Boy do I love Bogart films! Tonight I was trying to find a film in my outrageously huge DVD library. I looked through my catalog and nothing seemed right. Then I thought, grab a Bogart film, any Bogart film. It was like being kind of hungry but nothing seemed like it would satisfy the hunger. Well, I chose "San Quentin" and it was perfection. Not only do I like Bogart films, but I really like prison films. San Quentin is like most Bogie films, it moves fast and never lets up. It has a cast of great character actors (the name of my Website) including: Barton MacLane, Joe Sawyer, Marc Lawrence, Frank Faylen and others. I swear I saw Raymond Hatton but he wasn't listed in the credits. Fine support by Ann Sheridan and Veda Ann Borg plus Bogie and Pat O'Brien at their best. And let's give some deserved credit to Director Lloyd Bacon, who probably rarely got such kudos. The story has some interesting twist and turns and really delivers. You just can't lose with a Bogart (or Cagney) film!

San Quentin (1937) *** (out of 4) The new captain (Pat O'Brien) at San Quentin finds himself in a hard spot because the woman (Ann Sheridan) he loves just happens to have a younger brother (Humphrey Bogart) in the prison. Another prison drama from Warner works pretty well throughout, due in large part to the performances. This is the best I've seen O'Brien and I'm really starting to love seeing Bogart in these smaller roles. The joke the other cons pull on Bogart at the start of the film is certainly the highlight. Barton MacLane nearly steals the show as the tough prison guard.

If you're looking for top flight work from BOGART, SHERIDAN and O'BRIEN, don't look here. It's strictly a routine drama with a rather implausible resolution, and yet, because of its three stars it's still quite watchable.Sheridan is a nightclub singer who catches the eye of Pat O'Brien. He's present when Sheridan's brother HUMPHREY BOGART shows up at the club like a bad penny and sets the plot in motion when he's busted for a robbery rap. Turns out O'Brien is the tough warden at San Quentin and Bogart becomes his chief adversary in no time at all. You can almost guess the rest of the plot.It's fun recognizing the usual Warner stock players in supporting roles, especially BARTON MacLANE, JOE SAWYER and MARC LAWRENCE. GARY OWEN is the mentally unhinged bible man. VEDA ANN BORG is on hand as Joe Sawyer's conspiring sister in on a road gang break.Just don't expect anything out of the ordinary. Bogart's feisty and stubborn, as only he can muster, and Ann Sheridan at least gets to warble an unmemorable song number. Pat O'Brien plays it straight, tough and determined, all the way.Bogart seems to be enjoying his tin horn hoodlum role, and that's all that really matters. Ann Sheridan is mighty pretty in her pre-big time stardom days, but you have to overlook the improbable ending with Bogart crawling back to prison.

"San Quentin" presents a good view of what goes on behind the walls of state prisons, not so different from today, except for high tech gadgets that make escape more difficult.Lieutenant Druggin (Barton MacLane) is relieved of his temporary position as yard captain, much to his dislike. When an army officer, Captain Steve Jameson (Pat O'Brien), accepts a two-year assignment to be his replacement, Druggin sets about to thwart Steve's changes, believing them to be too liberal.Before arriving at his assignment, Steve spends a night in a club with his army buddies where he meets and falls in love with the singer, May Kennedy (Ann Sheridan), unaware that she has a criminal brother, Red Kennedy (Humphrey Bogart), bound for San Quentin following his capture at the club the same evening.After meeting May's brother at San Quentin, Steve is determined to reform the young man without informing him that he knows and loves his sister. Red figures in on part of Steve's reform program, selecting those most likely to be rehabilitated for the fresh air road jobs, before based on seniority and good behavior alone. Steve convinces the prison board by explaining how many of the seasoned criminals take advantage of the old system to use the jobs outside the walls as means of escape. All goes awry when 'Sailor Boy' Hanson (Joe Sawyer) pulls strings with Druggin to get assigned with Red on the same work detail. Hanson needles Red about his sister being exploited by Steve by using her brother as a weapon. Hearing about Steve and May's relationship for the first time so angers Red that he throws in with Hanson and they make their getaway. It is now up to Steve to catch Red before he is totally lost to crime."San Quentin" has a stellar cast that raises this somewhat routine prison drama to higher ground. Humphrey Bogart's character runs the gamut of emotions but remains true to form as a wannabe tough guy with a chip on his shoulder. The gifted actress Ann Sheridan was seldom given an opportunity by the studio to strut her stuff, but she could make even the most thankless role shine. This time she is given an opportunity to show off her singing talent. Pat O'Brien, while not a versatile actor, could be counted on to give a good performance. The supporting cast of character actors makes every aspect of this tough prison drama believable.Veteran director Lloyd Bacon delivers the goods in creating a fast paced film with an exciting chase scene near the end, filled with some daring stunt work, especially the motorcycle jump. There is exceptional camera work by Sidney Hickox of the environs of San Quentin, in particular the shots of the yard with the prisoners at times appearing almost surrealistic.