Prison Train (1938) User Reviews

Last train to Alcatraz

[sol-kay · 6/10 · 6 August 2005]

Entertaining despite it's low budget production values "Prison Train" is a "Narrow Margin" like suspense movie, made fourteen years earlier, about a man marked for death on his way to the "Big House".

Being the number one man in the New York City numbers racket Frankie Terris, Fred Keating, suspects that his rival in crime gang boss Mannie Robbins, Alexander Leftwich, is turning states evidence against him. Making up his mind to get out of the rackets since he's drowning in cash,more money that he can ever spend, from his illegal activities Frankie decides to hand over his share of the business to Robbins and then go with his kid sister Louise, Dorothy Comingore, on a trip to Europe.

Robbins son Joe, James Blakely, meets Louise at a get-together at the "Swing Club" where his dad and Frankie are to iron out their latest differences and Joe really gets hooked on Louise. At his suite Frankie spots Joe with his hands all over Louise and tells him to get lost and away from his sister if he knows whats good for him. Later Frankie follows Joe outside and after slugging it out with Joe Frankie smashes his brains in with a lead pipe killing him.

It turned out that Frankie killed Joe on government property, the Post Office grounds,and is tried by the Federal Government and sentenced to life and sent to the "Rock", Alcatraz Island, to serve out his time that would be the rest of his natural life. Joe's dad Mannie Robbins want's Frankie to pay with his life and comes up with a plan to have him murdered before he get's there. Having a number of his hoods, including his top Harlem numbers man Sam, Clarense Muse, border the train Robbins plans to kill Frankie himself before the locomotive pulls into the San Francisco station.

Also boarding the New York to San Francisco run is Louise who want's to see Frankie off for a last good-by just before he's sent away for good. Even more interesting is US Government Agent Bill Adams, Peter Potter, who's on he train to make sure that nothing happens to Frankie. Adams who's supposed to see to it that Frankie arrives safely to the "Rock" gets so interested in Louise that he completely forgets what he's on he train for in the first place. Which results in the movie's somewhat surprise ending.

Robbins could have had Frankie killed almost as soon as he bordered the train with about a dozen of is hoodlums, including Sam disguised as a train steward, on board but waited until the train stooped in Kansas so he alone could board it and do the job himself.

Frankie who at first looked as if he was going on vacation without a show of concern at all soon began to turn paranoid with close ups of his face looking like he was a spaced-out zombie as the train came closer and closer to it's final destination. I guess it must have been the cigarettes that he was constantly smoking which must have had something more then tobacco in them.

Tightly directed and acted "Prison Train" delivers the goods and only the ending was a bit off and pulled the movie down a few notches. The fight between Frankie and Joe earlier in the movie was so low-keyed and serene, with both men looking like they were sparing with each other and pulling their punches, that for a moment you thought they were doing some kind of dance number until Frankie ended it all by cracking Joe's skull open with a pipe.

Surprisingly good for a super low-budget B-movie

[planktonrules · 6/10 · 12 January 2011]

Frankie is a big-shot mobster who is in charge of the numbers racket. Another big hood, Manny, works for Frankie. Frankie has a sister who is unaware of his career choice and Manny's boy won't take no for an answer and paws the lady--unaware of how mean and tough her brother is. Frankie naturally takes offensive and roughs up the guy--and accidentally kills him in the process. During the trial, Manny tries to kill Frankie and both end up being sentenced to Alcatraz. Manny vows that Frankie will die--sooner than later! Much of the movie is set aboard the train and there is a lot of tension as you know SOMETHING wrong is going to occur aboard this death train.

Despite being made up of a no-name cast by a no-name studio, most of the film pretty good job. However, one guy plays a real smart-aleck and wow is he annoying--too annoying to be real. But apart from him, the film is loaded with tension and is well worth seeing--and a bit like the later film noir classic, "The Narrow Margin".

