Convicts 4 (1962)

In the heart of the bleak, grim world of Sing Sing prison, we find John Resko, a man incarcerated and living on borrowed time. His crime? A desperate act of violence borne out of a father's love in December 1930, where he murdered a toy store owner over a teddy bear he coveted for his toddler daughter, Cathy, but couldn't afford. As the clock ticks down to his execution, a miraculous reprieve arrives, commuting his death sentence to life and transporting him to the harsh confines of Dannemora. Adjusting to life at Dannemora proves challenging for John, with hurdles ranging from an indifferent prison administration struggling with a bed bug problem to confrontational fellow inmates demanding their own pound of flesh. Moreover, distressing news from outside the prison walls concerning his family exacerbates his predicament. Yet, amidst this bleakness, he finds solace in unexpected friendships with fellow prisoners like Nick, Iggy, and Wino. John's dreams of escape are fuelled not by a desire for freedom, but by an aspiration to provide for Cathy, even if she might not want him back in her life. A glimmer of hope presents itself when a prison principal proposes a novel idea: using creative outlets to demonstrate to parole boards the depth of the prisoners' thoughts and potential for rehabilitation. Recognizing John's latent artistic talent, the principal encourages him to explore this avenue. Initially resistant, John eventually embraces art as a salvation, finding within it a passion that radically transforms his life. This unexpected journey into creativity leads to a surprising outcome that neither the principal nor John anticipated, demonstrating the transformative power of art and the human capacity for change. "Convicts 4" is a semi-fictional exploration of John Resko's life, a powerful narrative that weaves together the grim realities of prison life with the uplifting potential of artistic expression, highlighting the struggle and redemption of one man against the unforgiving backdrop of incarceration.

Convicts 4 is a crime movie featuring Ben Gazzara and directed by Millard Kaufman.

It is possible to buy Convicts 4 on Amazon Video, Apple TV, Vudu and YouTube.