Behind Prison Gates (1939)

Det. Norman Craig assumes the identity of a dead bank robber (killed in a police shoot out), Red Murray, so he can infiltrate the prison and find three other bank robbers that the police ... See full summary »

Director:

Charles Barton

Writers:

Arthur T. Horman (original screenplay), Leslie T. White (original screenplay)

Stars:

Brian Donlevy, Julie Bishop, Joseph Crehan

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Brian Donlevy	...	Agent Norman Craig / Red Murray
Julie Bishop	...	Sheila Murray (as Jacqueline Wells)
Joseph Crehan	...	Prison Warden O'Neil
Paul Fix	...	Convict Petey Ryan
George Lloyd	...	Convict Marty Conroy
Dick Curtis	...	Capt. Simmons
Richard Fiske	...	Agent Lyman

Storyline

Det. Norman Craig assumes the identity of a dead bank robber (killed in a police shoot out), Red Murray, so he can infiltrate the prison and find three other bank robbers that the police are looking for. Things are going fine until Craig's partner is found dead in his cell with a bullet hole in his head. The plot thickens as Craig now tries to find the robbers and the murderer of his partner. He pits the three he suspects against each other hoping their greed and paranoia will cause them to turn on each other and rat the other out.

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Plot Keywords:

prison | low budget film | killer | printing shop | gang | 

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Taglines:

Blazing Drama... As A Prison Turns Into A Man Trap!

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Crime | Drama

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

28 July 1939 (USA)

Also Known As:

Por Detrás das Grades

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

63 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

User Reviews

A very good little noir gem

I have this film since twenty years now in my vaults, and I only realize that no one has commented it yet. What a surprise. It's another prison movie, yes, but an efficient one. I won't repeat the plot line, some one has done it for me. But Brian Donlevy gives here a very effective performance as an undercover cop trying to find criminals. Exciting little film made by a director rather known for his comedies, Abbot and Costello's ones, for instance.

I guess that there are so many unknown features like this one, and which will remain this way.

What a shame. But let's cross our fingers.