| Verhaal |
| Henry Young (Kevin Bacon) is arrested for stealing $5.00 to try and feed himself and his little sister. He's convicted and sent to Alcatraz where he tries to escape. Captured, he is put in isolation for three years, a punishment which is not supposed to exceed 19 days. His only human contacts during this time are prison personnel who take pleasure in torturing him. As the human spirit can't withstand an ordeal like this, Henry goes insane. When finally released from solitary, he stabs the fellow prisoner who betrayed his attempt to escape. Now facing a murder rap, Henry is given the court-appointed lawyer, James Stamphill (Christian Slater). At first repulsed by Henry’s bizarre behavior, James becomes enraged when he learns of all that the man has been subjected to. He determines to find a way to get Henry off. James actually builds his case to put Alcatraz and the prison system on trial. He ends up winning Henry a lesser charge of involuntary manslaughter and having the warden responsible for Henry's mistreatment banned from working in the prison system. |
|
