Castle on the Hudson 1940

      This film is based on a novel written by Warden Lewis E. Lawes.  Tommy Gordon is an arrogant mobster and he has been sentenced to a long prison term in Sing Sing.  For weeks, he stays alone in his cell because he doesn’t want to conform to any of the regulations in the prison?  When he can’t stand being alone any longer, he agrees to try to fit in.  Tommy believes he will not serve a long sentence because his political pals have promised him a quick parole.  Later, he finds out they have left him behind and he doesn’t know if he will still do life?  He has a beautiful and wonderful girlfriend Kay and she comes to see him on visiting days.  She tried to see him when he was in his cell isolation but the guards and the warden would not let her.  She is in a car accident and Tommy is notified that she may not live because she has serious injuries.

     Surprisingly, Warden Long gives Tommy a pass to go see Kay because of the dire situation.  Tommy only needs to promise he will be back at the prison that evening.  A LOT of complications arise when Tommy goes to see Kay.  I thought it was interesting that a man gave an IQ test to each prisoner.  He used a wooden puzzle to see if they could fit the pieces into the correct slots.  This test would determine the work department of the prison suited to the intelligence of this person.  Some prisoners could do it easily right away and others could not do it at all?  I was surprised about the ending?

67 min Crime directed by Anatole Litvak and written by Seton I. Miller, Brown Holomes, Coutney Terrett with John Garfield, Ann Sheridan, Pat O’Brien, Burgess Meredith,  Henry O’Neill, Jerome Cowan Guinn ‘Big Boy’ Williams, John Litel, Margot Stevenson, Willard Robertson, Edward Pawley, Billy Wayne, Nedda Harrigan, Wade Boteler.

Note:  Imdb 6.8 out of 10 with 534 reviews, 83% audience score with 10 user ratings, TCM Leonard Maltin 4 1/2*, Letterboxd 3.2* out of 5*, Amazon 4.7* out of 5* with 8 reviews,TCM 4.5* recommend, 4.1* cinema history, 4.4 cinematography, 4.5 lead performers, 4.4 supporting cast, 4.38 director, 4.3 screen play, 4.4 music score, 4.5 title sequence). 

Special Note:  Originally released in 1940 by Warner Bros. but released again in 1948 by MGM.  In the opening scene of the MGM version, there is a theater marquee for Tenth Avenue Angel 1948.  Partially obscured is the advertisement of this Castle film.  The $15,000 that Tommy and his gang stole in 1940 would be the equivalent of $276,678.00 in April 2020 dollars.