Movie Cosmos - Up the River

Description:

Daily life at men and women's prison units where baseball and the marching band are serious business. Two prisoners escape in order to help paroled Steve from being blackmailed by his girlfriend's ex-partner-in-crime.

Top Cast >

Spencer Tracy

As Saint Louis

Claire Luce

As Judy Fields

Warren Hymer

As Dannemora Dan

Humphrey Bogart

As Steve Jordan

William Collier Sr.

As Pop

Joan Marie Lawes

As Jean

Marion Aye

As Actress (uncredited)

Ward Bond

As Inmate Socked by Saint Louis (uncredited)

Joe Brown

As Deputy Warden (uncredited)

Bob Burns

As Slim - Bazooka Player (uncredited)

Eddy Chandler

As Guard (uncredited)

Edythe Chapman

As Mrs. Jordan (uncredited)

Harvey Clark

As Nash (uncredited)

Dick Curtis

As New Inmate (uncredited)

Mike Donlin

As Upstate Baseball Manager (uncredited)

Noel Francis

As Sophie (uncredited)

Althea Henley

As Cynthia Jordan (uncredited)

Elizabeth Keating

As May (uncredited)

Helen Keating

As June (uncredited)

Richard Keene

As Dick (uncredited)

Sharon Lynn

As Edith La Verne (uncredited)

George MacFarlane

As Whiteley (uncredited)

Wilbur Mack

As Honest John Jessup (uncredited)

Louise Mackintosh

As Mrs. Massey (uncredited)

Goodee Montgomery

As Kit (uncredited)

Robert Emmett O'Connor

As Prison Warden (uncredited)

Robert Parrish

As Boy (uncredited)

Claude Payton

As Guard (uncredited)

Steve Pendleton

As Morris (uncredited)

Pat Somerset

As Beauchamp (uncredited)

John Swor

As Clem (uncredited)

Mildred Vincent

As Annie (uncredited)

Johnnie Walker

As Happy (uncredited)

Morgan Wallace

As Frosby (uncredited)

Adele Windsor

As Minnie (uncredited)

Carol Wines

As Daisy Elmore (uncredited)

Top Crew >

John Ford

Director

Edward O'Fearna

Assistant Director

Sam Benson

Wardrobe Master

William Fox

Producer

Wingate Smith

Assistant Director

Maurine Dallas Watkins

Story

Frank E. Hull

Editor

Duncan Cramer

Settings

Sophie Wachner

Costume Design

James F. Hanley

Music

W.W. Lindsay Jr.

Sound Recordist

Joseph H. August

Director of Photography

William Collier Sr.

Choreographer

Reviews:

CinemaSerf (5/10)

This is really only of interest as a cinema curio - an early talkie with Warren Hymer ("Dan") and a slightly irritating "Saint Louis" (Spencer Tracy) escaping from prison to help out their pal "Steve" (Humphrey Bogart) from a little domestic mischief whilst he tries to keep his gal "Judy" (Claire Luce) - all under the direction of John Ford. None had made their mark on Hollywood by this stage, and the film's production and storyline are all just a bit too basic and over-stretched to hold the interest for a whopping great 90 minutes. It has moments of humour, and there is a brief appearance from Ward Bond too, but the film is pretty static and stage bound with too many monologues delivered in quite a wooden fashion. It's fair to say that everyone was still learning their craft here, and knowing what we know now makes it worth a watch - but be prepared to be a bit bored, I was.

2022-06-13