This is a gritty drama set inside a tough prison, with the new chaplain (John Litel) as the hero figure. However, the emphasis is not on the usual suffering, beatings, rattling locks and bars, and chain gangs of convict films, but is strongly story-oriented. The very young, almost baby-faced, Glenn Ford plays a new inmate who has committed a crime specifically with the intention of being jailed, so that he can kill the sadistic guard who murdered his elderly father, who had gone to that prison for a white collar crime. The chaplain figures this out and intervenes. (Rochelle Hudson has a brief scene in his office where she tearfully tells Glenn Ford how much she loves him and begs him to give up his mission.) There are numerous unexpected plot twists and a lot of rough stuff. Over-arching everything are moralistic concerns about the nature and justification of vengeance, of trust, of abuse of prisoners, about prisons in general. Some of the chaplain's simplistic 'hug a thug' philosophy is clearly ridiculous, but it is never pandered to in the story, since most of the cons callously reject his overtures to befriend and 'understand' them. The character actor Barton MacLane here has a rare opportunity to star in a film, as the violent inmate Blackie. His heart of gold is buried so deep you need a rock-drill to find it, but at the end, a few glints of gold appear as he dies with a confession on his lips and saying with his last breath the pathetic remnants of what he can recall of 'Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep' and making the sardonic comment to the chaplain: 'I bet you didn't think I knew any prayer'.
8 Reviews
One of many crusading prison films of the era.
planktonrules24 October 2020
In the 1930s and 40s, there were many prison films...it was a popular genre. Many of them focused on the awful prisoners...but a few were moral crusade films were made with the intention to reform prisons. These well meaning films show the ugly side of prison and propose that prisoners become hardened criminals, in many cases, because they were so dehumanized in the prison system. Films like "I Am a Fugitive From a Chain Gang", "Blackwell's Island", "Crime School", "20,000 Years in Sing Sing" and "Brute Force" are all such crusade pictures....and so is "Men Without Souls".
The story begins with a new chaplain being appointed to a tough prison. The warden immediately dislikes Reverend Storm (John Litel), as Storm has complained about how the warden runs the place....and when he goes to work there, you know he'll receive little support from him. But the reverend also gains the enmity of the prisoners when he breaks up a prison riot. He did it to stop the slaughter of the rioters...but their leader, 'Blackie' (Barton MacLane with a great name, huh??) leads a solid front against cooperating with the chaplain.
A new prisoner (Glenn Ford) arrives and is placed in the cell with Blackie. The guards push the new guy to become a stoolie...but Johnny hates the guards and wants to kill the one in charge. After all, Johnny's own father had been incarcerated there and the guards did everything they could to make his life a living nightmare....and revenge is foremost on his mind. But the chaplain insists that Johnny could be saved...and works to help Johnny see the light. And, saving he'll need when Blackie sets up Johnny to take a fall.
So is this any good? Well, yes and no. While many of these crusading films are classics, this one is good but not nearly to the same level...mostly because the plot is laid on a bit thick at times. Imagine...a baddie named 'Blackie'! Plus, believability isn't exactly the case late in the film when Blackie uncharacteristically shows a decent side...even though he'd been a scum-bag for the previous 55 minutes! This is why I bumped the score down to 6...as the ending was incredibly unlikely to say the least!! Well acted and well-intentioned...it is entertaining throughout.
The story begins with a new chaplain being appointed to a tough prison. The warden immediately dislikes Reverend Storm (John Litel), as Storm has complained about how the warden runs the place....and when he goes to work there, you know he'll receive little support from him. But the reverend also gains the enmity of the prisoners when he breaks up a prison riot. He did it to stop the slaughter of the rioters...but their leader, 'Blackie' (Barton MacLane with a great name, huh??) leads a solid front against cooperating with the chaplain.
A new prisoner (Glenn Ford) arrives and is placed in the cell with Blackie. The guards push the new guy to become a stoolie...but Johnny hates the guards and wants to kill the one in charge. After all, Johnny's own father had been incarcerated there and the guards did everything they could to make his life a living nightmare....and revenge is foremost on his mind. But the chaplain insists that Johnny could be saved...and works to help Johnny see the light. And, saving he'll need when Blackie sets up Johnny to take a fall.
