I have just finished reading "An American Tragedy" by Theodore Dreiser and the last 60 pages are set on death row. As Clyde awaits either pardon or execution, he sees criminals come and go and the warden, opposed to capital punishment is pushing for it's abolition. Pretty much the same as this movie.
Preston Foster was an amazingly under-rated actor who did have initial success on Broadway in the powerful "Two Seconds" and repeated his role as the big talking Bud Clark in the film version. Even though Spencer Tracy played "Killer" John Meares on Broadway and Clark Gable played the role on the West Coast, it was a role Preston Foster was born to play and he gives a stunning, yet at heart, bitter performance in one of his earliest film roles. It was interesting that it was produced by K.B.S. - an independent company that produced less than 20 movies - and not MGM, who had already made "The Big House" and had Clark Gable under contract.
Richard Walters (Howard Phillips) is sent to death row for a murder he claims he did not commit. He is introduced to the inmates ("we go by numbers - names don't mean much when you get here") by "Killer" John Meares, the leader of the group. Berg from Cell 1 is to die in 20 minutes (George E. Stone gives a heart rending performance). Thinking back on the crime that landed him in prison - Walters had a gas station but his partner was embezzling funds - when the station is held up, a gun goes off and his partner is dead, the gun is found in Walter's hand and a policeman had heard them arguing earlier - an open and shut case.
The Warden (Alec B. Francis) finds his job soul destroying and is trying his best to abolish capital punishment. The guards are made of different stuff and they taunt and abuse the prisoners. Meares organises a prison break - all except cowardly Werner of Cell 8 make a bid for freedom, Meares makes his demands - a car, plenty of gas, good tyres and 4 hours head start - or the guards will be killed one by one. The ending is reminiscent of "The Big House" but on a much smaller scale. The film is a damning indictment of prisoners on death row. Meares gives an impassioned speech to the guards, now under lock and key, who will agree to any demands to ensure their freedom.
The cast is like a who's who of those wonderful character actors who seemed to be in every other film in the early thirties. George E. Stone (Joe Berg Cell 1) was marvellous as "Little Caesar"'s one true pal and as the harried dance director in "42nd Street". Noel Madison (D'Amoro Cell 6) had a very varied early career but soon found himself typecast playing underworld henchmen. His most famous film "The Pace That Kills" (1936), but he even turned up in a couple of Jessie Matthews' films ie as a gangster in "Gangway" (1937). Paul Fix (Eddie Werner, Cell 8) had a huge career in both movies and television. Daniel L. Haynes (Sonny Jackson, Cell 2), had starred in "Hallelujah" (1929), a triumph with an all black cast musical drama directed by King Vidor. His performance was a standout but, unfortunately, being a black performer, there were few film opportunities for him. "The Last Mile" was his next film (3 years later) - but his part was very significant. He got the chance to sing a couple of spirituals and he was the first to die in the jail break.
Highly Recommended.
Preston Foster was an amazingly under-rated actor who did have initial success on Broadway in the powerful "Two Seconds" and repeated his role as the big talking Bud Clark in the film version. Even though Spencer Tracy played "Killer" John Meares on Broadway and Clark Gable played the role on the West Coast, it was a role Preston Foster was born to play and he gives a stunning, yet at heart, bitter performance in one of his earliest film roles. It was interesting that it was produced by K.B.S. - an independent company that produced less than 20 movies - and not MGM, who had already made "The Big House" and had Clark Gable under contract.
Richard Walters (Howard Phillips) is sent to death row for a murder he claims he did not commit. He is introduced to the inmates ("we go by numbers - names don't mean much when you get here") by "Killer" John Meares, the leader of the group. Berg from Cell 1 is to die in 20 minutes (George E. Stone gives a heart rending performance). Thinking back on the crime that landed him in prison - Walters had a gas station but his partner was embezzling funds - when the station is held up, a gun goes off and his partner is dead, the gun is found in Walter's hand and a policeman had heard them arguing earlier - an open and shut case.
The Warden (Alec B. Francis) finds his job soul destroying and is trying his best to abolish capital punishment. The guards are made of different stuff and they taunt and abuse the prisoners. Meares organises a prison break - all except cowardly Werner of Cell 8 make a bid for freedom, Meares makes his demands - a car, plenty of gas, good tyres and 4 hours head start - or the guards will be killed one by one. The ending is reminiscent of "The Big House" but on a much smaller scale. The film is a damning indictment of prisoners on death row. Meares gives an impassioned speech to the guards, now under lock and key, who will agree to any demands to ensure their freedom.
The cast is like a who's who of those wonderful character actors who seemed to be in every other film in the early thirties. George E. Stone (Joe Berg Cell 1) was marvellous as "Little Caesar"'s one true pal and as the harried dance director in "42nd Street". Noel Madison (D'Amoro Cell 6) had a very varied early career but soon found himself typecast playing underworld henchmen. His most famous film "The Pace That Kills" (1936), but he even turned up in a couple of Jessie Matthews' films ie as a gangster in "Gangway" (1937). Paul Fix (Eddie Werner, Cell 8) had a huge career in both movies and television. Daniel L. Haynes (Sonny Jackson, Cell 2), had starred in "Hallelujah" (1929), a triumph with an all black cast musical drama directed by King Vidor. His performance was a standout but, unfortunately, being a black performer, there were few film opportunities for him. "The Last Mile" was his next film (3 years later) - but his part was very significant. He got the chance to sing a couple of spirituals and he was the first to die in the jail break.
Highly Recommended.