Road Gang (1936) - full transcript

Now, that's what I mean

when I talk about a good story.

Well written, compact

and, most important,

the author has taking the trouble

to verify his material.

Who wrote it?

A young fellow by the name of Larrabie.

He was visiting down South.

He's had the nerve to write the truth

about the whole Moett organization.

I'm going to use it.

What our readers care of the activities

of a little southern politician?

What they want is news!

Give me a blonde bandit every time.

The landlady.

Do your stuff.

Oh...

Oh, yes, Mrs. O'Malley, we expect to have

everything straightened out by tomorrow.

Tell it to her!

Oh, yes, Mrs. O'Malley, we expect to have

everything straightened out by tomorrow.

As a matter of fact, I'm expecting an

important message from Chicago right now.

- You see, it's a... a...

- Uncle.

A rich uncle who hasn't been feeling

at all well lately.

Oh, we're going to do handsomely

by you, Mrs. O'Malley,

because you are the sweetest.

Telegram for James Larrabie.

Me?

I wouldn't know, mister.

This is for James Larrabie.

Well, that's me.

- Give.

- Sign.

- Change a ten?

- Sure.

- Congratulations!

- Huh?

You're practically a rich man.

Well, open it!

Boy, oh boy!

Say, that rich uncle must be

feeling a lot worse.

From now on, my rich

uncle is the Chicago Sun.

It's a job, boy, and what a job!

And what a relief! You, know,

I was getting to think

maybe we'd have to marry Mrs.

O'Malley to get out of this place.

Look, they're using that stuff I sent

them on Moett and they want more.

And they're wiring transportation money

to come North.

That means we can pay Mrs. O'Malley

and the hash house.

And get a new tire for the jalopy.

Say, that won't leave much

to get to Chicago on!

- We don't need much.

- We!

Sure, I'm taking you with me,

and your jalopy.

- Huh?

- We're leaving tonight.

And, listen, when I get you

in my own territory,

I'll show you a thing or two.

Swell, all I want to see

is them stockyards.

See?

I get it.

Hey, where are you going

in such a scamper?

To tell Barbara the news.

Well, how are you, Mr. Larrabie?

Miss Barbara is in the garden.

- Thanks, Lucinda.

- You're welcome.

Oh, good afternoon, Mr. Larrabie.

And a good afternoon to you,

miss Winston.

Oh, I...

- I trust I didn't frighten you.

- Sorry, you didn't.

But if you're so sold on

Mid-Victorian womanhood,

perhaps I could pretend

to be frightened.

Fine.

Then, If I told you something

very exciting,

you could probably swoon for me,

couldn't you?

Well, that's going a bit far,

Mr. Larrabie, but I might try.

All right.

Now, brace yourself.

I have the honor to announce that

your favorite fianc?

is no longer among the unemployed.

Go on, now tell me all about it.

Well, I'm leaving tonight.

I've got a job doing special work

for the Chicago Sun.

- You're going to Chicago?

- Uh-huh.

And the whole thing's based on that

little tin dictator you've got down here.

- You mean Mr. Moett?

- None other.

Jim!

Oh, I know.

You think he's just a politician,

but I got enough on that guy to smear him

across every front page in the country.

And the Sun syndicate

will do the work too.

But Mr. Moett is one of

dad's very best friends.

Yes, I know, but your stepfather

has been taken in, Barbara.

Moett is a crook, and with all

the political power he's getting,

a darned dangerous crook.

Well, speak of the devil.

Jim, I hope your information about Mr.

Moett is accurate, because if it isn't...

- No, wait a minute.

Good newspapermen

are always accurate.

You mean you don't think

I'll be a good one?

Oh, of course you will, dear,

but I'm just worried about dad.

Well, you can stop worrying

about him right now.

When your dad reads the Chicago Sun,

he'll be off Moett for life.

- Hello, J.W.

- What is that, Winston?

Some of your prospective

son-in-law's work.

That's bad!

That's bad!

We've got to put the brakes

on that fellow and put them on quick.

Much more of that sort of stuff and the

people on here will start to think.

And when they do, I begin to sink.

And don't forget you go with me.

All right, J. W., I'll... I'll see Larry,

but it's... it's rather

a difficult situation to handle.

Sit down, and I'll tell you

how to handle it.

- You want me to go in with you?

- Sure, why not?

Oh, hello, Jim.

Glad you dropped in.

I'd like to speak to you a moment.

- You'll excuse us, Barbara, won't you?

- Of course.

- See you later.

- Right.

Come in, son.

We were just talking about you.

Oh!

- You know Mr. Moett?

- Yes, we've met.

Oh, yeah.

Since you're going to be a member

of my family one of these days,

I'm naturally interested

in your welfare.

