"Fortune and Men's Eyes" is a Canadian movie based on John Herbert's Broadway stage play with Sal Mineo in the lead. Smitty (Wendell Burton) goes to prison for six months for marijuana use. While there he encounters the violence done by men to one another, especially to young, unprotected men like himself. He's assigned a cell with Queenie (Michael Greer), a drag queen, Rocky (Zooey Hall), a quiet but cocky con, and Mona (Danny Freedman), a young gay man who ministers to Rocky. Smitty watches in horror as gangs of inmates brutalize prisoners who lack protection, and eventually becomes prison leader. This is an earnest prison drama with some amusement provided by its treatment of prison homosexuality. Michael Greer's performance as the extremely flamboyant and effeminate "Queenie" is noteworthy. While this film has strong language and some nudity, sexual situations are handled discreetly. This film is rare, very difficult to find, so don't waste your time. The screenplay was written by John Herbert, based on his play, and Harvey Hart directed.
