Penitentiary
“There's only one way out, and 100 fools stand in the way!”
Synopsis
A hitchhiker named Martel Gordone gets in a fight with two bikers over a prostitute, and one of the bikers is killed. Gordone is arrested and sent to prison, where he joins the prison's boxing team in an effort to secure an early parole and to establish his dominance over the prison's toughest gang.
Part of the Penitentiary Collection
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Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
1979 Theatrical TrailerOfficial
Type: Trailer • Published 2018-05-15
Top Cast
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Leon Isaac Kennedy
Martel 'Too Sweet' Gordone
Thommy Pollard
Eugene T. Lawson
Hazel Spears
Linda (as Hazel Spear)
Donovan Womack
Jesse Amos
Floyd 'Wildcat' Chatman
Hezzikia 'Seldom Seen' Jackson (as Floyd Chatman)
Chuck Mitchell
Lieutenant Arnsworth
Gloria Delaney
Peaches
Wilbur 'Hi-Fi' White
Sweet Pea
Badja Djola
'Half Dead' Johnson
Cepheus Jaxon
Poindexter
Dwaine Fobbs
Lying Latney Winborn
Ernest Wilson
Cheese
Will Richardson
Magilla Gorilla
Elijah Mitchell
Nut #1
Tony Andrea
Mook
Release History & Theatrical Window
December 1, 1979
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Jamaa Fanaka
- Screenplay & Story
- Jamaa Fanaka
- Original Score
- William Anderson
- Original Title
- Penitentiary
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 39m
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Jamaa Fanaka
Jamaa Fanaka
William Anderson
Marty Ollstein
Betsy Blankett Milicevic
Jamaa Fanaka
Department Leadership Roster
Jamaa Fanaka
Director
Jamaa Fanaka
Writer
Jamaa Fanaka
Producer
Marty Ollstein
Director of Photography
Betsy Blankett Milicevic
Editor
William Anderson
Original Music Composer
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
R: Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
International Certification Matrix
Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Penitentiary.
Featured In Curated Collections
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Frequently Asked Questions About Penitentiary
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Penitentiary about?
A hitchhiker named Martel Gordone gets in a fight with two bikers over a prostitute, and one of the bikers is killed. Gordone is arrested and sent to prison, where he joins the prison's boxing team in an effort to secure an early parole and to establish his dominance over the prison's toughest gang.
Who directed Penitentiary?
Penitentiary was directed by Jamaa Fanaka.
Who stars in Penitentiary?
The principal cast of Penitentiary includes Leon Isaac Kennedy, Thommy Pollard , Hazel Spears , Donovan Womack , Floyd 'Wildcat' Chatman .
When was Penitentiary released and how long is it?
Penitentiary was released in 1979 with a total runtime of 1h 39m.
Who composed the musical score for Penitentiary?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Penitentiary was composed by William Anderson.
What is the age rating and content advisory for Penitentiary?
Penitentiary holds official age classifications: US: R (Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.).