King of Alcatraz

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King of Alcatraz (1938)

Directed by Robert Florey; written by Irving Reis; produced by William C. Thomas. Starring Gail Patrick, Lloyd Nolan, and Harry Carey. Cinematography by Harry Fischbeck; edited by Eda Warren. Distributed by Paramount Pictures. Released on September 30, 1938. Running time: 68 minutes. Country: United States. Language: English. This film marks the screen debut of Robert Preston.

Plot
Gangster Steve Murkil escapes from Alcatraz. Two San Francisco radio operators, Ray Grayson and Bob MacArthur, are assigned to a freighter run led by Captain Glennan. On board are a nurse named Dale Borden and two passengers: a young woman and her mother. The mother is actually Murkil in disguise, helping his getaway with his cronies aboard. Ray and Bob both fall for Dale and end up in conflict with Murkil. A fight leaves Ray wounded; Dale guides him on how to perform a needed operation. Murkil nearly escapes, but Glennan shoots him. Back on land, Ray and Dale decide to marry, with Bob as best man.

Reception
The New York Times called it “a trim little melodrama, tightly written and logically contrived.” Kate Cameron of the New York Daily News gave it three out of four stars and praised Florey’s direction and Nolan’s performance. The Orlando Sentinel described it as a mix of old gangster film elements with an uneven love triangle.