Movies : Drama : DVD Rip : English
A gripping drama of life in the death house where men are reduced to numbers and the only way out is the electic chair August 26, 1932
Life Ends.
M. H.
Published: August 26, 1932
Grim and gruesome are the events in the diluted screen adaptation of John Wexley's prison death house play, "The Last Mile," which reached the Capitol yesterday. Although the behavior of one or two of the characters is somewhat exaggerated, most of the rôles are acted with the necessary vehemence and realism.
The first scenes show Richard Walters, played by Howard Phillips, who appeared in the same rôle in the play, being sentenced to death for allegedly killing his business partner. Subsequently Phillips is perceived being brought into the death house and welcomed by the other inmates, one of whom is to be electrocuted that night. All the harrowing details of this murderer Berg's execution are set forth, including the visit to his cell by a Rabbi. There are the cursing of one of the slayers, the singing of a Negro and the spasmodic lines of rhyme from one who is supposed to be mentally unhinged.
To show that Walters is guiltless of the crime of which he has been convicted there is a flashback revealing actually what happened. It depicts a disagreement between Walters and his partner and then the sudden hold-up of their filling station by several gangsters. All this is supposed to be running through Walters's mind as Berg is expiating his crime.
One of the keepers in the death house is so callous to the reviling and moaning of the men in the cells that he turns on a radio and also occasionally reminds the prisoners of what is going to happen to them. This keeper, played by Albert J. Smith, is scarcely true to life, for the man is far too vicious to be credible.
The high-light of the narrative is after Killer Mears succeeds in clutching hold of this keeper, a man named Drake, and getting the keys away from him. All those in the cells are let out, with the exception of the deranged Werner, who shrinks back into a corner. Drake is killed and several other keepers are surprised by Mears, who at the point of a pistol forces them to get into the death house cells.
They are held as hostages and through a prison telephone the warden is informed by Mears that his brother-in-law and the others will be shot if he does not have an automobile waiting and assure them of at least four hours' start. This the warden refuses to agree to and Mears sets the time for shooting the hostages, permitting them first to appeal to the warden over the telephone.
In spite of the ghastly background of this film and the further killings by the felons, the various sequences are set forth in a forceful and dramatic fashion.
Preston S. Foster, who plays Mears, gives a vigorous and able impersonation. Mr. Phillips's interpretation is also effective. George E. Stone, Noel Madison, Alan Roscoe and Daniel L. Hayes makes one shudder by their portraits of condemned murderers. Frank Sheridan, as the warden, does well in some of his scenes, but in others the effect of what is happening is not expressed naturally and his talk over the telephone to the Governor is poorly written.
Prefacing this film is a lengthy foreword by Warden Lawes in which he emphasizes his opposition to capital punishment.
Buddy Rogers and his orchestra, also Leon Errol, Jay C. Flippen, Art Jarrett, Bernice and Emily and others help to make up an interesting stage program.
THE LAST MILE, an adaptation of the play of the same name by John Wexley; directed by Sam Bischoff; a World Wide production. At the Capitol.
Richard Walters . . . . . Howard Phillips
Killer Mears (cell 4) . . . . . Preston S. Foster
Berg (cell 1) . . . . . George E. Stone
D'Amoro (cell 6) . . . . . Noel Madison
Kirby (cell 7) . . . . . Alan Roscoe
Werner (cell
. . . . . Paul Fix
Mayer (cell 3) . . . . . Al Hill
Sonny Jackson (cell 2) . . . . . Daniel L. Haynes
Warden Lewis . . . . . Frank Sheridan
Father O'Connor . . . . . Alec B. Francis
Rabbi . . . . . Edward Van Sloan
Mrs. Walters . . . . . Louise Carter
Callahan, principal keeper . . . . . Ralph Theadore
O'Flaherty . . . . . Jack Kennedy
Drake . . . . . Albert J. Smith
Peddie . . . . . William Scott
Harris . . . . . Kenneth MacDonald
Governor Blane . . . . . Walter Walker
