Convicted (film)
Encyclopedia
Convicted is an American
crime
film noir
directed by Henry Levin
and written by Seton I. Miller
, Fred Niblo, Jr.
, and William Bowers
, based on a play written by Martin Flavin
. The drama features Glenn Ford
, Broderick Crawford
, among others.
), but he sticks to the prison's "silent code" and refuses to talk, even though it means he will be accused of the killing. He is wounded by a guard in a subsequent fight and eventually is locked in solitary confinement. In the end, the real murderer confesses and Hufford escapes the electric chair and into the arms of the warden's daughter (Dorothy Malone
), with whom he has fallen in love.
stage play The Criminal Code.
magazine wrote, "Convict isn't quite as grim a prison film as the title would indicate. It has several off-beat twists to its development, keeping it from being routine. While plotting is essentially a masculine soap opera, scripting [from a play by Martin Flavin] supplies plenty of polish and good dialog to see it through."
Critic Dennis Schwartz gave the film a mixed review, specifically for the way the ending was handled, writing, "Henry Levin confidently directs this dated routine miscarriage of justice crime drama...Feeling too much doom and gloom has been laid on the snake-bitten Joe, the film concludes in a happy ending-- something the audience was probably rooting for. But this happy ending seemed a stretch."
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
crime
Crime
Crime is the breach of rules or laws for which some governing authority can ultimately prescribe a conviction...
film noir
Film noir
Film noir is a cinematic term used primarily to describe stylish Hollywood crime dramas, particularly those that emphasize cynical attitudes and sexual motivations. Hollywood's classic film noir period is generally regarded as extending from the early 1940s to the late 1950s...
directed by Henry Levin
Henry Levin
Henry Levin began as a stage actor and director but was most notable as an American film director of over fifty feature films. He broke into film in 1943 as a dialogue director for the films Dangerous Blondes and Appointment in Berlin for Columbia Pictures...
and written by Seton I. Miller
Seton I. Miller
Seton Ingersoll Miller was a Hollywood screenwriter and producer. During his career, he worked with many notable American film directors, such as Howard Hawks and Michael Curtiz....
, Fred Niblo, Jr.
Fred Niblo, Jr.
Fred Niblo, Jr. was a successful Hollywood screenwriter. His career began in 1930 and lasted a little over twenty years. He died in Los Angeles, California, in February 1973, aged 70. Niblo, Jr. was the son of director Fred Niblo.- Awards :He was nominated with Seton I...
, and William Bowers
William Bowers
William Bowers was a reporter in Long Beach, California before becoming a screenwriter and specializing in writing comedy westerns and also turned out several thrillers. His first credited screenplay was My Favorite Spy in 1942.During World War II Bowers served in the United States Army Air Forces...
, based on a play written by Martin Flavin
Martin Flavin
Martin Archer Flavin was an American playwright and novelist.He was awarded the 1944 Pulitzer Prize for his novel Journey in the Dark.Flavin was born in San Francisco, California, and died in Carmel, California....
. The drama features Glenn Ford
Glenn Ford
Glenn Ford was a Canadian-born American actor from Hollywood's Golden Era with a career that spanned seven decades...
, Broderick Crawford
Broderick Crawford
Broderick Crawford was an Academy Award-winning American stage, film, radio and TV actor, often cast in tough-guy roles and best known for his starring role in the television series "Highway Patrol."-Early life:...
, among others.
Plot
The prison drama tells of Joe Hufford (Ford), a man convicted of manslaughter. George Knowland (Crawford) is the warden who understands Hufford and tries to help him adjust to prison life. Hufford witnesses the murder of an informer by another convict (Millard MitchellMillard Mitchell
Millard Mitchell was an American character actor whose credits include roughly thirty feature films and two television appearances....
), but he sticks to the prison's "silent code" and refuses to talk, even though it means he will be accused of the killing. He is wounded by a guard in a subsequent fight and eventually is locked in solitary confinement. In the end, the real murderer confesses and Hufford escapes the electric chair and into the arms of the warden's daughter (Dorothy Malone
Dorothy Malone
Dorothy Malone is an American actress. Her film career began in 1943, and in her early years she played small roles, mainly in B-movies. After a decade in films, she began to acquire a more glamorous image, particularly after her performance in Written on the Wind , for which she won the Academy...
), with whom he has fallen in love.
Background
Convicted was the third film version of Martin Flavin's 19291929 in literature
The year 1929 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Events:*Candide by Voltaire is declared obscene by the United States Customs and seized in 1930....
stage play The Criminal Code.
