Seven Miles from Alcatraz

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.

Thanks to the fast-moving direction of Edward Dmytryk, SEVEN MILES FROM ALCATRAZ makes for a diverting prison break film, although it definitely shows its B-film origins. In fact, the last twenty minutes is strictly cliffhanger stuff that would have made good material for a Saturday afternoon serial.

It's got lots of wartime propaganda and the plot about Nazi spies using a lighthouse as an operation for their espionage is hard to swallow, but it works as an adventure film with an interesting locale and some competent players.

JAMES CRAIG carries most of the film on his sturdy shoulders, a handsome and rugged leading man who never quite made it to major stardom. FRANK JENKS is "Jimbo", his sidekick, and the supporting cast includes BONITA GRANVILLE (in one of her more underplayed roles), GEORGE CLEVELAND and CLIFF EDWARDS, who does his bug-eyed comic relief with a little too much relish.

There's plenty of action along with the talky moments. Fortunately, the action far outweighs any sense the script makes and is well staged by director Dmytryk. Craig gives one of his livelier performances as the escaped convict with a yen for Granville.

Passes the time quickly and it's easy to get hooked into the spy aspect of the story, but it's nothing special.

Relaxing with the newspaper in his cell at the maximum security prison Alcatraz, handsome James Craig (as Champ Larkin) reads about Japan bombing the US territory of Hawaii. This means WAR for most US men, but not convicts like Mr. Craig and cell-mate Frank Jenks (as Jimbo). They have no interest in the war effort. They do, however, have an interest in escaping. Taking advantage of a blackout and fog, the two men seem to easily escape from Alcatraz. They arrive at a lighthouse to hideout, keeping the residents at gunpoint. When "Lighthouse 14" is also occupied by Nazi spies, Craig's nationalism is tested...

Helping Craig straighten out and fly right is cute blonde Bonita Granville (as Anne Porter). Because she is the first woman he has seen in five years, Craig is aggressive with Ms. Granville. She returns Craig's forced kisses with a slap, but you know she really wants him. Cozier with escaped convicts is wide-eyed comic Cliff Edwards (as Stormy). Edward Dmytryk does well directing this quick, unassuming little film; with tasteful panning away, he suggests rather than shows Craig's beating and Granville being bound and whipped. Watch for "Hogan's Heroes" (Sgt. Schultz) rotund regular John Banner to appear thin and serious.

****** Seven Miles from Alcatraz (11/18/42) Edward Dmytryk ~ James Craig, Frank Jenks, Bonita Granville, Cliff Edwards

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.

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.