Mr. Moett has a proposition I thought

you might like to hear.

Oh, it's that so?

Yes, I think you can help me.

Now in my line of business,

there's a constant demand

for fresh blood, new ideas,

pep, enthusiasm...

Yes, I... I can understand that.

I was just saying that very thing

to George here.

He tells me you're interested

in journalism. Is that so?

Uh... yes, yes it is.

Just what branch of journalism?

Oh, politics mainly.

Well, that's fine. You know the movement

I'm organizing here.

It'll sweep the country

once it's started.

Big chance for a young fella.

Beginning tomorrow, you'll take complete

charge of my campaign publicity.

Well, well, there must be some reason

for such a flattering offer, Mr. Moett.

Sure there is. I'm a man that recognizes

ability when I see it,

That's how I built up

my whole organization.

You know what I mean, Moett.

There's a reason quite aside

from my ability.

Yes, there is, Larrabie.

Here's the reason.

I see. Didn't take long for this

to get here, did it?

My Chicago representative air-mailed it.

Well, the cards are on the table.

Looks like your lead.

In that event, I'll play my ace.

Meaning?

Meaning "no".

I'm leaving for Chicago tonight

to continue this series.

Now, wait a minute, Jim.

Hadn't you better think this matter over?

This is between Moett and me,

Mr. Winston.

I have no intention of mentioning you

in my stuff.

I'm not thinking of myself,

but I've got Barbara to consider.

I can't have her tied up

to a professional scandalmonger.

There's nothing more to be said,

gentlemen.

I may sell out when I'm so old

I can't make a living any other way.

In the meantime, I've at least got to

keep clean enough to live with myself...

and Barbara.

Do I hear my name being bandied about?

You do.

Your friend Larrabie has turned out

to be nothing but a political racketeer.

I'll have to ask you never

to see him again.

Why, dad you sound like something

out of East Lynne.

I know what I'm doing

and as long as...

And I know what I'm doing, Mr. Winston.

Will you walk out to the car

with me, Barbara?

Of course!

I'll probably see you again, Larrabie,

Soon!

Don't think I don't understand, Barbara.

I realize what a spot

this puts you in,

but I wouldn't be half the man

you think I am

if I... If I turned yellow

and backed up, would I?

No, Jim.

I guess we all come to a point,

some time or other, when...

when we just got to have faith

and believe.

Without proof of any kind.

Just believe.

- Right?

- Right.

You've got your step-father on one side

and... and me on the other.

It's not going to be easy

to stand in the middle.

No, it won't be easy, Jim,

but I'll never stop believing.

- Good-bye, Jim.

- Good-bye. dear.

Three more miles to a sandwich.

And about four cups of coffee

if we're gonna drive all night.

Hey, Bob, does this thing always

make so much noise?

Only when the engine is running.

Huh-uh!

- Tara, tarata, tara, ra...

- Tara, raram, pam, pam, pam.

You, boys, seem to be in a hurry.

As a matter of fact, we are.

You see, I just got word

of a job in Chicago.

- Oh, a job in Chicago, eh?

- Yeah.

Maybe you left a little job

behind you, too.

What do you mean by that?

- What's your name?

- James Larrabie.

- Who are you?

- I was branded Bob Gordon.

Friend of Larrabie's?

One of the best.

I'm afraid I'll have to detain you,

boys, in Boone City tonight.

Now, wait a minute.

Why can't we pay you

the fine and be on our way?

The charges I've got against you

can't be squared with a fine.

Meaning what?

Meaning you're charged

with suspicion of grand larceny.

Grand larceny!

Listen, partner, you're mixing

your brands this time.

Something around here begins

to smell like J. W. Moett to me.

Well, let's go.

I'll call Chicago as soon

as we get to a phone.

Okay. Only I don't like the idea of going

the hoosegow on somebody's hunch.

Lead on, general.

I'll have to ask you to lead on.

Go straight ahead.

I'll signal you when to stop.

And no monkey business.

Yes, sir.

Right inside.

I think we'd better take

our bags, huh?

Yeah.

Hey, Pop.

That's some company for you.

Hello, Jake. What you're doing here

breaking up my sleep?

A couple of boys to be held for

the night on a down-state tip-off.

James Larrabie and Bob...

Gordon the name?

Bob Gordon.

Can I use that phone?

Take it easy, son.

You, boys, don't look like crooks.

Now, do they, Jake?

I don't know. I quit guessing

a long time ago.

My orders were to pick them up

and I did.

Notify Chief Benson you got them.

Don't forget to tell him

who brought them in.

Good night, Pop.

Good night, Jake.

Uh, uh, uh, uh...

Sakes alive!

You seem to be in a powerful lot of

trouble for a couple of young fellows.

