
Penitentiary
Seen it?1938 | 74 min | Action, Crime, Drama, Romance
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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Point BlankSaturday SpecialAnother mob crime drama.
Little CaesarSunday Safe BetAnother mob crime drama, and a safe bet for a quiet night.
Absence of MaliceSunday Safe BetAnother crime drama, and a safe bet for a quiet night.
The Wild OneSaturday SpecialAnother crime drama that's easy to miss.
Things to Do in Denver When You're DeadWeeknight WatchAnother mob crime drama, though it's more of a weeknight watch.
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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)