Prison Break (1938)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

Arthur Lubin

Writers:

Dorothy Davenport (screenplay)
Norton S. Parker (story)

Release Date:

12 July 1938 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

A fisherman confesses to a murder he didn't commit in order to protect a good friend, whom he believes did commit it...

Plot Keywords:

Prison

Cast

Barton MacLane	...	Joaquin Shannon
Glenda Farrell	...	Jean Fenderson
Paul Hurst	...	Soapy
Constance Moore	...	Maria Shannon, Joaquin's sister
Edward Pawley	...	Joe Fenderson
Edmund MacDonald	...	Chris Nelson, Maria's bridegroom
Ward Bond	...	Big Red Kincaid
Guy Usher	...	Warden
Victor Kilian	...	Old Man Fenderson
Frank Darien	...	Cappy, Joaquin's cell-mate
George Cleveland	...	Ding, fisherman with Joaquin
Johnny Russell	...	Jackie, Jean's son previous marriage (as John Russell)
Thomas Louden	...	The Priest
Paul Everton	...	Judge at Joaquin's trial

Runtime:

72 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

USA:Approved (MPPA #4610) | Canada:PG (Ontario)

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

Edmond O'Brien's first film.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Player (1992)

Good B-Feature With a Nice Role For Barton MacLane

This above average B-feature is perhaps most noteworthy for giving Barton MacLane a chance at a starring role, and as a character that he is well-suited to portray. From his first scene, MacLane's hearty style establishes the character believably and sympathetically. Along with some help from a good supporting cast, his effective portrayal helps keep things going despite some noticeably implausible plot turns here and there.

The story has MacLane as a fishing boat captain who is wrongly convicted and imprisoned, and then faced with a whole new set of problems when he is paroled. The story provides some good drama as the captain faces a wide variety of obstacles and enemies not of his own making, and as an incidental feature the movie also highlights a number of the defects and inequities of the justice system.

As MacLane's brutal antagonist, Ward Bond plays his role well. Glenda Farrell is solid as MacLane's loyal love interest, while Paul Hurst and Victor Killian make good use of their scenes.

Given the limited resources, the settings at dockside and in the prison are done believably. The story has too many obvious plot holes, and it depends too much on unlikely coincidences, but it does set up some good opportunities for the cast. Overall, it's a pretty good movie for its era and genre.