Humphrey Bogart in his first screen role and Spencer Tracy in one of his earliest are about the only reasons to take in "Up The River", a blend of prison drama and comedy that really doesn't satisfy very well. Tracy's character is Saint Louis, a virtual celebrity inmate who's on a handshake basis with the warden and handles his incarceration like a country club stay. His partner, Dannemora Dan (Warren Hymer) is more of a foil for Tracy's antics, which include breaking out of prison at will.
When first introduced to Bogart's character Steve Jordan, it appears that he's an officer at the prison, but in reality he's a clerk inmate. While processing a contingent of female prisoners, he's smitten by the pretty Judy (Claire Luce), and vows to wait for her on the outside once he's paroled.
The central plot involves Steve's blackmail by an unscrupulous businessman back home in New England. Steve's family believes he's been away on work in China, and the revelation will devastate his mother and sister. The solution - Saint Louis and Dannemora need to break out of prison to come to the aid of their buddy; they do so during a blackout scene following a talent show.
With things patched up for Steve, Saint Louis and Dan need to break back into the prison, because after all, the Bensonatta Penitentiary baseball team needs their talents in the big game against State's Prison. For all the buildup about the outcome of the game, the ending leaves you flat as the scene fades on Tracy and Hymer even before a pitch can be thrown.
There are some interesting scenes in "Up The River" - the warden's young daughter is allowed free access in the prison yard among the convicts, and this doesn't seem to be cause for concern with anyone. She is loosely supervised by a coterie of women's auxiliary matrons. It brought a chuckle to see the inmates passing notes by feigning their help for the chief matron, while pinning a note on the underside of her ankle length gown.
Bogart's portrayal is a bit stiff in this film as he hasn't found his own personality yet. Tracy on the other hand has already become fairly self assured and carries off his role with some fun. But as mentioned earlier, the film ultimately fails to satisfy, and is better approached as a work in progress for two superstars in training.
When first introduced to Bogart's character Steve Jordan, it appears that he's an officer at the prison, but in reality he's a clerk inmate. While processing a contingent of female prisoners, he's smitten by the pretty Judy (Claire Luce), and vows to wait for her on the outside once he's paroled.
The central plot involves Steve's blackmail by an unscrupulous businessman back home in New England. Steve's family believes he's been away on work in China, and the revelation will devastate his mother and sister. The solution - Saint Louis and Dannemora need to break out of prison to come to the aid of their buddy; they do so during a blackout scene following a talent show.
With things patched up for Steve, Saint Louis and Dan need to break back into the prison, because after all, the Bensonatta Penitentiary baseball team needs their talents in the big game against State's Prison. For all the buildup about the outcome of the game, the ending leaves you flat as the scene fades on Tracy and Hymer even before a pitch can be thrown.
There are some interesting scenes in "Up The River" - the warden's young daughter is allowed free access in the prison yard among the convicts, and this doesn't seem to be cause for concern with anyone. She is loosely supervised by a coterie of women's auxiliary matrons. It brought a chuckle to see the inmates passing notes by feigning their help for the chief matron, while pinning a note on the underside of her ankle length gown.
Bogart's portrayal is a bit stiff in this film as he hasn't found his own personality yet. Tracy on the other hand has already become fairly self assured and carries off his role with some fun. But as mentioned earlier, the film ultimately fails to satisfy, and is better approached as a work in progress for two superstars in training.