Black Tuesday 1954

Escape on the night of execution

Vincent Canelli escapes from death row on the night of his scheduled execution, aided by his girlfriend Hatti and a phony newspaper reporter. They seize control of the prison wing and begin moving with several hostages as leverage for the escape. The breakout sets off a high-stakes chase from the moment the plan goes into motion.

Hostages abducted to secure passage

Canelli’s crew abducts five hostages to ensure safe passage: the prison priest, the prison doctor, a guard, the young reporter replaced by a gang member, and the daughter of another guard. The kidnappings increase pressure on authorities and complicate any attempt to thwart the plan. The captives become bargaining chips in the escape attempt.

Manning joins the escape, badly injured

Peter Manning, another death-row inmate, is taken along because Canelli wants the money Manning hid before jail. Manning is badly injured during the escape, adding a dangerous burden for the group. The escape momentum shifts as they contend with his wound and limited mobility.

Manning treated and discovers abandonment

The hostage prison doctor tends to Manning’s injuries, keeping him alive during the chaos. When Manning regains consciousness, he learns Canelli has abandoned the other three inmates, leaving them with nowhere to go. He realizes the escape has become a one-man race against capture.

Pursuit disperses, aiding the escape

The search for the missing inmates stretches police resources and paradoxically slows down the pursuit of Canelli. Manning and Hatti push forward toward the loot, hoping the distraction buys them time. The altered chase dynamics give Canelli a temporary advantage.

Money retrieval and a crucial sighting

Manning and Hatti go to collect the hidden money, hoping to complete the escape. A bank security officer spots Manning’s blood, recognizes his photo in the newspaper, and catches a glimpse of the getaway vehicle and license plate. The sighting triggers renewed police pursuit and coordination.

The hideout as a staging ground

The gang holes up at a hideout to finalize plans to flee the country with the loot. Tension builds as law enforcement closes in and the clock ticks toward departure. The group prepares for the next phase of their escape.

The siege begins and threats escalate

Police surround the hideout, and Canelli presses his advantage by threatening to kill hostages unless safe passage is granted. He shoots and seriously injures one hostage and murders the kidnapped prison guard to demonstrate resolve. The standoff intensifies into a life-or-death confrontation.

Desperate plan crosses a deadly line

Canelli proposes throwing the injured hostage from the upper floor to ensure a fatal outcome if demands aren’t met. Manning watches the brutality with growing resolve, realizing the plan has crossed a critical moral boundary. The siege tightens as violence escalates.

Manning turns the tables and surrenders

In a climactic turn, Manning shoots and kills Canelli, ending the immediate threat to the remaining captives. He then walks out toward the police with his gun in hand, choosing to face judgment rather than return to death row. The pursuit shifts from escape to accountability.

Aftermath and uneasy fates

With Canelli dead and the escape thwarted, authorities close in on the hideout and account for the hostages and gang members. The three other inmates who were abandoned during the escape are left with nowhere to go, underscoring the reckless nature of Canelli’s plan. Manning’s decision to surrender frames the resolution of the siege.