CASTLE ON THE HUDSON
US, 1940, 77 minutes, Black and white.
John Garfield, Pat O'Brien, Ann Sheridan, Burgess Meredith, Jerome Cowan, Henry O'Neill, Guinn Williams, John Litel.
Directed by Anatole Litvak.
Castle on the Hudson is a grim but well-made prison film of the late '30s. It is a re-make of the Spencer Tracy -Bette Davis vehicle, Twenty Thousand Years in Sing Sing. This time it receives Warner Bros. production values, director Anatole Litvak (director at this time of such films as The Sisters, All That Heaven Allows). John Garfield is very good in the Spencer Tracy role. Ann Sheridan has charm as the heroine. There is interesting supporting work from Pat O'Brien as the prison warden and Burgess Meredith as a would-be escaper.
The film has - a brief running time but has strong characterisations, strong social themes, an attempt at preaching with, the reformation of the gangster and the spirit of trust and parole by an enlightened warden. It has, however, a very grim ending with Garfield sacrificing himself in the electric chair for Sheridan. Though of its time, it is still an interesting and entertaining film.
1. An interesting and entertaining prison film? In the tradition of prison films? The 30s shaping the conventions for later decades?
2. The film as a remake of Twenty Thousand Years in Sing Sing? Comparisons with the original? The black and white photography, the atmosphere of New York, Sing Sing itself? The editing and pace? The atmosphere of the prison? The musical score?
3. The title and the nickname for Sing Sing? The importance of the courts and prison in the gangster-ridden 1930s? The film industry taking on these themes and portraying the gangsters, their being arrested, prison sentences? Executions?
4. The portrait of Tommy Gordon - John Garfield's presence and style, cheekiness, energy and relentlessness? The robbery, his boasting, his relationship with Kay, with Ed Crowley? His surprise at being arrested, his expecting to get off, the verdict going against him? The trip to Sing Sing and his brashness, his arrogance on arrival, the tantrums about the warden, not wearing the uniform? The interview with the warden and his abrasiveness? His determination not to be broken by the prison? Expectations of treatment and getting out? His not being given a uniform in the cold? His going into the cell for three months- and the collage of activity outside contrasting with his isolation? His relenting and going to work? H1s enjoying work - but saying that he wouldn't be broken? Kay's visits and his not wanting her to be so glamorous for him? The friendship with Rockford, the planned escape, his jinx about Saturdays and his refusing to go, the failed attempt and his getting the warden to lock him in? His continuing improvement? Kay's accident and the warden allowing him to go? His honour? His being trailed by police, discovering the truth about Kay, the fight with Crowley, Crowly naming him as he died? His attempts to escape, reading the paper and returning? His admiration for the warden? The court case, his being condemned, the loss of appeals? In Death Row, his reactions and brashness, his going to the final cell, Kay's visit and telling the truth, the warden realising the truth, his wanting to do something decent in his life and so dying for Kay? The finale with him going to death? A strong portrait of a gangster prisoner?
5. Kay and her love for Tommy, her visits to the prison, attempts to help him, the entanglements with Crowley, her accident and the truth of her getting out of the car, Tommy's visit, her shooting Crowley, her trying to tell the truth, Tommy shielding her, her final visit?
6. The sympathetic warden, his treatment of Tommy as a person yet still standing his ground, making him pick up the match, keeping him in solitary, the escape attempt? The giving leave to Tommy on trust, the reaction when he didn't return, his satisfaction on his return, a policy of parole and rehabilitation? His final sympathetic visit to Tommy? The portrait of the prison officials, the guards, the psychologist and his administration of the IQ test (and getting Tommy to show that he was brilliant, the contrast with Mike and his slowness and the allotting of jobs)?
7. Rockford and his plans for escape, smart, his tenderness for his pregnant wife, the attempt itself, his desperation, the shots, his trying to climb to safety, his killing himself? The sketch of the other prisoners, especially Mike and his slowness?
8. The world of New York crime - the police, the shady lawyers, Crowley being all talk, going to Sing Sing with Tommy, his interview with the warden and failing? His hold on Kay? The money? The fight with Tommy and his death, lying about Tommy's killing him?
9. Audience familiarity with the gangster themes - robberies, nightclubs, lawyers?
10. The presentation of the prison, attitudes towards prisons in the '30s towards criminals, justice, rehabilitation? An interesting contribution to the prison genre?
