Plot Summary - Arrested for knocking a man unconscious in a fight over a woman at the "Hawaiian Club" bar, handsome young Joe Hufford (Glenn Ford) is put under arrest after the man dies. That man ends up being the son of a political big-shot, and the District Attorney, Knowland (Broderick Crawford) steps in to give Joe his assistance, even though he is prosecuting the case himself. Unfortunately, Joe has a bad attorney and is sent up the river for five years in state prison for manslaughter. Soon he's marching into his cell with the other convicts, working in the prison laundry, and hanging in the yard with the other prisoners. A planned prison break goes wrong when a known squealer named Ponti causes men to be killed by the guards - luckily Joe, who wanted in on the break in order to see his dying father, was in solitary for hitting a guard. Meanwhile, D.A. Knowland has been assigned as new warden of the prison and tries again to help Joe. He gives Joe a job as his personal chauffeur, which mainly entails Joe driving around the D.A.'s pretty twenty-something daughter Kay (Dorothy Malone). Romance blossoms (of course), but Joe, being really just a good guy, doesn't do anything like try to kiss her or something - he hopes for parole soon and a chance to get a new career and new start. Meanwhile the prisoners are forming a plot to murder Ponti the squealer, currently being protected by the warden with a soft job and bed next to his office.
Review - This is an entertaining prison melodrama, full of your usual prison/convict type scenes - nothing unexpected, really (even down to the warden's pretty daughter - seems to me that sort of plot comes up again and again, wonder how realistic that really is?! - and she's living at the prison, no less - lucky men). Broderick Crawford - well, he's just - Broderick Crawford - aggressive, likable, really good playing a D.A. Glenn Ford is just - hmm, so swoon-worthy with his dreamy eyes - woo. I really could just watch him all day. Liked this one. Rating - 8.5/10 stars
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