The Prisoner of Shark Island

6.8
Date

1936-02-28

Country

US

Runtime

1.55h

Genre

Drama

Overview

After healing the leg of the murderer John Wilkes Booth, responsible for the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln, perpetrated on April 14, 1865, during a performance at Ford's Theatre in Washington; Dr. Samuel A. Mudd, considered part of the atrocious conspiracy, is sentenced to life imprisonment and sent to the sinister Shark Island Prison.

Cast

Warner Baxter
Dr. Samuel Alexander Mudd
Gloria Stuart
Mrs. Peggy Mudd
Claude Gillingwater
Colonel Dyer
Arthur Byron
Mr. Erickson
O. P. Heggie
Dr. Mac Intyre

Poster

Not Found

Review

By Steve

Don't know how I missed this one but it's a great thriller. From the title you'd never guess it's an historical drama about Dr. Samuel Mudd who infamously helped set Lincoln's killer's broken leg. The history goes from suspect to flat out wrong -- and it's almost pro-slavery -- but if you can look past that it's a hell of a tall tale. Warner Baxter is put through the ringer and he does very well in this a very physical role -- much more entertaining that his smiling lover roles he usually did. Also a standout is the lean, terrifying John Carridine. Not to be forgotten is some thrilling scenes in the prison. And, yes, there are sharks!


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