Got any friends in this part

of the country?

No, but we got plenty of them

in Chicago.

If you don't mind, I'd like to put a call

through to my paper there right away.

All right, all right, son.

But I'll have to lock you up

and make my report first.

Them's regulations.

Now, come on, boys.

Never mind them.

You won't need them.

Come on.

Straight ahead there, boys.

If you don't mind I'll put you

in the tank tonight.

And tomorrow if you're still here, I'll

fix you up a nice clean cell of your own.

Don't look so low-down, boy.

Think what a break we get.

Clean cell!

Now, where in tarnation

does that critter hide?

Keep on going boys.

Don't make any breaks.

We're on our way out.

Listen, we don't wanna get

in an any jam.

- If you wanna go, beat it.

- Shut up!

I might have finished that guy in there

and I don't want no witnesses.

Now turn around and march.

Go on! Beat it!

Go on!

Get for that car!

Quick!

Now drive for the state border

and drive fast.

Here comes our break.

First time in my life I was ever

really glad to see a cop!

Go! Step on it!

I'll take care of this guy.

Give it all you got!

Come on, step on it!

- Did he get him?

- Yeah.

Calling all cars north of Highway 22.

Pick up three men headed north

on green roadster.

license number 3 5 7 0 8.

Wanted for the murder of Bill Huber

and escaped from Boone city jail.

Names are James Larrabie,

Robert Gordon and Hymie Seaball.

These men are armed.

Barricade all highways

and take no chances.

Go for 'em, boys.

Look!

Slow up one mile

and I'll kill you!

They got him, boy.

Stop!

We're certainly glad to see you.

And we're glad to see you.

Get out of there!

Hey, wait a minute.

We can explain this.

Yeah? You'll do a lot of explaining

before you get out of this.

Take them away!

You, boys, bring that car.

Yes, sir?

You get George Winston yet?

Just got the connection.

Here he is, sir.

Hello, George.

Hello, J. W.

What's on your mind?

I just wondered if you noticed anything

unusual in the paper this morning.

Oh, yes, yes, I did.

Our friend Larrabie is in the soup

for a long... long while.

And I won't shed any tears

if they send him up for life.

Well, that's very nice of you to

call me, Mr. Smith.

Then we can close

the deal tomorrow.

Thank you.

Good-bye.

Good morning, my dear.

I've just heard the news

over the radio.

Well, that spares me the job

of breaking it to you.

Believe me, Barbara, when I say

I'm sorry Jim turned out so badly.

Don't lie to me.

I heard what you said on the phone.

Well, after all, a murderer.

You know just as well as I do

that Jim isn't a murderer.

Now I'm going to prove it.

Oh, it's a pretty big order with

two dead men as evidence.

Just what do you propose to do?

I'm going to get Mr. Dudley

to defend him.

Now, look here, Barbara.

I won't have you making a public

fool of yourself over a...

I'll do exactly as I please

with my own money.

At least, what's left of it.

Oh, I'm sick of your lies

and pretenses.

If you had one spark of decency left,

you'd see Dudley yourself

and help those boys

get a clean break.

Maybe you're right, Barbara.

I will see Dudley myself.

I don't see how you can even

hesitate over such a proposition.

You're charged with murder.

And your chances for conviction

are 10 to 1.

But we weren't even connected

with the break.

- Much less the murder.

- I know, I know.

But you need proves, my dear boy.

Witnesses, and that's exactly

what you haven't got.

Why not let me arrange

a plea of guilty

on the simple little charge

of jail-breaking?

You can draw nothing worse than

a suspended sentence

or six months at the most.

How can you arrange a thing like that?

Son, I've been a lawyer down here

for 30 years.

And I haven't spent all those

years for nothing.

I'm not used to confessing to crimes

I haven't committed.

What do you think, Bob?

Well, I ain't anxious to play the lead

in a murder trial, either.

What did Barbara tell you to do?

She said to let Mr. Dudley

handle the whole thing.

Well, it's a cinch.

He wouldn't steer you wrong.

No, no, of course not.

All right, Mr. Dudley, we'll plead

guilty to a charge of breaking jail.

But I'll spend the rest of my life,

if I have to, clearing up this thing.

That's the spirit.

That's the spirit.

Oh, Mr. Dudley, I wrote out

a wire to my paper.

They're sure to come through

and see that I get a square deal.

I was afraid to trust it

to anybody else.

Will you send it for me?

Sure, boy, sure. I've got to get right

back to the city and send it from there.

I'm having lunch with a judge.

Well, keep your chins up, boys,

and don't worry.

You know, I feel better already, Jim.

Yeah. Yeah, he knows

what he's doing, all right.

