PRISON MUTINY
US, 1943, 61 minutes, Black-and-white.
Edward Norris, Joan Woodbury, Jack La Rue, Milburn Stone.
Directed by Phil Rosen.
An expected prison film, filmed in San Quentin, but with a reforming agenda in mind. It was directed by Phil Rosen who worked with Thomas Edison in the early 20th century and became a director of many small-budget supporting features until 1951.
Edward Norris plays Johnny Gray, an arrogant playboy who intends to marry a socialite but her father disapproves, especially when he is pulled over by the police for speeding, one of any number of difficulties with the law. He promises reform. However, a gang who has robbed a bank find their car has broken down and they commandeer his, he intending to speed and so trap them by the police but they accusing him of being the mastermind of the robbery. He appears in court. The media is against him. He is condemned to prison.
He spends the first half of the film in a very surly mood, asserting that he was framed, not believed, getting involved in scuffles and in solitary. His main contact is Cain, played with self-confidence (until the last images of the film) by Jack La Rue. He is planning an escape, testing out Johnny with whom he shares a cell.
In the meantime, there is a prison guard who is keen on reform, referred to by Johnny as Little Warden. Fauntleroy. The current warden is sadistic and is removed from his post by the Governor, Frank Sanders replacing him. Sanders is friendly with Amy, the daughter of one of the guards. She knew Johnny when they were at college.
Eventually, Johnny is touched by a man about to be executed and wants to see petunias from his cell window, Frank arranging that Johnny do gardening for Amy’s house, but still surly. However, there is an attempted escape by the bank robbers, shot as they try to climb the fence, one of them in hospital confessing that Johnny is innocent. At the invitation of Frank, supported by Amy, Johnny makes a decision to stay within the prison system and becoming guard, invited to train them in sport.
At the final mutiny, Johnny and Amy’s father are attacked by Cain, put in a cell, Cain trying to persuade the rest of the prisoners to escape with him, Sanders speaking over the PA system. Eventually, the warden prevails. And a happy romantic ending!
