The soon to be released Johnny Cash biopic 'Walk The Line' is to be screened at the infamous Folsom State Prison. Star of the film Joaquin Phoenix will introduce the movie to inmates on January 3.
Cash played a gig inside Folsom Prison on January 13, 1968 at the notoriously tough Californian penitentiary in front of 2,000 inmates. When the concert was released it proved to be one of the most famous and successful album's of Cash's career.
The film's director James Mangold said:
"The concert at Folsom was more than just a masterpiece for John, it was also an incredible nexus for a lot of things in his life."
Only 13 days before the concert, his
previous marriage had completely dissolved. At the same time he was just kicking drugs.
According to Reuters, California executive director of the non-profit Prison Fellowship, Joe Avila said:
"We invited 20th Century Fox to screen 'Walk the Line' at Folsom because the lesson of
Johnny Cash is that it's never too late for a man to turn his life around, and that's a story these men need to hear."
We in the UK will get to see 'Walk The Line' from February 3.