world" for he learned how to control his desires and focus on his core self. Gordone and "Seldom Seen" develop a genuine friendship.

Shortly afterward, an illegal boxing tournament is organized in the prison, led by Lieutenant Arnsworth. The winner of the tournament will be allowed to leave the prison on early parole because Lieutenant Arnsworth can pull a few strings on the parole board, and Gordone feels as though he would be able to win it. The only thing that stands in his way is a man by the name of Jesse "The Bull" Amos, who is in charge of everything within the prison and is the leader of the prison's strongest gang. "Seldom Seen" agrees to be Gordone's trainer.

Cast

• Leon Isaac Kennedy as Martel "Too Sweet" Gordone
• Wilbur White as Sweet Pea
• Thommy Pollard as Eugene T. Lawson
• Hazel Spears as Linda
• Donovan Womack as Jesse Amos
• Floyd Chatman as Hezzikia "Seldom Seen" Jackson
• Gloria Delaney as Peaches
• Badja Djola as "Half Dead" Johnson
• Chuck Mitchell as Lieutenant Arnsworth
• Cepheus Jaxon as Poindexter
• Dwaine Fobbs as Lying Latney Winborn
• Ernest Wilson as Cheese
• Will Richardson as Magilla Gorilla
• Tony Cox as TC The money maker

Soundtrack

“Kissy Face” – written, produced and performed by Mark Gaillard and The Slim and Trim Band.

Historical significance/importance

Throughout the film there are several references to people as “property”, as in the dialogue between Eugene and Too Sweet:

Eugene: "But I happen to be Jesse's property, as you gathered last night."

Too Sweet: "Property? Is that what you think of yourself: somebody's property?"

Eugene: "Aw, come on, man. You know what's happening. Everybody knows what's happening. I've been, as they say, 'tampered with.'"

The dialogue brings to mind the ideology of previous decades which held that African Americans were simply property, and therefore had no rights. That idea was a precursor to the later segregation period of American history and the director was wise enough to introduce this aspect of that history into the dialogue of a movie based in prison. More important than the reflection of the trend on the widescreen are the things that go on behind the scenes, which Fanaka clearly demonstrated in the film (though certain attributes are strictly fictional, like early parole by winning the fights).

Home media

Both the original film and its first sequel were released on DVD by Xenon Entertainment in 2000. Both films contain an audio commentary by writer/director Jamaa Fanaka and are currently out of print. They were subsequently re-released by Xenon on DVD in 2006. Both films were released on DVD and Blu-ray by Vinegar Syndrome in 2018.

ArrowDrome DVD re-released the film in February 2012 in the United Kingdom. The releases carry over the aforementioned commentary by Fanaka and include a collector's booklet.

Sequels

Fanaka produced two sequels to the film over the ensuing decade.

The first sequel, Penitentiary II, was released in 1982. It was a direct sequel that followed the exploits of "Too Sweet" Gordone shortly after his release from prison. It was notable for the early casting of Mr. T as Gordone's trainer, Glynn Turman as his brother-in-law, and Ernie Hudson recast in the villainous role of "Half Dead". The film was released theatrically in the United States by MGM in April 1982 and grossed $3,178,542 at the box office.

The second sequel, Penitentiary III, was released in 1987. The plot centers on "Too Sweet" Gordone's time in prison, where he is sent after beating another boxer to death in a performance enhancing drug-fueled fugue state. The film was released theatrically in the United States by The Cannon Group, Inc. in September 1987 and grossed $1,392,616 at the box office.

External links

• Penitentiary at IMDb