SAN QUENTIN

US, 1937, 70 minutes, Black and white.
Pat O'Brien, Ann Sheridan, Humphrey Bogart, Barton Mac Lane, Joseph Sawyer, Veda Ann Borg.
Directed by Lloyd Bacon.

San Quentin is a prison story, using the famous San Francisco prison. The film is a brief B-programmer - but particularly well-made and well cast. The focus is on Pat O'Brien as the military man sent to be Governor and reform the prison. However, Humphrey Bogart emerges with more dramatic impact as the prisoner. Ann Sheridan adds some glamour as Bogart's sister. There are the usual sequences of the convicts, the road gangs, the escape, the shootout. It is material familiar from the '30s in such Warner Bros. films as I'm a Fugitive from a Chain Gang, Twenty Thousand Years in Sing Sing and later films such as Castle on the Hudson. Lloyd Bacon was one of Warner Bros. directors who made competent and brisk features.

1. The impact of the drama? Interest in the prison film? A film of the 1930s?

2. Warners' production values, the use of the prison, black and white photography, special effects for the car chase? Musical score?

3. The title and the focus on the prison: the convicts and the reasons for their being there, society and its treatment of convicts, the society of the prison, the harshness of warders, humanitarianism and reform, boards of governors? Life in prisons, hardened criminals, those who are trying to reform? The routines of prison life, punishments, visits, suspension of privileges, work, factories, road gangs? The audience interest in prison films in the '30s?

4. The focus on Captain Jameson and his role in the military, his encounter with Mae and his falling in love with her, not telling her that he was to be the warden of San Quentin, the visits with her, the clashes, her change of heart, helping with Joe? His introduction to the men, strong attitudes, fearless, making the objecting convict sing? Drugin and his planning against him? His taking the gun from the crazed religious convict? His accountability to the Board? His hopes, treatment of the men, Joe's response? His escape and Jameson’s puzzle? The encounter, letting him go, his faith being justified by Joe's return?

5. Humphrey Bogart as Joe - arrival at the nightclub, relationship with Mae, his history, into the prison, his being tricked about release, his fight in the yard, solitary, rebellion, gaining admiration for Jameson, angry about his privileges allegedly because of his sister, the decision to escape, the car chase, the visit to Mae’s apartment, being shot - knowing that Jameson was honest and the dramatics of his return to prison, dying at the gate and urging the convicts to believe in Jameson? An interesting Humphrey Bogart role?

6. Mae and her being a glamorous singer, relationship with Joe, friendship with Steve, the visits to San Quentin, passing the money, discovering that Steve was the warden, her clash, reconciliation, trying to help Joe?

7. The range of convicts, the religious fanatic, the whites, the negroes, the hardened criminals, work in the factories, solitary, the road gangs? Sailor and his plans for getting on the road gang, good behaviour, his girlfriend and her visits, the plan to escape? The prisoner who listened in and reported to authorities?

8. The road gang, the flat tyre, Joe and Sailor helping, taking Drugin as hostage, throwing him out, the car chase, the shoot-out, Sailor's death?

9. The guards, especially Drugin and his not understanding the men, harsh treatment, planning, his being taken by the prisoners?

10. Action themes, character study, prison issues?