Blackwell's Island

1939
Approved
1h 11m

IMDb RATING

YOUR RATING

John Garfield and Rosemary Lane in Blackwell's Island (1939)

In 1934, a New York reporter infiltrates a crime syndicate by befriending its boss who is serving time inside Blackwell Island prison.In 1934, a New York reporter infiltrates a crime syndicate by befriending its boss who is serving time inside Blackwell Island prison.In 1934, a New York reporter infiltrates a crime syndicate by befriending its boss who is serving time inside Blackwell Island prison.

Directors
- William C. McGann
- Michael Curtiz
Writers
- Crane Wilbur
- Lee Katz
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.0/10

547

YOUR RATING

Directors
- William C. McGann
- Michael Curtiz
Writers
- Crane Wilbur
- Lee Katz
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 2 wins total

Photos16

+ 10

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
The island in the East River in New York City crossed by the Queensboro Bridge was known as Blackwell's Island, and then Welfare Island from 1921 to 1973 when it was used for hospitals, prisons and other civic institutions. It was renamed Roosevelt Island in honor of President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1973. And, shortly after the period depicted in this film, the prison was closed and prisoners were moved to Rikers Island.

Goofs
When Bull is fleeing in the little speedboat, he fires seven shots from his snub-nose revolver.

Quotes
Benny Farmer: Hi-ya, Wong. How ya feeling?
Wong: Me very sick; me go see doctor again.
Tim Haydon: Say, how good is this doctor?
Benny Farmer: I'll give you an idea how good he is. He's been treating him three months for yellow jaundice, and only yesterday he found out he was a Chinaman.

Connections
Featured in The John Garfield Story (2003)

User reviews20

Featured review

Decent

Blackwell's Island (1939)

** 1/2 (out of 4)

Interesting if not totally successful Warner film that mixes their gangster pictures with their prison films of the time. A gangster gets sent to prison but he's having an easier time calling the shots there so a reporter (John Garfield) enters to try and see what's going on. There's a strange mixture of laughs and thrills in this picture that comes off pretty strange. The gangster in the picture is played for nothing but laughs and this includes him constantly playing pranks on people. The film's screemplay is pretty weak and doesn't offer too much that we haven't seen in countless other Warner dramas. The one big bonus is the terrific performance by Garfield.