Prisons

Prisons

Update: 2024-10-04
Share

Description

As The Shawshank Redemption turns 30, Ellen E Jones and Mark Kermode explore life behind bars as seen on screen, investigating how film and TV have shaped our ideas about the prison system. Why do prisons make such good settings for cinema?

Ellen investigates the relationship between prison exploitation and prison reform, talking to director S Craig Zahler about his ultra-violent 2017 film Brawl In Cell Block 99 and the movies that inspired it, from Birdman of Alcatraz to Riot in Cell Block 11. And she speaks to Dr Kalima Young about the impact of Netflix's hit series about a women's prison, Orange Is The New Black.

Meanwhile, Mark talks to writer and broadcast Richard Weight about the enduring relevance of the classic British sitcom Porridge. And he speaks to 'the daddy' of prison dramas - Ray Winstone - about the impact of his breakout role as a borstal boy in the controversial, banned TV play Scum.

Producer: Jane Long
A Prospect Street production for BBC Radio 4

Comments 
In Channel
Musicals

Musicals

2024-11-1843:14

Las Vegas

Las Vegas

2024-11-0843:10

Powell and Pressburger

Powell and Pressburger

2024-11-0142:16

Vampires

Vampires

2024-10-2543:11

Archaeology

Archaeology

2024-10-1843:03

Saturday Night Live

Saturday Night Live

2024-10-1143:00

Prisons

Prisons

2024-10-0443:07

Shock Value

Shock Value

2024-08-0942:55

Mermaids

Mermaids

2024-08-0243:16

Pop Idols

Pop Idols

2024-07-2642:47

Do the Right Thing

Do the Right Thing

2024-07-1943:06

The Western

The Western

2024-07-1243:02

Love Triangles

Love Triangles

2024-07-0842:45

Meryl Streep

Meryl Streep

2024-05-1742:32

Chinatown

Chinatown

2024-05-0342:18

Fashion

Fashion

2024-04-2742:54

Interlopers

Interlopers

2024-04-1243:08

Censorship

Censorship

2024-04-0539:57

loading
00:00
00:00
x

0.5x

0.8x

1.0x

1.25x

1.5x

2.0x

3.0x

Sleep Timer

Off

End of Episode

5 Minutes

10 Minutes

15 Minutes

30 Minutes

45 Minutes

60 Minutes

120 Minutes

Prisons

Prisons

BBC Radio 4