Cast
- Glenn FordGlenn FordGlenn Ford was a Canadian-born American actor from Hollywood's Golden Era with a career that spanned seven decades...
as Joe Hufford - Broderick CrawfordBroderick CrawfordBroderick Crawford was an Academy Award-winning American stage, film, radio and TV actor, often cast in tough-guy roles and best known for his starring role in the television series "Highway Patrol."-Early life:...
as George Knowland - Millard MitchellMillard MitchellMillard Mitchell was an American character actor whose credits include roughly thirty feature films and two television appearances....
as Malloby - Dorothy MaloneDorothy MaloneDorothy Malone is an American actress. Her film career began in 1943, and in her early years she played small roles, mainly in B-movies. After a decade in films, she began to acquire a more glamorous image, particularly after her performance in Written on the Wind , for which she won the Academy...
as Kay Knowland - Carl Benton ReidCarl Benton ReidCarl Benton Reid was an American actor. He achieved fame on the Broadway stage in 1939 as Oscar Hubbard, one of Regina Giddens's greedy, devious brothers in the play The Little Foxes, and made his film debut reprising his role opposite Bette Davis in the 1941 film version...
as Captain Douglas - Frank FaylenFrank FaylenFrank Faylen was an American movie and television actor.Born Frank Ruf in St. Louis, Missouri, he began his acting career as an infant appearing with his vaudeville performing parents on stage...
as Convict Ponti - Will GeerWill GeerWill Geer was an American actor and social activist. His original name was William Aughe Ghere. He is remembered for his portrayal of Grandpa Zebulon Tyler Walton in the 1970s TV series, The Waltons....
as Convict Mapes - Martha StewartMartha Stewart (actor)Martha Stewart is an American actress.-Filmography:-Film:*Surf Party *Aaron Slick from Punkin Crick *Convicted *In a Lonely Place *Are You with It? *Daisy Kenyon...
as Bertie Williams - Henry O'NeillHenry O'NeillHenry O'Neill was a film actor known for playing gray-haired fathers, lawyers, and similarly dignified roles during the 1930s and 1940s.-Life and career:...
as Detective Dorn - Roland WintersRoland WintersRoland Winters was an American actor who portrayed Charlie Chan in six films.-Biography:Born Roland Winternitz in Boston, Massachusetts on 22 December 1904, Winters was the son of Felix Winternitz, a violinist and composer who was teaching at New England Conservatory of Music...
as Vernon Bradley, Attorney - Ed BegleyEd BegleyEdward James Begley, Sr. was an Academy Award-winning American actor.-Biography:Born in Hartford, Connecticut, Begley began his career as a Broadway and radio actor while in his teens. He appeared in the hit musical Going Up on Broadway in 1917 and in London the next year. He later acted in...
as Mackay, Head of Parole Board - Whit BissellWhit BissellWhitner Nutting Bissell , better known as Whit Bissell, was an American actor.-Early life:Born in New York City, Bissell was the son of prominent surgeon Dr. J. Dougal Bissell. He trained with the Carolina Playmakers, a theatrical organization associated with the University of North Carolina at...
as State Attorney (Mr. Owens) - John DoucetteJohn DoucetteJohn Doucette was a film character actor. He was a balding, husky man remembered for playing mob muscle and western bad guys in movies...
as Convict Tex
Critical reception
The staff at VarietyVariety (magazine)
Variety is an American weekly entertainment-trade magazine founded in New York City, New York, in 1905 by Sime Silverman. With the rise of the importance of the motion-picture industry, Daily Variety, a daily edition based in Los Angeles, California, was founded by Silverman in 1933. In 1998, the...
magazine wrote, "Convict isn't quite as grim a prison film as the title would indicate. It has several off-beat twists to its development, keeping it from being routine. While plotting is essentially a masculine soap opera, scripting [from a play by Martin Flavin] supplies plenty of polish and good dialog to see it through."
Critic Dennis Schwartz gave the film a mixed review, specifically for the way the ending was handled, writing, "Henry Levin confidently directs this dated routine miscarriage of justice crime drama...Feeling too much doom and gloom has been laid on the snake-bitten Joe, the film concludes in a happy ending-- something the audience was probably rooting for. But this happy ending seemed a stretch."
External links
...- Convicted article at Turner Classic MoviesTurner Classic MoviesTurner Classic Movies is a movie-oriented cable television channel, owned by the Turner Broadcasting System subsidiary of Time Warner, featuring commercial-free classic movies, mostly from the Turner Entertainment and MGM, United Artists, RKO and Warner Bros. film libraries...
by Nathaniel Thompson.