Showtime to Air New Documentary 50 Years After Deadly Riot in Upstate Prison

Within the first few seconds of the 2-minute trailer for Showtime's newest documentary about the deadly prison riots 50 years ago in Upstate, New York called Attica, it's clear that the film's director wants you to know that the bloodbath, and aftermath, was very much racially charged.

"There were 70 percent black and brown prisoners...all white guards.  What could go wrong?" the narrator dramatically says, building the tension.

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What followed would be the deadliest and bloodiest prison riot in American history at Attica Correctional Facility, located west of Albany between Buffalo and Rochester.  The new Showtime documentary Attica, directed by award-winning documentary filmmaker Stanley Nelson, is described this way:

"Attica details the five-day prison rebellion that transpired in the fall of 1971 in upstate New York and still stands as the largest and deadliest the country has ever witnessed. More than a simple recounting of the five days of rebellion, ATTICA will also offer a broader understanding of the Attica tragedy in the crosscurrents of politics, race, power, and punishment during the early 1970s." -Showtime

When it was all said and done, at least 43 people died.  10 of those were correctional facility workers and Attica staff, the other 33 were inmates.  The result of the deadly riots turned out to be a turning point in American prison history as changes were made inside the walls to satisfy certain, basic inmate demands.

The release date for the new documentary is set for Saturday night, November 6th on Showtime.  Check out the trailer here.