Big House, U.S.A (1955)

In the sprawling wilderness of south-central Colorado, young Danny Lambert, son of the affluent Robertson Lambert, vanishes from his campsite, sparking a desperate, park-wide manhunt. The boy is discovered by Jerry Barker, a man with a sinister plan, who leaves Danny at an eerily abandoned lookout tower, promising aid. Barker cunningly contacts the frantic father, demanding a $200,000 ransom in exchange for Danny's safety. After receiving the money, Barker surreptitiously buries the majority, leaving a chilling turn of events to unfold. In a tragic twist of fate, the panic-stricken Danny plummets to his death from the tower, his lifeless body callously discarded off a cliff by Barker. The relentless FBI, under the leadership of the astute James Madden, apprehends Barker. However, without substantial evidence of kidnapping, Barker is sentenced to merely five years on extortion charges, and he is shipped off to the desolate confines of Casabel Island Prison. In the grim, claustrophobic environment of the prison, Barker shares a cell with a motley crew of hardened criminals - Rollo Lambar, Alamo Smith, Benny Kelly, and Machine Gun Mason. Meanwhile, the diligent FBI uncovers a connection between Barker and Emily Evans, a nurse from Danny's camp. The prison walls reverberate with whispers of a daring plot, led by the ruthless Rollo. He plans an audacious underwater escape, intending to sacrifice Benny and use his body as a decoy to divert the authorities. As the prison holds its breath, the unlikely band of escapees set their sights north, driven by the allure of the hidden ransom money, crafting a tale of suspense and treachery that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Big House, U.S.A is an action movie featuring Broderick Crawford and directed by Howard W. Koch.

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