Ann Sheridan, Barton MacLane, Emmett Vogan

An army trainer becomes captain of the prison yard and in time, falls for the sister of a hardened inmate.

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43% liked it

289 ratings

Unrated

Directed by: Lloyd Bacon

Release Date: August 7, 1937

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DVD Release Date: July 18, 2006

Stats: 26 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (26)


  • January 13, 2008
    "san quentin" is a cinematic reactionary propganda made upon the moral code in 30s with a fresh-complexioned humprey bogart in his youthful days before his sizzling bloom in the 40s. it's a story about a constantly captured prisoner(bogart) who discovers the saving grace from a...( read more) just superior conductor(pat o'brien). of course, his creamy-dish sister seems also to get involved in a quite innocent way.

    "san quentin" is also one of the prison-con gendre which advocates the inequality of being an inmate, and how the system corrupts men's souls further without sparing redemption, and that notion is also utilized in james cagney's "each dawn i die"...but under the restraints of moral code, this flick tackles a more positively optimistic angle, if the supervisor is decently square, it might make a huge difference with the capably noble hand of brotherhood. it's sorta like one of those do-gooder flicks which encourages you life still reserves some prospect ultimately.

    bogart could be quite a versatily adaptable actor who could shift between good and evil, he always plays crooked mugs in the 30s, ready to be disposed of by the scenario, now "san quentin" is one of the few chances he could select then to prove that he could also be good, also savored by the typecasted pat o'brien who often plays the preachy good man as well as the flatly fixed ann sheridan who seems to serve nothing but a supporting romantic interest all the time in various flicks. sheridan is a safe casting choice in any star vehicle without lacklustering the leads, guaranteed by her mildly pleasant beauty. oh, she also has some sort of husky magnetic voice to sing a swinger tune. that's another plus, i suppose.

    the best part of "san quentin" is the action sequence of bogart breaking thru prison with his co-schemed pal, and the swiftly pace automobile heist is dynamic. apparently this theme is dated but somehow you could still manage to seek a pleasure to witness the idiocyncrasy in that censor-dominated period.
  • October 30, 2009
    A OK prison movie but there has definitely been better.
  • June 16, 2009
    Solid prison drama, a fine classic. The early appearance of Humphrey Bogart is a huge plus, and Ann Sheridan is always an asset to any film she is in. Fast paced, well written.
  • December 15, 2008
    no thanks not my thing
  • December 7, 2008
    This is a good movie

    Plot: An army trainer becomes captain of the prison yard and in time, falls for the sister of a hardened inmate.

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