So is this any good? Well, yes and no. While many of these crusading films are classics, this one is good but not nearly to the same level...mostly because the plot is laid on a bit thick at times. Imagine...a baddie named 'Blackie'! Plus, believability isn't exactly the case late in the film when Blackie uncharacteristically shows a decent side...even though he'd been a scum-bag for the previous 55 minutes! This is why I bumped the score down to 6...as the ending was incredibly unlikely to say the least!! Well acted and well-intentioned...it is entertaining throughout.
Against Short Script, Even The Best Actors Struggle In Vain
boblipton30 September 2023
John Litel becomes the new prison chaplain to the general scorn of the warden and inmates. When fourth-billed Glenn Ford comes in as fresh fish, he does so deliberately; his father had died the previous year in the prison, the victim of guard captain Cy Kendall. Ford intends to get revenge, but Litel talks him out of it, along with Ford's girl friend, Rochelle Hudson. But Ford's cell mate, Barton Maclane, learns that Ford was supposed to stooge to Kendall, although he didn't, so he kills Kendall.... and Ford gets blamed and sentenced to death.
It's some high-powered acting chops in this Columbia B movie. Director Nick Grinde can't do much more with the script than let the performers speak their lines and go through their abbreviated character arcs, although he offers some nice crowd images with the aid of underrated DP Benjamin Kline. With Don Bedloe and Dick Curtis.
It's some high-powered acting chops in this Columbia B movie. Director Nick Grinde can't do much more with the script than let the performers speak their lines and go through their abbreviated character arcs, although he offers some nice crowd images with the aid of underrated DP Benjamin Kline. With Don Bedloe and Dick Curtis.
Very good Columbia B with many familiar faces
16mmRay8 February 2016
Warning: Spoilers
This is a very good six-reeler from Columbia, part of the rash of prison pictures that came out during 1939-40. Glenn Ford does a nice job as a young fellow who got himself thrown into prison to find out how his father, a convicted banker, died. John Litel plays a new chaplain with a nice right hook and Barton MacLane has a meatier role than usual as top dog in the big house. Rochelle Hudson has one obligatory scene as Ford's girl. Doing his usual ace job in support, this time with a full wig, is Don Beddoe as the warden. Beddoe must have been in every Columbia B feature during the 30's and 40's. Cy Kendall plays the sadistic sergeant of the guards, having been demoted from warden in 1938's CRIME SCHOOL. Fans of Columbia B's and shorts will recognize Dick Curtis, Eddie Laughton, Joe Palma, Cy Schnindell among the convicts. Roach heavy Walter Long stokes the furnace in the boiler room and Richard Fiske plays one of the guards. I was actually surprised NOT to see Bruce Bennett among the cast as he was doing small-time work at Columbia during this period. One of the other reviewers mentioned poor sound. He must have been referring to a video copy. The film itself has the usual superb Columbia recording and reproduction on the soundtrack. My only complaint is with Columbia's sound effects department. Those pop-gun bullet sounds are okay for the comedy two-reelers or Durango Kid horse operas, but they sound out of place in a dramatic prison picture. Overall, a nice way to spend an hour, especially the last five minutes where MacLane does a fine fadeaway.
Can that old time religion sooth the savage bully?
mark.waltz13 July 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Director Nick Grinde was the B version of Frank Capra at Columbia, and his tough styled programmers are quite enjoyable as gritty reminders of a tough time. This prison drama mixes spirituality with the attempts of reforming convicts. Barton MacLane has started a prison riot in the hopes of escaping just as warden Don Beddoe has agreed to hire minister John Litel. Thanks to Litel, the riot is averted, and his tough approach to performing prisoners wins much respect, with the exception of MacLane.