Careful consideration has been given

to the fact

that neither of the defendants

is a habitual criminal,

but the court cannot overlook their

admission of guilty complicity

in a crime which jeopardized

the lives of innocent men.

I am therefore tempering

justice with leniency

when I sentence you,

James Larrabie

and you, Robert Gordon,

to terms of five years of hard labor

in the State Penitentiary.

This Court is adjourned.

Oh, Jim that is horrible!

Oh, don't you worry boys.

There's been a slight slip-up.

Slip-up!

I've got another name for it.

The only slip-up

without falling for your promise

to get us off with only six months!

Do you think I'm gonna stand for such a

miscarriage of justice without a fight?

Well, I'll take it to the Supreme Court,

if necessary.

Sorry, Mr. Dudley.

Come on, boys.

Good-bye, dear.

Come, dear.

- Barbara, dear...

- Please!

Well, that takes care of our young

friend for the next five years.

Yes, but you might just

as well have made it life.

I know, but Moett wanted it

cleaned up fast with no publicity.

How did the judge feel about it?

Say, you couldn't reach that judge

with a 10-foot pole.

Of course, you don't have to

when your clients up and plead guilty.

Better drive faster, Joe.

I gotta get me some supper.

Won't hurt them none

to get shook up a little.

Okay.

New fish from the city.

Yeah, here there's a big time

Chicago boy in that bunch.

- Hiya, Buck.

- Hello, Warden.

- What have you got today?

- A couple of jail breakers.

One of them's from Chicago.

Oh, yeah?

I've been waiting for that pair!

Break them out.

Hey, you got five in there.

How come?

We picked up that smart guy

that took a powder yesterday.

Oh, I'm glad to see you back.

Give him a hand, Ed.

Hey, let them in down there!

What's the matter with you?

Open that gate!

Break!

Come on, get out!

Come on!

Take it easy, boss.

I... I've got a game leg.

Is that so?

Well, don't hurry, mister.

You're just here to relax

and rest up.

Ha! Ain't that right, Warden?

Yeah, only we like them to relax

on their feet.

Don't pull anymore that

game leg stuff on me.

Not when I've got a good one!

- Bring him inside.

- Go ahead, keep moving, keep going.

Pile, let them on, boys.

Take that runaway inside.

Come on, keep moving there.

Get in a line there.

Take off those coats and shirts!

Snap out of it.

Got some news prisoners for you, doc.

Wanna take a look at them?

Okay.

Might as well now as ever, I guess.

Ah, snap it up, snap it up there!

Nice white skins they got

in Chicago, eh?

Yeah, but I reckon we can fix that up.

You know, put a little color into them.

Take it easy, will ya?

How do you expect me

to hear these heartbeats

with you bleating away like that?

Oh, excuse us, doc.

Sure look all right to me, Warden.

Of course, they might have

a little trouble at first.

They'll get used to that

with the proper encouragement.

All right, boys. It wasn't me

that sent you here,

and ain't me to blame

for what you did to get here.

We all got our jobs on this farm.

Yours is to work.

Mine is to see that you work.

Now, I aim to understand my boys.

You can come straight to me

anytime you think you can get in

the right sort of treatment.

But you're here to be made

good citizens out of.

And if you won't change voluntary

in the honest folks,

why, I just naturally gotta

force you into it.

Now, some day you're gonna look back

on your stretch at this farm

as the beginning of a new life.

That's all. The guard will give you

your clothes, then you get your supper.

All right, get in that door

and change clothes.

- Come on, hurry up.

- Hurry up!

Come on, you gotta learn

to move fast around here.

Come on, move on there and get it.

Move along!

Codfish hash!

Well, come on, we ain't gonna

feed it to you.

Thanks, general, but we ate

just before we left.

Oh, you did, eh?

Well, I got me a hunch that

by this time tomorrow

that grub will taste like the

best stuff you ever had.

Now, get along in that door.

The bunk's for you.

Come on. Step out.

What are you gonna offer?

They'll do.

There you are, boys.

Nice and comfy.

If there's anything you want,

we got a chambermaid,

at each end,

just aching to be of service.

What's the matter with him?

Faking sunstroke.

Hey!

Ah! He'll be all right.

Well, boys, I'm maybe the chambermaid,

but I don't make up the bunks.

Drop it.

Come on, move along.

Step on it.

Hey, make it fast.

First stretch?

Yeah.

Tough.

- Now, where's that runaway?

- Right over there.

Come on, son. We're giving you

a little farewell party.

No, no, boss. Please, no.

- Come on.

- No!

Quit stalling. Quit stalling.

You've got it coming to you.

What's the idea?

They're gonna take him to Blackfoot

for trying to make a getaway yesterday.

What's Blackfoot?

The mines.

