Alright alright…with all the mention of it, I’ve finally decided I really NEED to go rent it! Thanks 
Oh and I want to echo the mention of American History X…particular scenes are a little too, uh, real to pass up without feeling a little queasy. Great movie, too.
RealityChuck - where can we find this film/social document? I like movies that take that extra step or can hit that higher level of existence. Share!!
Lot of good choices here. My choices would include Shawshank, Bridge on the River Kwai, and The Longest Yard, but I’ll throw a couple more out for consideration:
20,000 Years in Sing Sing
The Colditz Story, another POW movie.
I think that might have been Born Innocent, a made-for-TV movie that caused some sort of uproar when it was first shown. As a result, many stations refused to show it again.
Not really a prison movie per se, but thematically similar-“THE DESPERATE HOURS” (the 1950 version, with Humphry Bogart and Frederic March). Great suspense, fine acting, and film noir to boot!
No votes yet for Reform School Girls? What Gives?
Seriously:
1)The Great Escape
2)Bridge Over the River Kwai
3)Papillion
The Green Mile blew monkeys, IMHO.
Here’s one I bet wouldn’t otherwise get mentioned: Women of San Quentin, a 1983 TV movie. Not a great movie but the only prison movie I’ve ever seen that I thought actually gave a realistic view of working in a prison.
Caged When that blond gets her locks shorn and her kitty crushed LOOK OUT for the flatware! This movie warped me at a very young age.
On OP : The Great Escape
Stalag 17
The Longest Yard
Cool Hand Luke.
Off the OP.
Bill seriously, there are other stations to watch besides TNT/WTBS, honest. You might even like some of them.
Like I said Wring I get free movies cause my wife works part time at a movie rental place. So I never half to watch commercials and I can push pause when I go to the can. 
I thought of another one that was awesome but still not as good as Shawshank. How about “Midnight Express”? That movie was so intense.
ok, then try and rent/borrow a movie that isn’t shown on WTBS/TNT 15 times every weekend?
Damn. You beat me to it. Yeah, if a film changes society that should count for something.
Of course now chain gangs are back. Time for a remake?
I 2nd Blood in, Blood out.
Here’s the IMDB link. Coincidentally, it will be on TCM at noon-2pm this Friday. It did a lot to spur prison reform in the U.S.
It was based on a true story – the author of the book (Robert Burns) described his experiences; the state of Georgia was determined to the point of insanity to keep him in chains (even trying to rearrest him – he had escaped – when the movie premiered). The last line is a chiller.
Definitely set the VCR.
Ysabel <-- stumbling around in agony, clutching her hair as she tries to assimilate the fact that there are actually people on this earth who believe that The Shawshank Redemption is even in the same arena as Cool Hand Luke.
[sup]<sigh>[/sup]
How can anyone say it’s anything other than “Cool Hand Luke”?
Robin
I hereby move that only people who have never seen Cool Hand Luke can nominate another movie. And that only because we feel sorry for them.
Oh yeah, speaking of prison reform, Brubaker deserves a mention.
Clearly, Cool Hand Luke.
Also, I loved O’ Brother, Where Art Thou?. Although it’s more of an escape/road movie.
Cheers,
Hodge
Therefore, I offer another vote for Shawshank Redemption and I also thought Murder in the First was very good.
And I still vote for Shawshank.
Shawshank has this incredible use of color in the film.
And I’ll admit I prefer films that are uplifting and not bummers.
Cool Hand is a very close second but up there are…
Brubaker (why is this one not mentioned)
Bridge on the River Kwai
Midnight Express
Chicken Run
The Hurricane
But if you will allow it in the catagory the absoulte best prison movie, far far above Cool Hand Luke and Shawshank would be,
Schindlers List