Penitentiary (1938 film)

Penitentiary is a 1938 American crime film directed by John Brahm starring Walter Connolly, John Howard, Jean Parker and Robert Barrat.[1] It was the second Columbia Pictures film adaptation of the 1929 stage play The Criminal Code by Martin Flavin, after Howard Hawk's The Criminal Code (1931) and followed by Henry Levin's Convicted (1950).

For the 1979 film of the same name, see Penitentiary (1979 film).
Penitentiary
Theatrical release poster
Directed byJohn Brahm
Produced byRobert North
Screenplay bySeton I. Miller
Fred Niblo, Jr.
Based onthe play The Criminal Code
by Martin Flavin
StarringWalter Connolly
John Howard
Jean Parker
Robert Barrat
Music byMorris Stoloff
CinematographyLucien Ballard
Edited byViola Lawrence
Distributed byColumbia Pictures
Release date
  • January 17, 1938 (1938-01-17) (United States)
Running time
79 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Plot

William Jordan (Howard) is befriended by the man who sent him to prison on a manslaughter charge, former DA (District attorney) now prison warden Matthews (Connolly). In order to give Jordan the opportunity to rehabilitate himself Matthews allows him to work as chauffeur to his daughter Elizabeth (Parker), though he's a bit uncomfortable when Elizabeth falls in love with the young convict. All of this extra effort goes out the window when Jordan, adhering to the "criminal code" of never snitching on a fellow con, allows himself to be implicated in the murder of another convict. Jordan is saved from the death penalty by a last-minute confession of his hard-bitten but honorable cellmate.

Cast
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References
  1. Penitentiary at the American Film Institute Catalog
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