Although the screenplay is based on The San Quentin Story by Clinton Duffy and Dean Jennings, this movie emerges as a slow prison drama. Actually, the script divides into three clearly stand-alone episodes and could justly be described as a portmanteau film. The first and third episodes are actually fairly interesting, despite the fact that the first is a routine, thoroughly conventional story about the new prison warden versus the sadistic captain of the guards, plus the tough convict the warden reforms. The third episode revolves around that old chestnut about the state prosecutor himself being sent to jail. However, it's a tribute to the acting, the photography and Walter Doniger's driving direction that these segments come across fairly well. But nothing can save the second segment, a long-winded account of the female prison hospital nurse versus resentful male subordinates. Unfortunately, Doniger obviously found this ep as uninteresting to him as it is to us. His work is dull, utilizing very little camera movement and relying almost wholly on close-up after close-up. With John Alton on camera, this procedure also draws attention to the presence of some really ancient stock shots. U.K. release title: Men Behind Bars.
4 Reviews
Prison Reform Film
GeoPierpont12 November 2015
Warning: Spoilers
I had no idea that San Quentin was in Marin County California. So my sojourn into prison life began with this film. What a journey and very impressed with the treatment of the delicate subject of wrongly imprisoned inmates. I was horrified by the corporal punishment routinely relinquished by hardened guards.
I have no experience in trying to tame unruly, ruthless, evil criminals and imagine that San Quentin saw the worst of them. How could a brand new warden make an impact. Well, this story provides an insight on how to make a difference. How well this Hollywood version is true to the facts is unknown but I know well that one person can definitely make a difference in this world.
High recommend for perspectives on obstinate determined and wife loving wardens who strive for excellence. I pray for the many wrongfully imprisoned people who deserve a second chance to prove their innocence.
I have no experience in trying to tame unruly, ruthless, evil criminals and imagine that San Quentin saw the worst of them. How could a brand new warden make an impact. Well, this story provides an insight on how to make a difference. How well this Hollywood version is true to the facts is unknown but I know well that one person can definitely make a difference in this world.
High recommend for perspectives on obstinate determined and wife loving wardens who strive for excellence. I pray for the many wrongfully imprisoned people who deserve a second chance to prove their innocence.
Even a prosecutor can end up a prisoner, and given no favors.
mark.waltz8 March 2024
Warning: Spoilers
Corruption becomes the target of real life San Quentin warden Clinton T. Duffy, played by one time San Quentin prisoner Paul Kelly, and the fight goes beyond just crooked guards as a D. A. George MacReady gets prison time and must face prisoners he had sent up. This includes the very smart but explosive Louis Hayward who is troublesome not only for Kelly and MacReady but for nurse Joanne Dru whom he works with in the infirmary and treats with chauvinistic contempt even though he's fallen in love with her.
A gritty, violent and powerful yarn about the attempts to begin efforts on prison reform, it shows both how it works and fails, especially with an attempted escape as part of the plot. MacReady is quite good, showing the cockiness of his position outside, but the cowardice of how it feels to suddenly be inside. Hayward too gets a very complex character to play, going through many layers in bringing his character of Rocky to life.
Kelly is completely straight laced, not as layered as the other two men, but that doesn't reflect a weakness in his performance. Maureen O'Sullivan doesn't get much opportunity to express much as Kelly's wife, but is still good. I found the ending a bit melodramatic and unfinished, but perhaps that was the point that this was only the beginning and needed a lot of starts and stalls to complete.
A gritty, violent and powerful yarn about the attempts to begin efforts on prison reform, it shows both how it works and fails, especially with an attempted escape as part of the plot. MacReady is quite good, showing the cockiness of his position outside, but the cowardice of how it feels to suddenly be inside. Hayward too gets a very complex character to play, going through many layers in bringing his character of Rocky to life.
Kelly is completely straight laced, not as layered as the other two men, but that doesn't reflect a weakness in his performance. Maureen O'Sullivan doesn't get much opportunity to express much as Kelly's wife, but is still good. I found the ending a bit melodramatic and unfinished, but perhaps that was the point that this was only the beginning and needed a lot of starts and stalls to complete.
An innovative warden
bkoganbing11 January 2017
Although it does drag in spots Duffy Of San Quentin is a fine account of the most famous person in his position during his time and possibly for all time. I'm actually in awe of the fact that he did not use any stool pigeons which law enforcement survives in.
This is not actually the story of the story of Clinton P. Duffy, it is in fact the account of one particular inmate whose time at San Quentin is told through Duffy's eyes. Louis Hayward is that inmate and as we learn is in the joint because of perjured testimony and defense witnesses who disappeared.
Hayward is a real hard case and who could blame him. Duffy is played by Paul Kelly and Kelly himself did a stretch for manslaughter so he had some true insights into convict mentality. Maureen O'Sullivan played the supportive Mrs. Duffy.
Duffy was a real innovator and in fact brought in a civilian nurse played by Joanne Dru. I'm not sure how that worked out sending Dru in with a few thousand of the hardest cases around.
The end has the prosecutor who sent Hayward up played with his usual relish by George MacReady. I won't say more except that one was a bit much to swallow.
I wish Paul Kelly had done a factual account of Clinton P. Duffy's life. That would have been a great film. Duffy Of San Quentin which followed certain prison picture parameters was good, but nothing outstanding.
This is not actually the story of the story of Clinton P. Duffy, it is in fact the account of one particular inmate whose time at San Quentin is told through Duffy's eyes. Louis Hayward is that inmate and as we learn is in the joint because of perjured testimony and defense witnesses who disappeared.
Hayward is a real hard case and who could blame him. Duffy is played by Paul Kelly and Kelly himself did a stretch for manslaughter so he had some true insights into convict mentality. Maureen O'Sullivan played the supportive Mrs. Duffy.
Duffy was a real innovator and in fact brought in a civilian nurse played by Joanne Dru. I'm not sure how that worked out sending Dru in with a few thousand of the hardest cases around.
The end has the prosecutor who sent Hayward up played with his usual relish by George MacReady. I won't say more except that one was a bit much to swallow.
I wish Paul Kelly had done a factual account of Clinton P. Duffy's life. That would have been a great film. Duffy Of San Quentin which followed certain prison picture parameters was good, but nothing outstanding.
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