Caged Men

College boy Elliott (Ross Stephanson) helps rob a bank to impress his cheating girlfriend Sherry (Maureen McGill). However he escapes without the money and she turns him over to the police. He's sentenced to two years in prison. There he encounters every cliché and stereotype in the book. The movie concentrates the most on homosexuality in prison with the expected rape scene (tastefully done).

Supposedly this was the first Canadian film ever to deal with gay men and one of the first to deal with men in prison and sex. Maybe back in 1971 it was shocking but nowadays it comes across as kind of quaint and even laughable. Elliott is so naive he's hard to take seriously. It was shot in a real prison which helps and (supposedly) is based on real events. The acting is OK. Edward Blessington is very good as Yurik, Elliotts cell mate. Stephanson himself wavers. He's tall, young, looks good nude and has some moments but other times he's kind of stiff. He never did another film but deserves credit for doing this. The DVD transfer is great and it has an unmatted shower scene where it's made clear that Stephanson was totally nude. Not the best nor worst of its kind.