SHAKESPEARE

Alternative title

Aux Yeux du Sort et des Humains

Synopsis

Feature film derived from John Herbert’s stage play of the same name. Smitty, a young and naive young man, is sent to a reformatory prison for six months. He is assigned a cell with Queenie, a drag queen, Rocky, a quiet but cocky con man, and Mona, a young gay man. Smitty watches as gangs of inmates brutalise those prisoners who lack protection. Mona is the victim of a series of attacks and in his prison cell recites Sonnet XXIX (from which the title of the film is derived) to Smitty.

Language

English

Country

Canada

Medium

Film

Technical information

Colour / Sound

Year of release

1971

Duration

102 mins

Credits

Director

Harvey Hart

Producer

Lester Persky; Lewis M. Allen

Cinematographer

Georges Dufaux

Screenplay

John Herbert

Music

Galt MacDermot; Michael Greer

Costume

Marcel Carpenter

Cast

Danny Freedman	Mona
Michael Greer	Queenie
Wendell Burton	Smitty
Zooey Hall	Rocky

Additional Details

Production type

Fiction Films

Keywords

homosexuality; prisoners; prisons; Shakespeare, William (1564-1616); Gay and lesbian interpretations

Notes

General

Harvey Hart replaced Jules Schwerin six months into the production. The film was shot in Quebec prison.

Production Company

Name

Canadian Film Development Corporation

Name

Cinemax International

Online Retailer

Name

amazon.com

Web

http://www.amazon.com External site opens in new window