The senior convict is played by John Vernon, already established in comedy through his role as Dean Wormer in the giant hit Animal House (1977). Conflict arrives with a change to a reform governor, disciplinarian Mongo Mitchell (Richard Mulligan of Little Big Man, 1970), accompanied by his oversexed secretary Nancy (Colleen Camp). Dey Young is Duke's love interest, and the prison hi-jinx have no lack of female participation; a TV newswoman is named Linda Libel, while stripper Kitten Natividad also makes an appearance. Despite the presence of talents in the cast like Jimmie Walker, Graham Jarvis and Mike Mazurki, critics found little amusement in Doin' Time, noting Richard Mulligan's shameless mugging in particular. Five credits are listed for the disorganized story that relies on fart humor, women flashing their breasts and jokes as stale as using the electric chair to fry eggs. One critic suggested that the film's short running time might have been the result of junking material that was even worse. Doin' Time is often promoted as starring Muhammad Ali; he and his training assistant Drew Bundini Brown share a cameo appearance in a boxing scene at the climax, as themselves.
By Glenn Erickson
