Question1.
A brief description of the main characters in the film. Henri YoungHenry Young’s character during the film is that of a prisoner in Alcatrazwhich changes dramatically during the film. The movie also shows Henri atan earlier stage in his life as a teenager as normal as any other kidexcept he is poor without parents trying to support himself and his youngersister. Henri was sent to prison after stealing five dollars from a postoffice. Henri was transferred to Alcatraz to fill the prison.
Henri was asnormal as any of the other inmates in Alcatraz, but after being put insolitary confinement for three years after trying to escape Henry waschanged. Henry was a product of his environment during his time spent inthe hole Henri lost trust in other humans and sense of time proven when hecouldn’t even remember how old he was. By the time Henri was released fromthe dungeons he’d been sent insane. Henri then killed another inmate in thedinning hall with a spoon. Henri didn’t know what he was doing and wasmentally unstable after his treatment in the hole. Henri opened himself upto one person who was his lawyer James Stamphill.
Henry never saw James ashis lawyer but as the friend he wanted and needed. Henri evolved from asavage wild man who would kill somebody to a more civilised person with hisinteraction with James. In the end Henri’s character found harmony withinhimself after winning the court case who he placed with himself versusMilton Glenn the Associate Warden of Alcatraz. When he won it was hisVictory.
James StamphillJames’ character is constant that of a Lawyer fresh out of Law school. James’s character also narrates the movie, where he says that he is onlyjoining law school when Henry Young was put in Solitary. When Henry isreleased from solitary James had finished his Bar exam, James’ first casewould be Henry’s. James develops a better understanding of the importanceof a relationship with a client to defend them.
When James first met Henryall Henry wanted to know about was baseball, so James learnt about baseballand would tell Henri the scores of games where this interaction would getHenri talking to James where James could ask questions during conversationsto get the information he needed for the trial. Milton GlennMilton Glenn’s character is that of Associate Warden of Alcatraz. MiltonGlenn uses Henri Young as an example to the prisoner’s of Alcatraz afterHenri tried to escape. It shows Glenn as psychotic, sadistic and feared bythe prisoner’s. Glenn is quite manipulative this is shown with one ofMilton’s talks with John Humson the Warden of Alcatraz where he told Johnthat Henry needed severe punishment leading the Warden on to believe thatHenry was one who had masterminded an escape attempt and needed to be keptin solitary for an extended period. John HumsonHumson is the Warden of Alcatraz.
Humson is never at Alcatraz and has beenleft in the dark about Henry Young’s treatment, all he knows is what MiltonGlenn wants him to know Glenn portrayed Henry as a special case and that heneeded to be kept in solitary so Humson kept him in solitary. Humson’scharacter is in touch with the media and is well respected. John is made tolook like a fool when James puts him on the stand revealing that Humsonknew nothing of what happens in Alcatraz. Question 2Relationships between:Henri and JamesHenri and James’ lives where quite parallel in their early years asteenagers they both stole similar amounts of money only that James receiveda warning for his crime where Henri was sent to jail. When Henri and Jamesfirst met James was looking at how he could prove Henry innocent, whileHenri was looking for something to do before he died.
Henry decided hewanted a friend instead of a lawyer and insisted on not talking about thetrial. Henry enjoyed baseball where James did not have a clue James learntthe rules and players so he could get Henry talking where then James wouldtactfully ask questions about the trial to get his information, until Henryfelt comfortable talking with James that he would talk about anything. James and ByronJames and Byron are brothers and are not getting along well. During aconversation between the two Byron is trying get James to stop defendingHenry and have Henry found guilty. James gets a clue to put Humson .