Is that pretty bad?

So bad they'd sooner have been

shot than be sent there.

You don't mind so much when you die

quick, but when you are in Blackfoot,

it takes a long time.

Is it... is it worse than this?

Compared to Blackfoot,

this place is okay.

Five.

Six.

Seven.

Eight.

Nine.

Ten.

Eleven.

Fifteen.

Sixteen.

Seventeen.

Eighteen.

Nineteen.

Twenty.

I wish I could remember just one line,

some of those speeches they used

to give us in school

about honor, freedom and...

and justice.

You'll learn some new speeches here.

# Way down upon the Swanee River, #

# Far, far away, #

# That's where my heart

is yearning ever... #

I guess we'd been better off

if we had married our landlady.

Yeah, I guess so.

It's funny.

Darkies can always find something

to sing about.

# All the world is sad and dreary... #

Five AM.

Let them have it.

Come on!

All right.

Get those rags on.

Get up, come on!

Bring them out!

Come on, hurry up!

Getting over there!

Get them in two lines.

Quarry gang for you and you!

Come on, move along!

You know where you belong.

Get in there!

Fifty quarry gang ready.

What do you say?

Y'all set?

Fifty quarry gang ready!

Forty eight.

Road gang ready!

Go on!

What's keeping you idle?

Let's go!

Come on, get moving.

Hurry up!

Come on, hurry up.

Come on, move on.

Ah, get back in line in there.

Don't try that running wide

stuff, Pete.

The punchers on this range seem to sort

of forget themselves once in a while.

Stick to it, kid.

My stomach don't feel so good.

Wish I had some water.

Wait till it gets hot!

Hey, slug!

Let me tell you what I warned

you about loafing.

I ain't loafing, but I'm sure could do

better with a drink of water.

Well, now, ain't that accommodating?

You'll get water when you've done

your lick and no sooner.

Now, get going!

Stick with it, kid.

Fifteen minutes more for the grub...

...in a couple of hours.

All right, come and get it.

All right, hurry along.

How do you feel, Bob?

If I was a cow, I'd say

I was bloated on green alfalfa.

Here I guess it's just codfish hash.

- Ain't you gonna eat that?

- No.

Mm, eat just a little bit then.

I'm gonna write a story

and expose this rotten camp

if it's the last thing I ever do.

Writing is one thing,

but getting it out is another.

You help me to get something

to write with and I'll get it out.

All right there.

Come along, back to work!

Move into it!

Come on!

Just a little longer, kid.

Hang on.

Don't touch him.

Keep working, keep working.

Guess you didn't make such a powerful

impression on that new boy.

Taking a nap, ain't he?

Bob, Bob...

Get out of this!

Well, he's sick, he can't stand this.

Play possum on me, eh?

Come on and get up!

I tell you he's sick!

Think you can teach me something

about handling cons, hey?

I might.

Anything else you can teach me?

Not that you'd understand.

- Then you're all through.

- Yes.

Now I'm gonna give you plenty of

time to think of some more suggestions.

All night on the barrel.

# Swing low, sweet chariot #

# Coming for to carry me home, #

# Swing low, sweet chariot, #

# Coming for to carry me home. #

# I looked over Jordan #

# and what did I see? #

# A band of angels... #

- Carry! Oh...

# Oh, a band of angels #

# coming after me #

# Coming for to carry me home. #

Come on kid, go to sleep.

I can't.

No with him out there like that.

There ain't anything you can

do about it, kid.

I've got to.

I gotta make a break out of here

and get help from the outside.

Listen, you saw what happened

to the guy who tried to do that.

There ain't one chance in a million.

I'll take it.

Listen, if you try it on the road,

you'll get shot,

if you try it here in the yards,

that fence will get you.

What time do they turn the juice off?

Only during the checkout in the morning

and the check in at night.

The rest of the time it's 11,000 volts

of chain lightning.

Fifteen feet high.

All right, step along there.

Men, hup!

Jim!

Come on, get back in line!

Let's go!

- Hey, shake off there.

- Yeah.

Now hup!

Snap out of it, kid.

I'm going out!

Close the gate!

Pull the fence switch.

No wander and align!

Go on, form up!

# I've wandered far away from God, #

# Now I'm coming home. #

# The paths of sin too long I've trod, #

# Lord, I'm coming home. #

# Coming home, coming home, #

# Never more to roam #

# I now repent with bitter tears, #

# Lord, I'm coming home. #

And now let's bow our heads in prayer

O God, we consign to Thee all that

is good and clean and honest

in this young man

who has preceded us in death.

And the peace of God be with you.

Amen.

Amen.

All right, men,

assemble in the yard.

Hurry up, please.

Come on, Larrabie, outside in the yard.

