"Big House USA" works when this Rogue's Gallery is on camera. The interaction between Crawford, Meeker, Chaney & Bronson is authentic, dark with gallows humor. There are moments of sadism involving blow torches & betrayal, rare for 1955,
The fllm falters when conforming to 1955 conventions;
the confusing Elliot Ness imitation voice over,
the pat "crime does not pay" conclusion
and the over the top dramatic musical score.
