UP THE RIVER
US, 1930, 92 minutes, Black and white.
Spencer Tracy, Humphrey Bogart, Claire Luce, Warren Hymer.
Directed by John Ford.
Up the River is of historical interest, one of the earliest of John Ford’s films, a prison film, a comedy.
The film was also a curiosity item, especially for its pairing of Spencer Tracy and Humphrey Bogart, their only film together, the two, much the same age, at the beginning of their film careers.
Spencer Tracy plays Saint Louis, an inveterate criminal, an inveterate escapee, full of self-confidence and bravado, escaping first, living the high life, finding himself back in jail. His companion in escaping and life in jail is Donnemara Dan, played by Warren Hymer, abandoned by Saint Louis at the first attempt, Dan finding God with the Salvation Army and being taunted as he preaches in the street by Saint Louis.
Then they are back in jail. In the jail, with important duties amongst the prisoners is Steve, an almost unrecognisable Humphrey Bogart, rather good looking back in the day and not as rugged as he was soon to become. He is the junior lead, the rather ingenuous young man who finds himself in jail after killing someone in a fight. In the women’s prison, adjacent to the men’s, is a young woman, Judy, Claire Luce, who is attracted to Steve and vice versa.
When Steve is released and returns home to his mother and family, they thinking that he has been away in China, another prisoner arrives, acting the part of the toff and businessman, but threatening to expose Steve. Meanwhile he ingratiate himself in the town and has a money-raising scheme.
Meanwhile, back in prison, everything is as normal, but there is a preparation for a big concert – and the film shows quite a number of the acts, singers, a chorus… But Saint Louis plans to escape with Dan in order to go to the town, help Steve, confront the blackmailer, help Steve and his relationship with Judy – all of which is done!
Humphrey Bogart never worked with John Ford after this but 28 years later Spencer Tracy appeared in the political drama directed by Ford, The Last Hurrah.