Enter the younger Glenn Ford halfway through the film, determined to seek out the truth as to what happened to an elderly prisoner who died the year before. Ford has his own agenda, however, and you're never quite sure what side he's on as he plays MacLane against the warden and Litel as another breakout plan is put into motion. Tough talking in a way that avoids the typical cliches, and thus far more realistic than other men's prison films, this never sanitizes the violence or adds in unnecessary comic relief just to lighten things up. Even the attempt to bring some peace with Litel playing "My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean" on the radio as the inmates sing along serves a purpose. This never lets up on the tension which results in a very good B film.
Enter the younger Glenn Ford halfway through the film, determined to seek out the truth as to what happened to an elderly prisoner who died the year before. Ford has his own agenda, however, and you're never quite sure what side he's on as he plays MacLane against the warden and Litel as another breakout plan is put into motion. Tough talking in a way that avoids the typical cliches, and thus far more realistic than other men's prison films, this never sanitizes the violence or adds in unnecessary comic relief just to lighten things up. Even the attempt to bring some peace with Litel playing "My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean" on the radio as the inmates sing along serves a purpose. This never lets up on the tension which results in a very good B film.
Fink-free prison
AAdaSC26 August 2014
New prison chaplain John Litel (Reverend Storm) arrives at his new post in the middle of an escape attempt and tries to win the prisoners over. He doesn't on this occasion, but that's his mission. You see, Litel is one of those people who think that people are not born evil and everyone should be given a second chance. A person's life is shaped by the tough breaks they have had as children. However, for such an understanding chaplain, he's pretty handy with his fists! Anyway, into this prison comes Glenn Ford (Johnny) intent on getting revenge on sadistic prison guard Cy Kendall (Captain White) who killed Ford's father a few years earlier in the same prison. Ford gets put into the same cell as troublesome ring-leader Barton MacLane (Blackie). Can they forge a friendship
?
This film cracks along at a good pace. Unfortunately, the sound quality isn't great and there is occasional interference with the picture but it is not enough to spoil the viewing. I found it an enjoyable journey, but it's one that doesn't really allow any emotional connections. It just cracks along until it reaches the conclusion. Not bad, though. And why on earth is Rochelle Hudson 3rd billed when she only has one small scene?
This film cracks along at a good pace. Unfortunately, the sound quality isn't great and there is occasional interference with the picture but it is not enough to spoil the viewing. I found it an enjoyable journey, but it's one that doesn't really allow any emotional connections. It just cracks along until it reaches the conclusion. Not bad, though. And why on earth is Rochelle Hudson 3rd billed when she only has one small scene?
A foolish thing
bkoganbing10 February 2021
In the second of three films he was teamed with Rochelle Hudson, Glenn Ford
is a man who deliberately gets himself thrown in prison so he can get the man
who killed his father while dad was doing time. Hudson is Ford's sweetheart on
the outside and thinks he's done a foolish thing.
How right she is as Ford gets caught up in a power play between the toughest con in the joint Barton MacLane and the sadistic head guard Cy Kendall. The only friend Ford or any of the convicts have is the new prison chaplain John Litel.
Lots of good action scenes with all the proper prison cliches used. You know we never do find out exactly what happened with Ford's father, but certain assumption are made.
Men Without Souls is one mediocre prison flick.
How right she is as Ford gets caught up in a power play between the toughest con in the joint Barton MacLane and the sadistic head guard Cy Kendall. The only friend Ford or any of the convicts have is the new prison chaplain John Litel.
Lots of good action scenes with all the proper prison cliches used. You know we never do find out exactly what happened with Ford's father, but certain assumption are made.
Men Without Souls is one mediocre prison flick.
Another good Columbia pictures prison film
searchanddestroy-130 November 2023
This feature is above the previous one that I reviewed: CAPTIVE WOMEN; this one, also directed by Nick Grinde, is far better, grittier, tougher, and of course Barton McLane steals the show and Glenn Ford is also better as an inmate. Rough scenes contribute to make this film a real must see and also a rare prison film, which was unusual at Columbia Pictures, and more with Metro Goldwyn mayer or Warner Brothers. It really deserves to be seen, and it's not too long either. Barton Mc Lane was used to such roles, not only convicts but also wardens, and not smooth, cool ones. Nick Grinde's movies are rather hard to purchase.
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