Penitentiary (1979 film)

Penitentiary is a 1979 American blaxploitation drama film starring Leon Isaac Kennedy as Martel Too Sweet Gordone that deals with the wrongful imprisonment of a black youth. The film was released on November 21, 1979.

Gordone is sent to jail and becomes cellmates with a man who goes by the name of Half Dead. While in his cell, Gordone has to defend himself from constant advances from his cellmate and after a couple of more advances Gordone decides to defend himself from the brute. The two battle it out in the cell until the walls are covered with sweat and blood and Gordone rises triumphantly. The wailing and begging of the prisoner who Gordone beats up attracts a lot of attention and as it just so happens, there is an illegal boxing tournament that goes on within the prison, led by Lieutenant Arnsworth. The winner of the tournament is allowed to leave the prison on early parole because Lieutenant Arnsworth can pull a few strings on the parole board, and Gordone feels as though he would be able to win it. The only thing that stands in his way is a man by the name of Jesse The Bull Amos, who is in charge of everything within the prison and is the leader of the prisons strongest gang.This film was the third movie directed by Jamaa Fanaka. Fanaka made the film while he was still a student at UCLA thanks to government grants. These grants were not substantive enough to allow Fanaka to film in more than a few locations which consisted of the UCLA campus, a derelict prison, and a few parks. Aside from the limited locations, there was also a limited amount of talent that could be afforded by Fanaka. Despite these limitations Penitentiary was still the topgrossing independent film of that year. ........

Source: Wikipedia