Seven Miles from Alcatraz

Liked the title to this film because of the fact I like stories that have something to do with Alcatraz the "Rock" and this was a great film from 1942 concerning some convicts who manage to escape from the prison. These convicts escape to a light house island with several civilians, a few men and one woman named Ann Porter, (Bonita Granville) and Champ Larkin, (James Craig). These convicts do not realize that they have found themselves in a very difficult situation at this lighthouse and are not fully aware that World War II is going on and that Nazi forces are trying to invade San Francisco by submarine. There is secret messages being transmitted by Morse Code back and forth to the enemy sub and these convicts begin to find out just what is happening to them and the other civilians. This is a good Classic 1942 film with great direction and a very excellent story. Enjoy.

Seven Miles to Alcatraz (1942)

** 1/2 (out of 4)

Silly but entertaining "B" picture about a couple cons (James Craig, Frank Jenks) who break out of Alcatraz just after the Pearl Harbor bombing. They end up taking a group hostage at a lighthouse but their problems grow even bigger when it's discovered that Nazis are about to use a sub to sink San Francisco. If you're looking for logic then I'd recommend staying away from this film but if you have an hour to kill and want some cheap fun then I'm sure you'll get a kick out of this thing. This is a pretty wild little story even though the main moral is to preach that Americans, no matter what their profession, should stick up for their country and bring down the enemy. What really makes the film so funny are a few scenes where Craig gets to make fun of Hitler, which while it's not Chaplin, it was still pretty funny. Even funnier are the Nazis here who are so over the top that you can't help but laugh. The female Nazi and her crush on Hitler and her anger when people make fun of his is rather priceless. Director Dmytryk would certainly go onto do bigger and better pictures but he manages to keep the film moving at a fast pace and he even gets a few nice shots in including a very nice one when the men first get out of the water and reach land. The entire story is pretty far fetched and the way the men escape and how easy they swim to shore is even sillier. As far as the performances go, none of them are great but they're at least entertaining with Craig and Jenks both fitting their roles just fine. Former Nancy Drew's Bonita Granville isn't too bad in her role even if it is a thankless one. Again, if you want a smart WWII pic then this here isn't for you but if you want some cheap action then you'll want to check this one out.

James Craig and Frank Jenks escape "Seven Miles from Alcatraz" in this 1942 propaganda film also starring Bonita Granville and John Banner.

Champ and Jimbo (Craig and Jenks) escape from Alcatraz, as the title says, and manage to get to a lighthouse. They walk into an interesting situation. One of the employees is on the side of the Nazis and feeding messages to the Germans about a submarine - it seems the Germans are trying to invade San Francisco. When they realize what's happening, the crooks and the people at the lighthouse band together, as the Nazis themselves show up.

Bonita Granville marvelously underplays, very different for her, and lets James Craig overplay, not only his role, but the narration as well, with every single line reading in the same snide voice and every character action indicated beforehand. Jenks is good as the sidekick, and it's great to see "Hogan's Heroes" star John Banner young and good-looking as one of the Nazis.

These films were important to the war effort, and this one demonstrates that even criminals were willing to put their own needs aside to fight their country. One of the Hollywood Ten, director Edward Dmytryk was responsible for "The Caine Mutiny," "Broken Lance," and "Crossfire," but also only mediocre such as "The Left Hand of God" and "Soldier of Fortune" and downright schlock such as "Where Love Has Gone" and "The Carpetbaggers." You never really knew what you were going to get with him. I'd say in this case, he did his best with what he had as far as story and cast. And it moves pretty quickly.

James Craig and Frank Jenks play cell-mates in Alcatraz. They manage to escape this supposedly escape-proof prison and manage to make their way to a lighthouse that is occupied by several folks (including Cliff Edwards and Bonita Granville)--who they then hold prisoner. Little do they know that a German u-boat is nearby--waiting to invade America. Also, little do they know that one of these captives is a German agent!! And, amazingly enough, soon you see that there are spies all over San Francisco awaiting their Nazi overlords--including folks in defense plants and in high society!! What's next? See the film and find out for yourself.

While much of this film is pretty silly and filled with very obvious propaganda, it's certainly understandable considering it was made during the early days of WWII for the United States. The story was meant to create a sense of patriotism in the audience as well as a tiny bit of paranoia concerning enemy agents. The idea of Germans being in San Francisco was pretty silly, as they would have been much more likely to attack on the East coast. Why not make them Japanese agents instead? Who knows. All I know is that you must judge the film, to some extent, on how well it meets these objectives--not just how entertaining the film is when you see it today. And, on this level the film is rousing--the sort of cheesy stuff the public loved. Technically speaking, this is a well-made B-movie--with slightly better acting and production values than you'd expect...but, of course, a silly story at times. Overall, fun but a bit dopey.

Champ Larkin (James Craig) and the spartanly named Jimbo (Frank Jenks) are serving their sentences in Alcatraz. The narration by Larkin says that things are not so bad until the war breaks out and all material needed for the inmates to do their jobs - metal and fuel for example - dry up because they are needed on both the homefront and for wartime manufacturing. This causes unbearable boredom on Larkin's part and he and his cellmate break out of Alcatraz.

There have been entire movies made just about trying to break out of Alcatraz, but this programmer makes it look like kindergarten since the escape is not the point. Larkin and Jimbo make it to a lighthouse in the bay and hold the occupants prisoner. The fact that the occupants need to be in constant contact with the authorities to help the war effort means nothing to our escapees, since they are mercenary in character. But then a trio of Nazis show up and become the convicts' accidental hostages. The Nazis are eager to make a deal with the convicts in order to make their rendezvous on time. Will these convicts continue in their mercenary ways? Watch and find out.

James Craig was never an A-list star, but he was pretty good in the Bs of the era. You also have Bonita Granville and Cliff Edwards - who is in the biggest role I've seen him this late in his career. So the quality of the actors in this one makes it worthwhile with pretty good suspense throughout. Also consider that ace noir director Edward Dmytryk is in the director's chair here, so he brings his considerable talents to this production.