Castle on the Hudson

John Garfield provides the power as a gung-ho gangster who struggles to accept his time at Sing Sing in this prison reform drama. A faithful remake of 20,000 Years At Sing Sing that leans more to its 30s gangster roots than to the nascent style of film noir. Though the plot itself is harsh, the film lacks subtlety, portrays the prison staff as noble stewards bent on rehabilitation, and aims for sentimentality over action.

Except for some opening scenes that show the crime that John Garfield is sent to prison for, Castle on the Hudson is a virtual word for word remake of 20,000 Years in Sing Sing.

But it's better cast. John Garfield does far better here than Spencer Tracy did in the original. In fact this was the second remake that Garfield did that improved on the original. He was also better in They Made Me a Criminal than Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. in The Life of Jimmy Dolan.

Also a big improvement is Burgess Meredith over Lyle Talbot as the stir crazy convict whose escape attempt is a flop.

Still though there is that nutty premise of warden Pat O'Brien giving a one day furlough to Garfield where he gets in trouble. Same as the original film, it just doesn't ring true.

Or should I say any more true.

This is a very melancholy crime drama in which a very arrogant young gangster gets pinched by the cops and goes up the river where the warden isn't very sympathetic to his "tough guy" attitude or ways. Eventually the warden wears him down and becomes a semi-productive prisoner. Until a fellow inmate wants to make a breakout attempt to see his pregnant girl and he panics when he discovers it's on Saturday...his unlucky day.

The gangster is played by John Garfield and he has a very sympathetic and understanding girlfriend played by Ann Sheridan.

There are no real likable or sympathetic characters, but it was a short prison-centric gang story for those who might enjoy that.

One of my favorite lines: "Come on and shove over. What do you want me to do catch cold?"-Tommy.

This is a silly,cliche-ridden prison movie that is nevertheless entertaining and interesting. An almost-unrecognizable (young!) Burgess Meredith plays a good part here in this film as a fellow-inmate of the star inmate/gangster played by John Garfield.

As far as the actual storyline goes,it's all just a bit too much to believe,in fact some of it is downright ridiculous to put it gently.

However,this is a beautifully-made black and white film that is interesting from start to finish. The film/print quality was crystal-clear,the action scenes are pretty wild and suspenseful. Overall,I liked it.

L.W. Lawes wrote the original story, which has been made over a couple times. Garfield had only been in Hollywood a couple years when he made this. Garfield and Sheridan star as Tommy and Kay, with their trials and tribulations, as Tommy is in and out of jail. Pat O'Brien is the warden, his antagonist. Grant Mitchell and Burgess Meredith are in here with minor roles. The usual prison flick capers. Escape attempts. Prisoner scuffles. Pretty well done. Volume goes up and down, but the picture quality is quite good. Must have been restored. Directed by Litvak.. he and Garfield also made "Out of the Fog" together. Sadly, Garfield croaked pretty young at 39, of heart issues. He had been caught up in the communist scare of the 1940s. For a really Great Garfield film, see "Postman Always Rings Twice". Much better all around. Postman shows on Turner and may other channels pretty often.