On the Yard (1978): Cast & Plot
On the Yard is a 1978 drama directed by Raphael D. Silver, starring Thomas G. Waites as Chilly, John Heard and Joe Grifasi. It runs 1 hour 42 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 42m (102 min)
- Director
- Raphael D. Silver
- Genre
- Drama
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Midwest Films
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is On the Yard About?
The premise of On the Yard without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
A desperate inmate cries, “Get me out before they kill me!” Chilly, the yard’s “top con,” wields absolute authority—he writes the rules and can order lethal violence. When a newcomer dares to challenge his dominance, he quickly learns the savage cost of defying the yard’s ruthless hierarchy.
On the Yard Themes & Keywords
· 3 tags- based on novel
- cigarette smoking
- prison
On the Yard Cast & Characters
Thomas G. Waites leads the cast as Chilly, with John Heard as Juleson and Joe Grifasi as Morris. Directed by Raphael D. Silver; 26 actors are credited in all.
- Director Raphael D. Silver
- Thomas G. Waites as Chilly
-
John Heard as Juleson - Joe Grifasi as Morris
-
Lane Smith as Blake
Also Starring in On the Yard
· 22 more- James Remar Larson
- David Clennon Psychiatrist
- J.C. Quinn Luther
- Mike Kellin Red
- Richard Bright Nunn
- John Taylor Schulte
- Eddie Jones Olson
- Ben Slack Clemmons
- Dominic Chianese Mendoza (uncredited)
- Don Blakely Tate
- James Johnson Therapy Session
- Ron Faber Manning
- David Berman Caterpillar
- Tom Toner Warden
- Richard Jamieson Carpenter
- Richard Hayes Stick
Show all 26 cast members Show fewer cast members
- Hector Troy Gasolino
- Dave McCalley Redmond
- Ludwick Villani Candy
- Ivan Yount Inmate
- Ralph Hobbs Zeke
- Ralph Basalla Processor
On the Yard Plot Summary
What happens in On the Yard from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Juleson John Heard is a newly sentenced prisoner stepping into a Pennsylvania state prison, where he quickly discovers that life on the yard runs by its own rules, separate from anything the guards regulate. The yard is a rough, intimate ecosystem where power, favors, and turf matter far more than paperwork, and where the unwritten code governs every move.
At the top of this unspoken hierarchy sits Chilly Thomas G. Waites, a smooth, street-smart inmate who runs the cigarette and contraband trade. Nothing moves inside these walls without his nod, and his influence extends far beyond his own block. He embodies the trust and fear that shape this world, and his word holds weight that the system’s rules cannot easily contest.
Full summary
The whole story of On the Yard, scene by scene
How Well Do You Know On the Yard?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What is the name of the newly sentenced prisoner at the center of the film?
On the Yard Also Known As
2 alternative titles: “Alptraum hinter Gittern” and “Во дворе”.
- Also known as
-
- Alptraum hinter Gittern
- Во дворе
Seen On the Yard?
Movies Like On the Yard
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including The Killing Yard, The Yards and Yardie.
On the Yard FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of On the Yard, each answered in a sentence.
How long is On the Yard?
On the Yard runs 1 hour 42 minutes (102 minutes).
When was On the Yard released?
On the Yard was released on September 16, 1978.
Who directed On the Yard?
On the Yard was directed by Raphael D. Silver.
Who is in the cast of On the Yard?
On the Yard stars Thomas G. Waites as Chilly, John Heard as Juleson and Joe Grifasi as Morris, among 26 credited actors.
Does On the Yard have a post-credit scene?
No. On the Yard has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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