Hell's Highway

The horrors of the American penal system are brutally depicted in this searing prison drama, directed with plenty of pre-Code grit by Rowland Brown. Hardened criminal Duke Ellis (Richard Dix) is planning to escape from a Southern chain gang when he discovers that his worshipful younger brother (Tom Brown) has followed in his footsteps and will be sent to the same prison. Duke decides to stay to protect his brother, but when a cruel foreman pushes him and the men too far, he is forced to take drastic action. (Criterion)