All right.

Find yourself a chance. Sit down.

And, please, keep your hands away

from the wire screen.

Hi, Mike.

- Jim!

- Hello, Barbara.

I was never so glad to see

anyone in my life.

You knew I'd come.

I hoped you would.

You heard about Bob?

Yes, I know what it must

have meant to you.

Every time I close my eyes, I can see

that kid running for that fence.

He was trying to help me, Barbara.

Jim, I've been working to get you

a new trial, but it hasn't been easy,

because my former stepfather

has been appointed

director of the state prison board.

Former stepfather?

I've left home.

But Barbara...

I haven't any proof, but I know that

he and Moett and Dudley

deliberately planned to put you here

and keep you here.

So that's why Chicago

didn't answer my wire.

Gee, I have cost you

a lot of trouble, haven't I?

No. You've opened my eyes.

But now we've got to get you out of here

so you can finish what you've started.

I've got a bigger job now

than fighting Moett.

I'm going to expose the cruelty

in these prisons.

The men live like animals, Barbara.

Will you help me?

Of course.

How?

Smuggle a story out to the Chicago Sun.

They'll pull down the whole

state prison system

and Moett and Winston

and all with them.

Will you do it?

You know I will.

All right.

I've got it here.

No, no. Don't look down.

Keep on talking to me.

All right.

I'll drop this on the floor.

When you leave, drop your purse

and pick them up together.

- When that's published...

- All right, time's up.

- Bye, Barbara. Thank you.

- Bye, Jim.

All right, come on.

I'm sorry lady.

I'm sorry, miss. You'll have to come

with me to the Warden's office.

But I don't want to see the Warden.

No, but he'll be wanting to see you.

If you please...

Thought you pulling a fast one,

hey, Larrabie?

Get going.

This is very embarrassing, miss Winston,

but rules are rules and I've got

to enforce them.

You've no right to interfere

with my personal affairs.

What you do with convicts is my affair.

Well, your friend seems to be

an inventor, too.

He's scratched this little note

with a pin.

Very nice little essay, miss Winston.

I'm sorry I can't give it back to you.

You're afraid to give it back to me.

Afraid because you know

what it says it's true.

I'm no fool. I've talked to men

who have come from here.

I know how you treat them.

You torture, beat and brutalize

until they're half mad.

I've seen it, seen it in their eyes!

My boys, you ever see

anything like that here?

Go on, speak up,

don't be afraid.

- No.

- Why, certainly not.

Of course, we're not exactly operating

a sanitarium here, miss Winston.

We've got to have discipline.

We understand someone like

your friend Larrabie.

He's excitable, high-strung, young,

but he'll get over that.

Why, in a month or so I expect

he'll be a model prisoner.

If anything happens to him

because of this,

I'll expose you and

your rotten prison,

if it takes me the rest of my life.

And I'd be the last to blame you.

But first, miss Winston,

you've got to have proof.

Now, you run on along home and

leave this whole thing in my hands.

And, miss Winston, I wouldn't

come back if I were you.

Not that you'd be

unwelcome, understand?

But it's just that I don't want

a private messenger system

operating out of my camp.

Good-bye.

Give me long distance.

Hello.

Yes.

Hello, Mr. Winston, say, your daughter

Barbara came down here to visit Larrabie.

We caught her trying to sneak a story

out to the press.

What?

The devil she did!

Yes, I'll read you his little yarn.

"This is to let the outer world know

that there are still places

in civilized America

where men can be framed

into prison,

where they can be beaten

and brutalized and tortured..."

Never mind reading anymore,

just mail it to me.

And listen, Warden.

Just that, Mr. Winston.

That's just what I'll do.

Good-bye.

- Larrabie outside?

- Yeah.

Show him in.

All right, Frank.

Larrabie,

there's a rumor going around

that you ain't exactly satisfied

with our little rest home here.

I've lived in places I like better.

That's just what I thought.

Well, I've got a surprise for you.

I've been talking to Mr. Winston.

It's his opinion that this camp is

no place for a nice boy like you.

Now, what do you think of that?

If Winston is in on the deal,

it's a bad one.

That so?

Well, that's where you're wrong.

He's decided that our working

ain't fitten for your talents at all.

So tomorrow you graduate from here.

You know, join all the other

smart boys at Blackfoot!

Blackfoot!

They're all set, Warden.

Well, then, you're now

residents of Blackfoot,

where the State keeps

its toughest prisoners.

If you're a two-time loser and the other

penal institutions can't handle you,

we get you.

Well, you'll learn the rules

as you go along.

Each man has so much coal

to get out every day.

Yes, 14 hours to do it in

and we see that he does it.

Oh, take care of them, Bull,

especially Mr. Larrabie.

