Convicted (1950) Essentially a remake of The Criminal Code (1931), which, itself is based on a play of the same name. In the noir version, Glen Ford is convicted of manslaughter by a DA (Broderick Crawford), who regrets that the defendant has incompetent counsel, knowing that an attorney who specializes in defense, could easily have cleared him.
Walter Huston as Mark Brady the DA in the 1931 version seemed more intense, if I recall correctly. Anyway, the wiki page for
Convicted is short on details, while the one for
The Criminal Code, has plenty.
Sentenced to 1 to 10 years, the guy goes to a prison where the DA who sent him there, eventually becomes the warden.
I much prefer the 1931 film, if for no better reason than that Karloff is in it. The character he plays (Ned Galloway), who kills the snitch, is portrayed by
Millard Mitchell (Malloby) in the Noir version. I know I have seen this guy somewhere else, but nothing comes to mind. I see a few familiar titles in his Wiki page's filmography, but still I cannot recall anything specific.
Both films: The protagonist tries to steer clear of trouble while in prison, but is in the wrong place at the wrong time, just after
Mitchel (Malloby) / Karloff (Galloway) kills the snitch. Now comes the difficult part: the warden must hold someone responsible for the death, but
The Criminal Code forbids him telling on the murderer.
Sadly, this was not a NOIR ALLEY presentation.
I would really have liked to hear what Muller would have said about it.
Oh, Grandpa Walton-- Will Geer was in the credits, but, if not for his voice, I would not have recognized him as one of the protagonist's cellmates.
Dr. X (1932), another of the Lionell Atwill day films. Lee Tracy is the nosy reporter and the protagonist who keeps Dr. X and his students annoyed. 2 strip color, very good horror, though rather than UNIVERSAL, this was made by Warner Bros. Too bad Vincent Price did not do a version of this one, as well as the
Mystery of the Wax Museum (1933).
Dark Passage (1947) Bogart was not even seen until after the plastic surgery, like playing DOOM, it was shown from his perspective.. So this one is a bit strange, at least in that respect. Bacall picks him up after he escapes from prison, wrongly convicted of murdering his wife. So he must go about clearing himself, while evading the police & others who would hinder him. His new face helps, but fear of capture remains.
I have seen this one before, currently watching it in the PIP. This was the next to the last NOIR ALLEY presentation before the August SUMMER UNDER THE STARS causes a month without it! I am starving!!