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Features: DVD, Dolby, Digital Audio, English, Aspect Ratio 1.85:1
Michael Smith (Kyle MacLachlan) is a guard at the Attica Correctional Facility, following in the footsteps of his father Hal (Harry Dean Stanton). In Attica, there's a thin dividing line between the guards and their prisoners, so Lt. Weisbad (Frederic Forrest) runs the prison coldly and efficiently with little respect for the inmates. When two prisoners, Jamaal (Samuel L. Jackson) and Chaka (Clarence Williams, III) complain about conditions, their complaints are ignored. Together they ignite a riot that authorities are powerless to control. This massive and bloody uprising enables the prisoners to take over the entire prison. Guards are beaten and put on display in the main yard while outside prison walls, a nation waits for news of the revolt. There may exist a peaceful solution through negotiation, but time is running out. As rumors escalate and tension mounts, the threat of bloodshed and revenge on both sides hangs in the air.
"A superheated and thoroughly absorbing movie thriller." Wall Street Journal
Editor's Note
A gritty, dramatic retelling of one of the most violent prison rebellions in U.S. history, this made-for-cable film tells the story of the inmate takeover of Attica from the point of view of two prisoners and the facility's young warden.
Plot Summary
This HBO telefilm takes its inspiration from a real-life event -- the notorious takeover of New York's Attica State Prison by inmates angry at their poor treatment.| After authorities ignore constant complaints by the prisoners, two convicts incite a riot to protest the terrible conditions in the Attica correctional facility. Soon guards have become hostages, and the entire world is waiting for a resolution. But the situation only grows more and more tense and violent.
| Features | Audio: English Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo | | Interactive Menus | | Scene Selection |
| Technical Info
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Release Information
| | Studio: Universal |
| Release Date: 6/26/2009 |
| Running Time: 84 minutes |
| Original Release Date: 1994 | | Catalog ID: 26577 | | UPC: 00025192657726 | | Number of Discs: 1 |
Audio & Video
| | Original Language: English | | Available Audio Tracks: English | | Video: Color |
Aspect Ratio | | Anamorphic Widescreen 1.85:1 |
| Cast & Crew
| Awards |
Golden Globe (1995) | | | Samuel L. Jackson, Nominee, Best Performance by an Actor in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for TV | |
Emmy (1994) |  | John Frankenheimer, Winner, Outstanding Individual Achievement in Directing for a Miniseries or a Special |
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| | Professional Reviews | eFilmCritic.com 8 of 10
The entire cast is excellent. Anne Heche is given a great role to play, never making Sharon wishy washy nor too strong. Her only concern is her husband William, and Heche is believable. While some of the roles are obvious villains, Frankenheimer keeps everyone reined in and does not let one actor overshadow another. Jackson and MacLachlan's final scenes are strong, but they do step into melodrama with a hand hold. - Charles Tatum
The Movie Hamlet 7 of 10
The riot was previously treated in the TV movie Attica (1980) and this version doesn't quite show why Mr. Frankenheimer once was a big name in television, but it might prove to some people why he's back making TV movies. MacLachlan's character along with his family remain fairly obscure, but the surroundings are credibly recreated and it is interesting to see how the riot changes people. So who should see this film? Those who like Mr. Forrest: he's the standout in the cast. - Stefan Hedmark
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