Fortune and Men’s Eyes (1971) is an intense, harrowing film that explores the oppressive, dehumanizing environment of a maximum-security prison. Directed by Harold Pinter and based on the play by John Herbert, the film delves deeply into themes of masculinity, survival, and psychological trauma, while addressing controversial subjects such as sexuality and institutional violence.
Plot and Characters:
The film opens with Rocky (played by Wendell Burton), a young, fresh-faced man who has been convicted of a crime. He enters the maximum-security prison and immediately faces a harsh and unfamiliar world, where rules are not simply enforced by authority but are determined by the inmates themselves. The focus is on the brutal, animalistic behavior of the prisoners who exist in a world governed by fear, violence, and exploitation.
Rocky (Wendell Burton):
Rocky is the central character and represents the innocence and vulnerability of someone who is new to the prison system. He’s young, naive, and unprepared for the social and sexual dynamics within the prison walls. Rocky is thrown into a world where power and survival are based on hierarchy, physical strength, and manipulation. The first few days are brutal for him, and he experiences a deep sense of isolation and fear as he learns the rules of survival the hard way.
Smitty (Tom G. Robinson):
One of the most dominant figures in the prison is Smitty, a hardened, older inmate who exerts control over others by exploiting their fears, vulnerabilities, and weaknesses. Smitty is both an antagonist and a teacher to Rocky, as he demonstrates the darker aspects of prison life, including the concept of "turning" a man—an act of manipulating and dominating another person sexually and psychologically in order to maintain power. Smitty, with his experience in the prison system, forces Rocky to navigate the painful and brutal undercurrents of prison life.
Smitty plays a role of both protector and oppressor, as he guides Rocky through the ritualistic violence and sexual dynamics of prison. Their relationship is complex, as it oscillates between camaraderie and manipulation. The tension between the two characters underscores one of the film's central themes: the conflict between survival and moral integrity.
Chuck (John McLiam):
Chuck is another prisoner in the facility, but unlike Smitty, he offers a contrast in behavior. Chuck is gentle, empathetic, and understanding, representing a vulnerable, more compassionate side of the prisoner experience. He forms a bond with Rocky, trying to protect him and offering him some comfort amidst the chaos. Chuck’s kindness acts as a glimmer of humanity in the otherwise dehumanizing environment of the prison, but even he cannot fully protect Rocky from the predatory nature of the system.
The Warden and Guards:
The institutional figures—the warden and guards—serve as a backdrop, illustrating the indifference and disempowerment of authority within the prison system. While the warden and guards are present, they are ineffective and often nonchalant, turning a blind eye to the systematic abuse and violence that occurs between prisoners. This further emphasizes the film’s theme of a broken system that not only fails to rehabilitate but actively exacerbates the suffering and degradation of its inhabitants.
Key Themes:
1. Sexuality and Power Dynamics:
One of the most powerful and controversial aspects of Fortune and Men’s Eyes is its depiction of sexual exploitation in prison. The film explores the ways in which power, dominance, and vulnerability are intertwined with sexual coercion and manipulation. In the context of prison, sexuality becomes a tool of survival and control. This is starkly shown through the relationship between Rocky and Smitty, where sexual domination becomes a form of psychological and emotional control.
The film makes no attempt to romanticize or soften the brutal reality of how prisoners manipulate each other, using sex as both a weapon and a means of securing safety. Rocky’s experience of "turning"—being forced into sexual submission to assert Smitty’s dominance—is an agonizing loss of agency. This act is not only a violation of Rocky’s physical being but also a profound emotional and psychological assault, shattering his sense of self.
The film forces the audience to confront how power can be wielded through vulnerability, particularly in an institution where power dynamics are sharply divided, and the survival of the fittest dictates the lives of those inside. Rocky’s struggle with his own identity and sexuality under the pressures of the prison environment highlights the tension between his desire to retain his dignity and the need to conform in order to survive.
2. Masculinity and Identity:
The concept of masculinity plays a pivotal role in the film. In the violent, hyper-masculine world of the prison, the men’s identities are reduced to physical strength and the ability to dominate or submit. Fortune and Men’s Eyes critiques these expectations, showing how the toxic norms of masculinity impact the inmates' mental health and relationships. Rocky’s evolution over the course of the film is essentially a loss of innocence and a painful shift in his identity. The brutality of the prison environment forces him to shed his initial naive masculinity and adopt a more hardened, survivalist persona.
Smitty represents a distorted form of masculinity—one that involves control, manipulation, and aggression. While other characters, like Chuck, show alternative ways of being, the system’s cruelty constantly challenges any form of gentleness or vulnerability. In the prison system, men are forced into rigid roles, and the expectation of masculine dominance is inescapable.
3. The Corrupting Influence of the Prison System:
At the heart of Fortune and Men’s Eyes is a scathing critique of the prison system itself. The film portrays the prison not just as a physical space of confinement but as an institution that psychologically and emotionally deforms its inhabitants. The inmates are not simply locked away; they are stripped of their humanity and reduced to mere survivors in a brutal and unforgiving environment.
The institution’s inability or unwillingness to rehabilitate is evident in the way that prisoners often perpetuate the cycle of violence and abuse. The film’s depiction of the powerless guards and indifferent warden underscores the fact that the prison system serves only to reinforce violence, rather than curbing it.
Rocky’s transformation from an innocent man to someone hardened by the violence around him serves as a poignant commentary on how the system breeds anger, distrust, and self-doubt in its victims. The system is portrayed as a factory that churns out broken individuals, rather than providing them with any meaningful opportunity for redemption or growth.
4. Psychological Damage and Trauma:
Throughout the film, the emotional and psychological toll of prison life is evident. The inmates are trapped in cycles of trauma, each experience of violence leaving an indelible mark on their psyche. The psychological scars, seen in characters like Chuck, who bears the weight of his past trauma, and Smitty, whose past exploits and survival tactics have made him emotionally callous, are a testament to how the prison system perpetuates its cycle of abuse.
Cinematic Techniques:
Director Harold Pinter’s adaptation of the stage play takes a minimalist approach in terms of set design, emphasizing the oppressive nature of the prison through its barren, claustrophobic spaces. The confined spaces and limited lighting contribute to the sense of entrapment and isolation felt by the characters. The film’s cinematography often uses close-up shots to capture the emotional turmoil of the characters, focusing on the anguish and pain in their expressions.
The tone is dark, grim, and often unrelenting, with the film opting for realism over dramatization. The actors deliver raw, unflinching performances that convey the psychological weight of their experiences. The violence, both physical and sexual, is not glamorized but presented in a stark, uncompromising manner, reflecting the brutal realities of institutionalized life.
Conclusion:
Fortune and Men’s Eyes is a raw, brutal exploration of the harsh realities of prison life. It tackles controversial topics with no attempt to soften or sanitize the difficult, often painful truths about sexual violence, the dehumanizing effects of the penal system, and the ways in which people adapt—or fail to adapt—to such a hostile environment. The film’s unflinching portrayal of its characters’ struggles for survival in the face of institutionalized violence and abuse forces the audience to confront the psychological and emotional toll of living in such a broken system.
It remains an intense, thought-provoking film that raises critical questions about the prison system, masculinity, identity, and the profound effects of trauma.