**** out of 5
Should be considered along with some of the great old prison drama like The Big House, San Quentin, or Invisible Stripes. As a remake of 1931's The Criminal Code this story already has a lot going for it, but the cast is what makes it really shine- Glenn Ford as the titular convict, Broderick Crawford as the sympathetic DA-turned-warden, Dorthy Malone as his pretty, understanding daughter, Millard Mitchell and Will Geer as Ford's troublesome but protective cellmates, Carl Benton Reid as the sadistic captain Douglas, and Frank Faylen as the prison stooley. Also putting in brief but memorable appearances are Ed Begley as a backwards parole board head who puts politics ahead of justice, and former Charlie Chan actor Roland Winters as a rock-headed corporate attorney sent in to defend Glenn Ford's character in court.
oooo Glenn Ford!!!
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