This is a story about good-hearted crook Tommy Connors (Spencer Tracy), the warden of the prison he's in (Arthur Byron) and his girlfriend Fay Wilson (Bette Davis) in that order of importance. The warden agenda of order and fair treatment initially brings him in conflict with Tommy, but after Tommy realizes there is no other way, they get along much better. Warden even lets him to visit Fay in distress, which has fatal consequences.
The whole film is an ambitious attempt to describe situation in prisons, relations between inmates and the system and between inmates and beloved ones outside the prison. It indeed gives us insight into this issues, however the story lacks coherence. Because of poor screenplay and uninventive direction we are just jumping between different scenes. Furthermore, even after I watched corresponding scenes several times, I still do not get what exactly happened to Fay and what was her real medical state.
The only character that displays considerable inner feelings is well described by Spencer Tracy's fine acting. But I miss more depth from other two main characters. Bette Davis is pale portraying Fay, which is - to my amazement - presented as a refined girl. Despite Bette Davis does know how to make something even from seemingly minor characters, like the character of Arlene in largely underestimated film Fog over Frisco (1934), there is simply nothing seriously to act. Fortunately, she fought hard for better roles and showed us her abilities in later films. The rest of the crew is easily recognized as a standard reliable Warner Bros troupe which almost invisibly slips from one film to another.
It is worth watching Spencer Tracy in his early acting role (not so for Bette Davis) and for the objective review of prison life in 1930s. Even if this does not seems much, I think a good film lover should see it for a record.
The whole film is an ambitious attempt to describe situation in prisons, relations between inmates and the system and between inmates and beloved ones outside the prison. It indeed gives us insight into this issues, however the story lacks coherence. Because of poor screenplay and uninventive direction we are just jumping between different scenes. Furthermore, even after I watched corresponding scenes several times, I still do not get what exactly happened to Fay and what was her real medical state.
The only character that displays considerable inner feelings is well described by Spencer Tracy's fine acting. But I miss more depth from other two main characters. Bette Davis is pale portraying Fay, which is - to my amazement - presented as a refined girl. Despite Bette Davis does know how to make something even from seemingly minor characters, like the character of Arlene in largely underestimated film Fog over Frisco (1934), there is simply nothing seriously to act. Fortunately, she fought hard for better roles and showed us her abilities in later films. The rest of the crew is easily recognized as a standard reliable Warner Bros troupe which almost invisibly slips from one film to another.
It is worth watching Spencer Tracy in his early acting role (not so for Bette Davis) and for the objective review of prison life in 1930s. Even if this does not seems much, I think a good film lover should see it for a record.