The Defiant Ones
1958 Nominee

100 Words
A couple of convicts chained together escape in a skirmish. Confusion ensues as the sheriff tries to manage a man and his dogs. The men, meanwhile, are at odds with each other over their difference in skin color and as a result, they could kill each other in the process of escaping.

I’ve seen this one a few times and I appreciate its swiftness both in time and in message-rendering. It doesn’t hurt that the ball and chain are played by two of the finest actors the 50s managed to produce. Also, there’s an appearance by the wolf man himself.