There were many reasons for wanting to see '20,000 Years in Sing Sing' in the first place. There are some fine prison films out there, old and new. Spencer Tracy and Bette Davis, both in early roles in their only film together, have both been great in other things. Michael Curtiz was a fine director, who directed two of my favourite films. Those two being 'Casablanca', with one of the all-time great screenplays and male screen performances, and 'The Adventures of Robin Hood', the definitive film version of the legendary outlaw.
'20,000 Years in Sing Sing' is a very worthwhile and well done film. With a lot of recommendable things. It is not a great film though, a case of starting promisingly but losing its way later on. Tracy and Davis both gave better performances when they had properly found their strengths and styles (both still finding them here) and, while he comes over very well and one of the main reasons as to why the film is worth viewing, Curtiz is not at his best either.
Will start with what '20,000 Years in Sing Sing' could have done better. Somewhere around the later half (like when Connors is granted leave, which didn't seem realistic to me considering what Connors was in for in the first place), the story starts to get pretty implausible and not particularly easy to swallow, especially the climax which didn't have quite enough the amount of tension needed.
Davis is alluring and very affecting in her role, giving a good account of herself, but she deserved much more than her too short screen time and not particularly meaty character which only shows glimmers of what was to come later. The social message resonates and is surprisingly relevant now, very admirable, but maybe could have done with more subtlety.
However, Tracy is a commanding lead and manages to make a brash character likeable. The other cast standout is a empathetic yet at other times firm Arthur Byron. Good too is a slimy Louis Calhern. All the cast are solid. Curtiz's direction is tight and sleek, never allowing the film to drag and boasting some beautifully framed visuals. '20,000 Years in Sing Sing' is beautifully and stylishly shot, some inventive camera angles, and the music while not continuous (a good thing) doesn't come over as too stock or overpowering.
It is a well written film too, intelligently done and taut as well as entertaining in a gutsy way. The story loses its way in the second half but starts off really, really well, with some nice suspense and not trivialising prison life shown in all its tough grimness while showing some hope too. The very end is moving and while not perfectly delivered, the messaging is well intended and is not out of date now really.
All in all, good if not great. And it would have been the latter if the second half was as strong as the first. 7/10
'20,000 Years in Sing Sing' is a very worthwhile and well done film. With a lot of recommendable things. It is not a great film though, a case of starting promisingly but losing its way later on. Tracy and Davis both gave better performances when they had properly found their strengths and styles (both still finding them here) and, while he comes over very well and one of the main reasons as to why the film is worth viewing, Curtiz is not at his best either.
Will start with what '20,000 Years in Sing Sing' could have done better. Somewhere around the later half (like when Connors is granted leave, which didn't seem realistic to me considering what Connors was in for in the first place), the story starts to get pretty implausible and not particularly easy to swallow, especially the climax which didn't have quite enough the amount of tension needed.
Davis is alluring and very affecting in her role, giving a good account of herself, but she deserved much more than her too short screen time and not particularly meaty character which only shows glimmers of what was to come later. The social message resonates and is surprisingly relevant now, very admirable, but maybe could have done with more subtlety.
However, Tracy is a commanding lead and manages to make a brash character likeable. The other cast standout is a empathetic yet at other times firm Arthur Byron. Good too is a slimy Louis Calhern. All the cast are solid. Curtiz's direction is tight and sleek, never allowing the film to drag and boasting some beautifully framed visuals. '20,000 Years in Sing Sing' is beautifully and stylishly shot, some inventive camera angles, and the music while not continuous (a good thing) doesn't come over as too stock or overpowering.
It is a well written film too, intelligently done and taut as well as entertaining in a gutsy way. The story loses its way in the second half but starts off really, really well, with some nice suspense and not trivialising prison life shown in all its tough grimness while showing some hope too. The very end is moving and while not perfectly delivered, the messaging is well intended and is not out of date now really.
All in all, good if not great. And it would have been the latter if the second half was as strong as the first. 7/10