Clarence Muse is the reason to watch

[kidboots · 5/10 · 2 January 2010]

Clarence Muse was the star of the first all singing, all talking, all dancing film featuring an all black cast. It was "Hearts in Dixie" (1929) but even though Muse fought against demeaning stereo- types and also held a law degree, he was powerless to make a difference in those unenlightened times. After a couple of "race" films, it was back to uncredited parts in films like "Swing High" (1930) and "White Zombie" (1932) or even playing a character by the name of "Whitey" in "Broadway Bill" (1934).

Although "train steward" doesn't sound important, Muse makes it so and is a very pivotal part of the action in this interesting programmer. Racketeer Frankie Terris is on train bound for Alcatraz. He is fearful for the safety of his sister, Louise (Linda Winters) after he accidentally kills a rival gangster's son, who had tried to get fresh with Louise and wouldn't take no for an answer. Manny Robbins, the boy's grief crazed father, tries to kill Terris after his trial. Unbeknownst to Frankie, Louise, after promising to go on a European vacation, is also aboard the prison train and gets chummy with Adams, who does his best to protect her. Once on board the train, the film picks up - the dim lighting, which made the film look cheap is appropriate here. Clarence Muse has the role of Sam, whom Louise uses as a "go- between" - but he is not as unassuming as he seems.

Interestingly, the titled forward portrays Terris as a rat and a weakling but he doesn't seem any worse in the film than some of the others (Manny Robbins and his son). Doroothy Comingore, known as Linda Winters for this film, did quite well as Louise Terris, sister of Frankie. This was one of her very few credited parts until "Citizen Kane", the reason she is remembered today.

Some Interesting Touches

[dougdoepke · 17 September 2013]

Convicted of murdering a competitor's son, a gangster is sent away on a prison train. Meanwhile, his sister tries to warn him of a plot aboard the train to kill him.

For the gangster obsessed 1930's, the story is suspenseful but basically routine. Nevertheless, this low-budget production does have several notable features. For one, there's the movie's visual flair. Director Wiles was an art director before climbing into the big chair, so his often exotic camera angles and lurid lighting are unusual for a low budget production. At the same time, his artistic ambitions are on more elaborate display in 1947's The Gangster with Barry Sullivan. Too bad that he died so young and that IMDb doesn't have more info on this interesting moviemaker.

Also, the movie's notable for Dorothy Comingore's presence. I wouldn't be surprised if Orson Welles caught her in this programmer before casting her in his classic Citizen Kane (1941). Here she projects a unique loveliness and sweet vulnerability that's almost touching and quite a distance from her near shrewish role in Kane. Then too, there's Clarence Muse as a waiter and a long way from the buffoonish roles generally assigned black performers in those days. Plus, he even turns out to be a treacherous bad guy. Note too, that lead actor Fred Keating's name doesn't appear on the movie's poster. Granted, he's pretty obscure among the Hollywood crowd, but he does a good job here as head gangster Frankie Terris.

I guess my only complaint is Nestor Paiva who does go way over the top, even for this exotic flick, as the needling Morose. All in all, the story may be unexceptional, but there remain unusual aspects that make the production worth catching up with.

Will They Ever Get There?

[Hitchcoc · 5/10 · 2 November 2007]

For a short film, I thought this was endless. First of all, the whole premise. The business of all these felons lounging around in a train car, heading for Alcatraz. The principle figure sitting around moping, going from his smug self to being frightened to death. The whole security issue is beyond comprehension. Then there's that old guy whose son was killed, riding in a car, trying to keep up with the train. There is taunting and wordplay going on. Then there is this boring guy who won't shut up, talking through his hat. I suppose he is comic relief, but he's not a bit funny, even in this time period. The young woman who is enamored with the murderer is hanging around but what point is there to her being on the scene? There are those dark close ups and camera shots, which, I suppose, were sort of experimental for the time. When it gets down to it, there's no real story.

