Australia / Jun 18, 1971 / Melbourne Film Festival
One of the most controversial films ever made.
1h 28min
Overall average
5.0/10
Trailer
Videos
Plot
In this fictional documentary, U.S. prisons are at capacity, and President Nixon declares a state of emergency. All new prisoners, most of whom are connected to the antiwar movement, are now given the choice of jail time or spending three days in Punishment Park, where they will be hunted for sport by federal authorities. The prisoners invariably choose the latter option, but learn that, between the desert heat and the brutal police officers, their chances of survival are slim.
Main cast
Full cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Mary Ellen Kleinhall | Allison Mitchner (Tribunal Defendant) |
| Mark Keats | William C. Hoeger (Tribunal Chairman) |
| Gladys Golden | Mary Jurgens (Tribunal Member) |
| Sanford Golden | Senator Harris (Tribunal Member) |
| George Gregory | Mr. Keagan (Tribunal Member) |
| Norman Sinclair | Tribunal Member |
| Sigmund Rich | Prof. Hazlett |
| Paul Rosenstein | Tribunal Member |
| Lee Marks | Federal Agent |
| Sandy Cox | Stenographer |
| Frederic Franklyn | Defense Attorney |
| Ross Briegleb | Tribunal Doctor |
| Joe Hudgins | Chief Tribunal Marshall |
| Rodger Greene | Tribunal Marshall |
| Tom Kemp | Tribunal Marshall |
| Harry McKasson | Tribunal Marshall |
| Harold Beaulieu | Defendant in the Desert (Militant) |
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| Cynthia Jenkins | Defendant in the Desert (Militant) |
| Jack London | Defendant in the Desert (Militant) |
| Rob Lewine | Defendant in the Desert (Militant) |
| Viola Gonzalez | Defendant in the Desert (Semi-Militant) |
| Roland Gonzalez | Defendant in the Desert (Semi-Militant) |
| Jack Gozdzik | Defendant in the Desert (Semi-Militant) |
| Brian Hart | Defendant in the Desert (Semi-Militant) |
| Linda Mandel | Defendant in the Desert (Semi-Militant) |
| Don Pino | Defendant in the Desert (Semi-Militant) |
| Jason Sommers | Defendant in the Desert (Semi-Militant) |
| Conchita Thornton-Marusich | Defendant in the Desert (Semi-Militant) |
| Gary Johnson | Defendant in the Desert (Pacifist) |
| Michelle Johnson | Defendant in the Desert (Pacifist) |
| Ted Martin | Defendant in the Desert (Pacifist) |
| Don McDonald | Defendant in the Desert (Pacifist) |
| Harold Schneider | Defendant in the Desert (Pacifist) |
| Jim Bohan | Officer Edwards (as Jim Bowan) |
| Val Daniel | Sheriff's Dept. |
| Harlan Green | Sheriff's Dept. |
| Dennis Wilson | Sheriff's Dept. |
| Paul Alelyunes | City Police |
| Kerry Cannon | City Police |
| Bob Franklin | City Police |
| Bruce McGuire | City Police |
| Ron Pennington | City Police |
| Allen Powell | City Police |
| Jim Wettstein | City Police |
| Jim Churchill | National Guard |
| Danny Conlon | National Guard |
| Wally McKay | National Guard |
| Cliff Pinard | National Guard |
| Don Vann | National Guard |
| Charlie Wyatt | National Guard |
| Peter Watkins | Documentarist (uncredited) |
Genres
DramaThriller
Technical details
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Original title | Punishment Park |
| Original language | English (EN) |
| Spoken languages | English |
| Production countries | United States of America |
| Status | Released |
| Production companies | Churchill Films, Françoise Films, Chartwell |
| Release date | 1 ottobre 1971 |
| Production | Susan Martin |
| Writer | Peter Watkins |
| Casting | Linda Elbow, Laura Golden |
| Editing | Terry Hodel, Peter Watkins, Susan Martin |
| Cinematography | Joan Churchill, Peter Smokler, Richard Wells |
| Assistant directors | Peter Watkins, Linda Elbow |
| Lighting | John Arthur Morrill, Harlan Chapman, Kit Kalionzes |
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| Camera operators | Joan Churchill, Peter Smokler, Richard Wells |
| Additional photography | Peter Smokler, Joan Churchill, Richard Wells |
| Production design | Barry Wilson, David Hancock, Brian Hart |
| Art direction | Barry Wilson, David Hancock, Brian Hart |
| Set decoration | Barry Wilson, David Hancock, Brian Hart |
| Music | Paul Motian, Wayne Nakatsu, Hiroaki 'Zom' Yamamoto, Doug Stevenson, Michael C. Moore |
| Sound | Paul Motian, Wayne Nakatsu, Hiroaki 'Zom' Yamamoto, Doug Stevenson, Michael C. Moore |
| Costume design | Miriam Nunberg |
| Makeup | Miriam Nunberg |
| Hairstyling | Miriam Nunberg |
| Budget | 95.000 € |
Release dates
Premiere
Taiwan / Oct 15, 2011 / Jeux interdits
Ukraine / Oct 23, 2020 / Kyiv Critics' Week
Limited release
Canada / Oct 01, 1971 / R
Theatrical release
United States / Oct 01, 1971 / R
United Kingdom / Feb 10, 1972 / 15 / Originally X
Sweden / Mar 13, 1972
France / Oct 31, 1973 / 12 / Visa CNC 41008
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Germany / Mar 13, 1975 / 16
Physical media
Netherlands / Jan 20, 2012 / 16 / Blu ray
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