Fortune and Men's Eyes

Fortune and Men's Eyes is a riveting drama film released in 1971. Directed by Harvey Hart and based on the ground-breaking play by John Herbert, this groundbreaking cinematic piece underscores harsh truths about society through a disturbingly realistic depiction of life inside a youth reformatory prison.

The title "Fortune and Men's Eyes" is derived from Shakespeare's Sonnet 29, which portrays feelings of despair and longing for salvation, an eloquently fitting sentiment for the themes of this movie. The film features compelling performances by an ensemble cast that include Wendell Burton, Michael Greer, and Zooey Hall.

The narrative follows the story of Smitty (Wendell Burton), a naive and timid young man. As someone who has never had a run-in with the law or experienced life on the street, Smitty is comparatively innocent and naive. The unfortunate consequence of a violent encounter leads him to be charged with minor assault and subsequently gets him sentenced to six months in a youth reformatory.

Upon his arrival, he is thrown into a world of intimidation and unfamiliarity, an environment where survival instinct reigns over any semblance of civility. The disconnected and bleak atmosphere of the reformatory becomes the backdrop of the ensuing narrative. The film uses its setting to paint a grim picture of the facility's internal dynamics and power struggles. Smitty's dismay and sense of alienation heighten while he observes the visceral underbelly of incarceration that teems with power dynamics, violence, and manipulation.

As the plot progresses, Smitty is introduced to three other inmates — Queenie (Michael Greer), Rocky (Zooey Hall), and Mona (Danny Freedman) — each having distinct personalities and their way of coping with the prison system. Their character arcs and interactions serve to fortify the narrative with riveting drama.

Emblematically, Queenie, an openly gay inmate, uses flamboyance and an apparent disregard for the societal norms of masculinity as an armor against the harsh realities of prison life. In contrast, Rocky, the unofficial leader of their cell, adopts an approach of dominance and aggression. Simultaneously, Mona, the softer spoken of the three, tailors his tactics based on submission and compliance, with an underlying current of fear guiding his actions.

The casting for Fortune and Men's Eyes is notable for the talent of the actors that capture the stark realities of these young men's experiences. Wendell Burton, famous for his performance as a gentle teenager in 1969's "The Sterile Cuckoo," effectively portrays the transformation of Smitty from an apprehensive newcomer to someone navigating the intense realities of prison life. Michael Greer's portrayal of the eccentric Queenie strikingly contrasts the grim atmosphere of the reformatory, seamlessly embodying the resilience, sass, and emotional complexity of his character. Zooey Hall’s performance as the compartmentalized, tough-guy Rocky resonates powerfully, while Danny Freedman's portrayal of the vulnerable, yet shrewd, Mona tugs at the audience's heartstrings.

Fortune and Men's Eyes' exploration of the brutalities and injustices in the confines of a reformatory stands out as a symbolism-laden social commentary on larger societal issues. Director Harvey Hart relates the hard-hitting truths about correctional facilities' conditions to the deprivation of humanity within them. Films like this serve as an eye-opener and criticism of the systemic failures hindering justice and rehabilitation.

Moreover, the movie delves deep into themes of masculinity, power dynamics, and sexual identity. It presents a challenging, raw exposure of human nature under extreme circumstances, examined under the microscope of the prison industrial complex. The plot offers a profound exploration of relationships, the struggle to retain personal dignity, and the fight for survival, laying bare the injustices faced by the socially marginalized.

Despite its release decades ago, the film remains relevant due to its exposure of the persistent issues of our justice system, its compelling performances, and its potent social commentary. The undeniable rawness of Fortune and Men's Eyes makes it a challenging watch, yet it stands as a strong narrative that ignites necessary discussions about society's flaws.

In conclusion, Fortune and Men's Eyes is not just a film about prison life; it is a powerful social drama, a mirror holding up to society, unflinchingly reflecting its deep-seated flaws and the urgent changes required to rectify them. It leaves viewers with much to contemplate about the state of our societal systems long after the screen fades to black.