Tight low-budget action pic

[goblinhairedguy · 7/10 · 26 April 2003]

Considering its lowly production origins (Equity Pictures), this is a surprisingly tight, absorbing action picture with some good comic asides. Director Wiles, who also helmed several other fine B-pics (like The Gangster) keeps the film moving at a rapid pace without sacrificing character nuances and unexpected camera angles. The ending is a little abrupt, but still nifty. As always, Clarence Muse does an excellent turn with the little material provided in his pivotal part, and the comic relief gets off some good lines. Would make a fine double bill with The Narrow Margin or The Tall Target.

"I suppose I oughta slap you around to teach you a lesson."

[classicsoncall · 5/10 · 14 April 2012]

More so than the story itself, I was intrigued by the opening scene which described the rackets as a lottery scheme peddled to folks in poor neighborhoods offering a reasonable 600 to 1 shot at hitting a winner. With bets ranging anywhere from a dime to thirty cents, this operation was netting gangster Frankie Terris (Fred Keating) a million bucks a year! The math doesn't really work for me, but it sounded pretty good.

The other thing I didn't get was Frankie handing over the rackets to rival Manny Robbins (Alexander Leftwich) - really? I didn't understand the motivation for that. Sure he was about to be investigated for his involvement in the phony lottery scheme, but what gangster worth his salt hasn't been? It just didn't make any sense. This after Manny had agreed to work with the authorities to bring Frankie down. I think that would have been a more interesting story.

Instead, big brother Frankie knocks off Manny's son Joe (James Blakeley) for getting frisky with sister Louise (Dorothy Comingore as Linda Winters). The rest of the film follows Frankie being convicted of murder and riding the prison train of the title cross country to Alcatraz, as Manny seeks revenge following along by car and biding his time until he can kill Frankie himself. The kicker here is that Louise stows away aboard the train intending to warn her brother of the plot. Think about that one for a while.

You know, this was kind of curious - because Louise hopped aboard the train without a ticket, she wound up with no money to pay for one when the conductor came around. So undercover federal agent Bill Adams (Peter Potter) states that she can have his for the next leg of the trip. With that, the conductor says he'll arrange for a refund for that portion of Adams' fare. What am I missing here?

So with the other convicts taunting Frankie about never making it to Alcatraz, he gets more and more paranoid as Manny and his goons make plans for the rubout at the Kansas City stop. Frankie muscles a gun away from a steward (Clarence Muse), shoots Manny, and then, in as convoluted a finish as I've ever seen, falls off the train to his death! What?!?! I thought that was just a goofy way to end the picture, but apparently Alfred Hitchcock must have liked the idea, because he used the same finish in 1943's "Shadow of a Doubt".

Tense, Absorbing Drama-Novel Plot and a Real Role for a Black Actor

[lawprof · 7/10 · 7 July 2004]

"Prison Train" from 1938 was made on a small budget using largely "B" feature actors. And it was meant to be a second feature too. But this film rises above its often desultory although occasionally amusing pre-war genre counterparts. The acting is, overall, good and the plot original.

Fred Keating is mobster boss Frankie Terris whose relationship with his kid sister, Louise, is very close. He's certainly overly protective. Louise is played with fine effect by Dorothy Comingore (under the name Linda Winters). She's aware of big brother's criminal activities but she also adores and trusts him.

Finding a prosecutor's heat too uncomfortable, Frankie resolves to give away his numbers racket to a rival. Meeting with the fellow, Frankie brings his sister who is asked out by the instantly smitten rival's lawyer son. After a dancing date that guy returns Louise to the apartment she shares with her sibling and the censorious brother sees Louise rebuff an effort to kiss her. Angry, he follows the would-be suitor down an alley and in a fight kills him with a pipe.

Frankie is sentenced to a long prison term at Alcatraz (the killing took place on post office property so it's a federal rap and federal time) and he and other convicts are put on a train for the long trip to the West Coast. The father of the slain Lothario vows that Frankie will never make it to Alcatraz and he follows the train with a gang, some on board and others keeping pace by car and Ford Tri-Motor.

Frankie's sister manages to get on the train where she's befriended by an undercover officer who is there to insure her brother's safe delivery to prison. Frankie himself learns of the plot to kill him. He is not happy. In fact he's increasingly, would you believe, scared.

