Two Warner Bros. Mainstays during this time, Humphrey Bogart and Pat O'Brien, are front and centre in this standard but enjoyable prison-set melodrama. Bogie is "Red" Kennedy, a lifelong punk who gets collared by the police and sent to the title location. He arrives shortly after an ex-Army officer, Jameson (Pat O'Brien), has been hired to be the new Captain of the Guards. Jameson, who knows how to handle people, is interested in reform, and over time he manages to earn Reds' trust and helps inspire him to want to change. But the scheming of others only leads them to a different fate.
Although the story is not a great one, it's decently entertaining, and the film only runs a trim 71 minutes, so there's not much in the way of filler. (Other than a romance between O'Brien and leading lady Ann Sheridan (playing Reds' sister); her character is a nightclub entertainer and does have one musical number.) The presentation benefits from director Lloyd Bacons' straightforward approach, and a variety of colourful characters among the convicts. Among others, you'll see such top-notch character actors as Joseph Sawyer (a standout, as the jovial 'Sailor Boy' Hansen) and Marc Lawrence. Barton MacLane is also a standout as Druggin, a gruff man who has to step aside to let Jameson take his job. He's the type that swaggers a lot, throws his weight around, and doesn't bother trying to get to know the inmates on any level.
Jameson is different. He subscribes to the belief that there are basically two kinds of inmates: the hardcore criminals who will never change, and spend most of their lives in prison, and the reachable ones who want to do their time peacefully and quietly and hopefully learn from the experience. It remains to be seen if Red will truly belong to the latter group.
With efficient acting in all the major roles, "San Quentin" is good, if not inspired, entertainment, with an especially fun climax involving a break from a roadside work gang.
Veda Ann Borg has a small but delicious role as a participant in Sailor Boys' escape plan.
Seven out of 10.
Although the story is not a great one, it's decently entertaining, and the film only runs a trim 71 minutes, so there's not much in the way of filler. (Other than a romance between O'Brien and leading lady Ann Sheridan (playing Reds' sister); her character is a nightclub entertainer and does have one musical number.) The presentation benefits from director Lloyd Bacons' straightforward approach, and a variety of colourful characters among the convicts. Among others, you'll see such top-notch character actors as Joseph Sawyer (a standout, as the jovial 'Sailor Boy' Hansen) and Marc Lawrence. Barton MacLane is also a standout as Druggin, a gruff man who has to step aside to let Jameson take his job. He's the type that swaggers a lot, throws his weight around, and doesn't bother trying to get to know the inmates on any level.
Jameson is different. He subscribes to the belief that there are basically two kinds of inmates: the hardcore criminals who will never change, and spend most of their lives in prison, and the reachable ones who want to do their time peacefully and quietly and hopefully learn from the experience. It remains to be seen if Red will truly belong to the latter group.
With efficient acting in all the major roles, "San Quentin" is good, if not inspired, entertainment, with an especially fun climax involving a break from a roadside work gang.
Veda Ann Borg has a small but delicious role as a participant in Sailor Boys' escape plan.
Seven out of 10.