Luke (an Oscar-nominated Paul Newman) is sent to a Deep South chain gang after smashing up some parking meters. Convict boss Dragline (an Oscar-winning George Kennedy) tries to crack the new inmate's spirit but Luke refuses to be broken. Reformed safecracker Donn Pearce based his novel and screenplay on his own experiences of imprisonment.

As an actor/director surviving five decades of live and episodic television, Broadway, the Actors Studio, iconic films, Emmy nominated Movies of the Week, as Lou Antonio holds onto his bucking bronco of a career and why it is worth the hard landings. With humor and candor he describes the people, the ever changing tastes, mores, technical evolvements and perplexity of the performing arts, plus facing the unknown challenges of coming out of the gate not knowing if your ass is going to stay on the beast or hit the dirt. His career also serves as a warning to the unwary hopefuls, and to the well-worn pros. Memory keeps the past present as he directs or acts with Paul Newman, Elizabeth Taylor, Heath Ledger, George C. Scott to the now of Michelle Williams, Jesse Eisenberg Michael J. Fox, and, yes, the ever-enduring William Shatner. With gratitude and respect Antonio embraces all of those brave souls who hope to make a living in the hard realities of make-believe.