Behind Prison Gates


1h 3m 1939

Film Details

Also Known As
Escape from Alcatraz
Genre
Prison
Release Date
Jul 28, 1939
Premiere Information
not available
Production Company
Columbia Pictures Corp.
Distribution Company
Columbia Pictures Corp.
Country
United States

Technical Specs

Duration
1h 3m
Film Length
7 reels

Synopsis

Seeking to uncover the location where a pair of bank robbers and police killers have hidden their stolen loot, Norman Craig, an agent in the service of the State's Attorney's office, adopts the name of deceased criminal Red Murray and incarcerates himself behind prison gates. Even Warden O'Neil does not suspect Craig's real identity as the agent makes contact with robbers Petey Ryan and Marty Conroy, and cleverly plants suspicion of each other in the minds of the two convicts. Craig's real identity is almost exposed when Red's sister Shelia visits the prison, but he wins the girl over to his side and she agrees to maintain his secret. Tension builds when a new prisoner recognizes Craig and, although he is placed in solitary, he uses Morse Code to tap out on the drain pipes the news that a police informer is in their midst. Craig avoids discovery by engineering a prison escape with Conroy, but as they escape through the print shop, Conroy realizes that Craig is the informer he has been warned about and knocks him out. Returning to his cell, Craig convinces Ryan to help him escape and beat Conroy to the stolen money. Shelia meets them in the getaway car, but when Ryan sees a photo of Red Murray in Shelia's apartment, he realizes who Craig is and demands that Shelia accompany them to the cemetery where the money is hidden. At the cemetery, Conroy shoots Ryan and is about to turn his gun on Craig when a policeman arrives and saves both Craig and Shelia. Craig then resumes his life within the law with Shelia at his side.

Film Details

Also Known As
Escape from Alcatraz
Genre
Prison
Release Date
Jul 28, 1939
Premiere Information
not available
Production Company
Columbia Pictures Corp.
Distribution Company
Columbia Pictures Corp.
Country
United States

Technical Specs

Duration
1h 3m
Film Length
7 reels

Quotes

Trivia

Notes

The working title of this film was Escape from Alcatraz.