Cell 2455, Death Row

New York: Perma Books [Permabooks] No M-4063, 1956. First printing of this edition. Basis for the 1955 film noir, written for the screen by Jack DeWitt, known for other B-noirs such as "Portland Expose" (1957) and "Women's Prison" (1955), as well as a number of Westerns.

A fictionalized account of the life of prisoner Caryl Chessman, symbol of the anti-death penalty movement of the 1950s. William Campbell portrays Chessman in the film as a character called Whittier, and the film follows his evolution from crook and sex fiend to his execution on death row, along with a fairly accurate representation of the prison system of the 1950s.

Cover photograph by Bottwin-Sommer.

Light production wrinkles to the spine, else about Fine in photo illustrated wrappers.

Spicer, p. 406.

[Book #131148]