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Poster for Penitentiary

Penitentiary

Seen it?

1938 | 74 min | Action, Crime, Drama, Romance

Monday Morning Maybeearly rating

Why it’s a Monday Morning Maybe

With almost no lasting buzz and soft box office, this one could be a tough watch. Keep your phone handy.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it
If you count yourself among anyone fascinated by the criminal underworld and anyone who loves a story about hope against the odds, this one's for you. A look inside a world of loyalty, money and betrayal. Shelve it next to Point Blank or The Wild One. The walls close in, and so does the tension.
The mood
Dark and gritty, warm and romantic.
The pace
Character-first and patient, at 1 hr 14 min. Done before bedtime.
What might put you off
  • Made in 1938: an older pace and style.
  • Skip it if you prefer quiet, talky stories.

The story of a D.A. who becomes a prison warden and winds up overseeing the sentence of a man he prosecuted.

How it earned its rating

  • CriticsNot counted

    Not enough reviews on record yet

  • AudiencesNot counted

    Not measured yet: not enough ratings

  • AwardsNot counted

    No major awards or nominations

  • Reach & staying powerBelow par

    Streaming release that reached a small audience so far; still draws a steady audience long after release

  • Buzz & cultural impactWeak

    About 1K people sought it out in the past year

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Cast & crew

Directed by John Brahm

  • Walter ConnollyDist. Atty. Thomas Mathews
  • John HowardWilliam Jordan
  • Jean ParkerElizabeth Mathews
  • Robert BarratPrison Yard Capt. Grady
  • Marc LawrenceJack Hawkins
  • Arthur HohlFinch
  • Charles HaltonLeonard Nettleford
  • Edward Van SloanDr. Rinewulf
  • Marjorie MainMiss Katie Mathews
  • Stanley AndrewsPrison Captain Dorn (uncredited)