He comes well recommended.

All right, this way, men.

Come on.

And don't get any crazy ideas

into your head,

for this is the only exit

from the mine.

Light your lights.

Come on, get out.

Just a little place, ain't it?

There's some more customers

for you, Sam.

This one here is Larrabie.

The Warden wants you to take

special good care of him.

Fine, you get loading,

you get digging.

You Larrabie, eh?

I've heard a lot about you.

You must have a powerful lot

of good connections on the outside.

Come, I've got a special job for you.

See?

It's a private little coal mine

all of your own.

All you gotta do is to go in there,

be nice and comfortable.

And nobody's gonna know whether

you've been working hard or not.

Thanks.

All right, go ahead.

No, no, no, no, no.

That's been done.

Up higher.

Hey, what are you trying to do?

Cave that mine on us?

No, looks like you're trying

to cave it in on me.

Yeah?

Now you get back with the rest

of 'em and go to work.

You're a very remarkable

young woman, miss Winston.

If you could only talk to Jim,

I mean, Mr. Larrabie...

We're going to talk to a lot of people

before we're through, miss Winston,

including Jim.

By the way, are you fond of airplanes?

I've never been in one.

Oh, you're going to be in one

in just 31 minutes.

Where are we going?

I'm going back with you.

I have some important business

with your Attorney General.

Yes, sir?

Make a reservation for two

on the 9:30 plane south.

Mr. Attorney General,

one young man lost his life,

another as innocent as yourself

is serving a five-year term

in the unspeakable conditions

of Blackfoot prison

for trying to bring to light

the story that I just told you.

I want you to remember this:

Moett owns the governor

and the legislature, body and soul.

I'm one of the few anti-Moett men

left in the State.

I'm willing to act,

but I've got to have proof.

And this cancelled check is the key

that would open the gates of the

penitentiary to Moett and Winston.

I dare say.

Mr. Winston hired Dudley to defend

young Larrabie.

Yet thanks to the cleverness

of this young woman,

we find that Moett paid him that $1500

fee on the day Larrabie was convicted.

Oh, taking money from both sides, huh?

I would say that Mr. Dudley was

in line for immediate disbarment.

If you could see Jim,

he'd tell you a great deal more

and'll back it up with proof.

Larrabie in his outline of the Moett

biography made direct accusations:

dummy corporations

owned by Moett

and selling to the State

with enormous profit,

He also hinted a prison system graft.

That should be interesting

to your office.

But they won't let anybody see him.

My dear young woman, the legislature

in its infinite wisdom has ordained

that any prisoner who has proof of

his innocence shall be heard.

Mr. Shields, when I was practicing law,

they used to call me

"Habeas Corpus" Marsden.

Yes, sir.

Waller, have a writ of

'habeas corpus' drawn up,

demanding the immediate appearance of

James Larrabie before the Grand Jury.

He's confined at Blackfoot prison mine.

Send it here.

I'll serve it myself.

You see, Mr. Shields? We don't move as

slowly as you might think down here.

So I see.

You can call it a day, Al.

Thanks, Warden.

Good night.

Good night.

The Attorney General

to see you, Warden.

Why, how are you Mr. Marsden?

This is a pleasant surprise.

Yeah, this is miss Winston, Mr. Shields.

How do you do?

I have a writ of habeas corpus

for the release of James Larrabie.

Young Larrabie, eh?

He's a mighty fine boy, Mr. Marsden.

And, believe me, I'm glad if

he'd go to have another hearing.

Where is he?

Why, he's down on the mine, miss.

See, it's almost quitting time now.

If you all will excuse me,

why, I'll have him brought in

just the minute the men come up.

Now sit down and make yourself at home.

Hey, Bull!

They've got a writ of habeas corpus

up there for Larrabie.

That means they'll take him to court

and make him talk.

Now, I don't want him to go to court.

Say, don't habeas corpus mean

to produce the body?

- Yes, that's right.

- That's what I thought.

I'll take care of that.

Yeah, Bull?

Sure!

Oh, sure!

We'll take care of him.

You bet.

They got a writ upstairs for Larrabie.

What do you mean?

They gotta spring him?

That's what they think, but we're gonna

hold him down here

while the gang goes up.

He rates special care.

I got you.

Come on that cart. Get it in!

Water.

Listen, kid. They got a writ

upstairs for you.

Yeah? How do you know?

I heard a couple of the screws talking.

Watch your step.

They'll gonna pull you out of line

and give you the works.

Sure. They know if I ever got out,

I'd blow the lid off this place.

- You mean the newspapers?

- Yeah.

They won't get away with it.

You go up with us

or we all stay down.

Pass it along.

Yay!

Thanks.

All right, break it up.

Get in line.

