The setting is Westgate Penitentiary, where Warden struggles to maintain control as Captain Munsey’s harsh ambition dominates the institution. The inmates aren’t passive victims; they enforce their own sense of fairness, weary of abuse and spurred on by what appeared to be a suicide instigated by Munsey. Led by Joe Collins, these prisoners plan an escape, refusing to consider defeat. Brute Force is a compelling film with a distinctive atmosphere, skillfully directed by Jules Dassin and featuring Burt Lancaster in a standout performance as Joe Collins, alongside Hume Cronyn as Munsey, Charles Bickford as Gallagher, and supporting roles from Yvonne De Carlo, Ann Blyth, Ella Raines, and Anita Colby, showcased through effective flashbacks. The movie begins with rain falling against the imposing gates of Westgate; Dassin’s camera angle emphasizes a sense of foreboding, while William Daniels' black-and-white cinematography is striking and purposeful, all underscored by Miklos Rozsa's powerful musical score—it’s immediately apparent that this will be a dark and unsettling prison story. The film delivers on this promise; while it incorporates familiar elements found in many prison movies, Dassin and his collaborators create an overwhelming sense of confinement, drawing the audience into the environment of Westgate. It is a desolate place where six men share each cell, finding solace only in recollections of family and maintaining a shared resistance against Munsey’s cruelty. The viewer witnesses everything, becoming almost part of the scenery. Fortunately, Brute Force avoids disappointing expectations; the suspense has been carefully developed, the atmosphere established, so that the conclusion is powerful and serves as an appropriate culmination to this excellent prison drama. 9/10

Source on TMDB