In "Prison Train," unlike so many "B" films, tension actually builds up and the ending isn't clear at all - until the end.

Very unusual for a pre-war movie, a black actor has a serious role, not a Steppin Fetchit-class harmless display of buffoonery to insure no bigot will be discomfited. Clarence Muse, a veteran actor eventually inducted into the Black Film-makers Hall of Fame, is a sinister dining car steward in league with the vengeful father. His role is important to the murder plot and he's not subordinated to the other criminals. Muse, who isn't too well known to most moviegoers, made very many films almost up to his 1979 death and he was a staunch advocate for equal opportunity for blacks.

Comingore/Winters had real albeit modest talent that was silenced by the Cold War Hollywood witch hunt, another victim of a mad time.

Train buffs will enjoy some nice footage of prewar rolling stock.

Very worth seeing.

Thanks, Alpha Video. (And I paid $4.99 for this DVD.)

7/10

All aboard to Alcatraz

[AAdaSC · 3/10 · 26 March 2023]

Will gangster boss Fred Keating (Frankie) make it to the end of the train journey to begin his prison sentence on Alcatraz? Rival gangster Alexander Leftwich (Manny) wants him bumped off before he reaches this destination and makes sure that he has several of his gang on the case.

This film is just not interesting. There are too many characters that can cause confusion, especially the array of prisoners, all of whom seem to be lounging around in a security compartment. Not only that, but they themselves are not secured with handcuffs or anything. They are just free to lounge about. What nonsense. The ending is so abrupt and convenient that it is a total anti-climax. There is also an actress - Faith Bacon (Maxine) - who is listed way too high on the cast list given that she only has 1 short scene. She is even higher up the credits that the main rival gangster! It would have been good to have given her more of a role as she was better than the other female in this.

Train steward Clarence Muse (Sam) even has a scene where he sings a lullaby to send the detectives off to sleep. This isn't meant to be a cartoon for 3 year olds! Don't bother with this one.

A Must for Both Noir Fans and Train Freaks

[rastar330 · 8/10 · 6 November 2008]

I was pleasantly surprised by Prison Train (1938) in which director Gordon Wiles, of all people, makes such an ingenious use of his real locations, stock footage and second-string cast that the result is quite a thrilling film noir which can be favorably compared with The Narrow Margin, despite its muscle budget. Dorothy Comingore comes across well as the pleasing heroine, while Peter Potter does okay as the obliging hero, but the movie's stand-out performance is delivered by Clarence Muse who makes the most of his best role ever as one of the villain's heavies on the train. Photographer Marcel Le Picard who worked on nearly 200 movies (despite a four year break in the middle of his career, 1934-1937) also does some mightily impressive noirish work here, and the film editing of Edward Schroeder likewise rates as a stand-out. Train buffs, of course, will need no encouragement to watch this movie and they too will be thrilled far more than their modest expectations.

A very pleasing surprise!

[JohnHowardReid · 8/10 · 6 December 2017]

I did not expect much at all, but I was pleasantly surprised by "Prison Train" (1938) in which director Gordon Wiles, of all people, makes such an ingenious use of his real locations, stock footage and second- string cast that the result is quite a thrilling film noir which can be favorably compared with "The Narrow Margin", despite the minuscule budget allotted to "Prison Train".

Dorothy Comingore comes across as a pleasing heroine, while Peter Potter does okay as the obliging hero, but the movie's stand-out performance is delivered by Clarence Muse who makes the most of his best role ever as one of the villain's heavies on the train.

Photographer Marcel Le Picard, who worked on nearly two hundred motion pictures (despite a four year break in the middle of his career, 1934-1937) also does some mightily impressive noirish work here.

The film editing of Edward Schroeder is likewise a stand-out.

Train buffs, of course, will need no encouragement to watch this movie, but they too will be thrilled far beyond their modest expectations. (Available on a quite presentable Alpha DVD).