The Glass House (1972)

Author: Old Mother Hubbard

“Truman Capote’s The Glass House” (1972) Alan Alda starred in this film and “To Kill A Clown” both made in 1972 and the 2 characters he played could not be more different than one another.

“The Glass House” is the story of mild mannered Johnathan Page (Alda) a college professor who is sent to a maximum security prison for killing a man after his wife was hit and badly injured by a reckless driver. Page receives a 1 year sentence in the big house for manslaughter. The same day he enters the jail a young Allan Campbell (Kristoffer Tabori) is starting a 5 year bid for drug possession with intent to distribute. Upon entering the prison they soon meet Hugo Slocum (Vic Morrow) an inmate who is really the one running the prison. Page teaches “Political Science” in college but he is ignorant to the politics of prison life. Page decides not to play ball with Slocum and turns his short 1 year bid in to a living nightmare.

The acting, production, and the musical score are absolutely top notch. After the Allan Campbell story reaches it’s tragic conclusion, the story gets a little out there with the introduction of “Slocum’s Book.” Although I understand why they used Slocum’s book as a way to sort of tie things together, I feel that the story might have been better if they went another way. Fish bull Brian Courtland (Clu Gulager) is a little too maybe unrealistically trigger happy as well. Although there are a few holes in the story it is still a very well acted, well made and gritty TV drama. 4 and a half stars.

Trivia:

Kristoffer Tabori who portrayed Allan Campbell was married to gorgeous Judy Geeson who starred in “10 Rillington Place” (1971) and “To Sir, With Love” (1967) (which I am going to review next and post it right here on EUM).

“The Glass House” was filmed in Utah State Prison and many of the people in the film were actual prisoners.

Scott Hylands who portrays Ajax, one of Slocum’s goons, has done a lot of movies and TV. You’ve probably seen him in a lot of stuff but never knew his name. He just past away July 29, 2026.

Anywho, another great review by you know who, the king of EUM, the one, the only OMH. While I write movie reviews, other dorks write reviews about me. That’s the price you pay for being a big time celebrity like I am.