Come on, step up.

Step up!

All right, come on.

22591

When Larrabie comes along,

you'll take him out of the line.

We'll hoodwink him.

- 5220, 33226, 3824...

- 5220.

All right, let's go.

Let's go.

Are you a stool pigeon?

Boss, there's a riot in below.

You'd better get over here quick!

I'll be right with you.

Hello, this is the Warden.

Listen, Warden, this is Larrabie.

I'm talking for a mine full of crazy

men who'll stop at nothing.

We've got all your guards tied up

and we mean business.

You've got an order to produce me in

court, but you're afraid to let me talk.

We know all about your plan to keep me

down here and here's our answer.

We all come up together

or we don't come up at all.

So they all come up together

or they don't come up at all, eh?

- Break out the tear gas.

- Right.

Well?

I guess the time's up.

Where is that powderman key?

Right here!

- Break out that dynamite.

- Right.

Get the key, Chuck!

Yeah?

This is the Warden.

Reverse the main shaft ventilators.

That gas is gonna be pretty tough on our

own men down there, ain't it, Warden?

They can't keep the men in line,

they'll have to suffer

while I do the job for them.

Come on, gas them out!

Tear gas!

Come on!

Everybody'd better run out!

Wait!

We can't leave the guards there!

Leave them down there!

Let them stay!

This is I've got a break for you,

guys, ain't luck?

Better don't try anything.

Boys, this is as far as we can go!

We are trapped!

Look at that stuff coming!

Let's hold up a barricade.

Quick!

Bet it'll keep it out for a while.

Come on!

We can't last much longer.

We gotta have air!

I'm for giving up!

Listen men, the west tube

to the old Two-Star mine

ought to be about there,

where that fissure is timbered in.

If we can pull our way out,

we'll get fresh air.

Maybe he's wrong.

We might blow the mining alleys.

What do you wanna do, men?

Come on, let's go!

All right, get your shirts

in that water over there

and wrap 'em around your faces.

Then, we'll pull down the barricade.

Hello, Marsden.

What are you doing here?

Well, you should know

or you wouldn't be here.

This is Mr. Shields, of the

Chicago Sun, Mr. Moett.

Mr. Moett, I've heard a lot about you.

Yeah, so I read in your paper.

This is Mr. Winston, the head

of the Prison Board.

How do you do, Mr. Shields?

Welcome to our State.

Thanks.

Why, Barbara, dear.

I didn't expect to find you here.

Bull, get gas masks and go down there

and see what's all about.

Okay, boss.

What's the trouble, Warden?

What's going on here?

I'll tell you what's going on.

The men are rioting down there

and your friend Larrabie started it.

I don't believe it. You're putting the

blame on him, so you can keep him here.

- Bull, get our men stop that thing.

- I'm going to...

No, you'll do nothing of the kind.

Mr. Winston, you've got to get

these people out of here,

because anything

is liable to happen.

This is Shields.

Give me the desk.

That phone is for official business.

We've got official business here, Moett.

I hope you don't think a court order

is gonna stop a riot.

All right, while we're waiting, I want

you to hand over all the prison records.

I've got an order for them too.

What do you mean?

This is what I mean.

Well, I'd like to accommodate you,

gentlemen, but my clerk isn't here

and I've forgotten

the combination of the safe.

Yeah? Well, I give you just

two minutes to remember it.

Say, who's running the prisons

in this State, anyway?

I am, J.W.

Well, why don't you run them?

This is an emergency.

There's a riot going on.

Get these people out of here.

But if they put us out now,

they'll destroy the records.

Nobody's gonna put us out.

Well, we'll see about that.

That riot justifies me.

I'm running my office as I see fit.

Court order or no court order.

Now, you men get back

to your quarters.

Back to your bunks, I say!

Stay in there!

I will take care of this.

Do you hear me?

Break this off or I'm gonna shoot!

No, you won't, Grayson.

Too many of us.

- You won't shoot.

- Stand back!

Stand back, I say!

You all, guards!

And it won't do you any good

to call for help.

Give me that gun.

You've got a writ here for Larrabie.

We had a tough job delivering him,

but here he is.

Jim!

Barbara!

What are you doing here?

I'll take that gun, Larrabie.

This is Mr. Marsden,

the Attorney General.

- He came with Mr. Shields.

- Oh!

Have you remembered the combination

of that safe, yet?

The two minutes are up.

No, he hasn't

and he's not gonna.

Wait a minute.

- Smokey!

- Yes.

Didn't you use to be

a bank examiner?

Yes, at night.

Go in there and examine

the Warden's safe.

Say, that's how I got into this joint.

It's all right, Smokey.

This one's legal.

Hello, desk?

This is Shields.

The Blackfoot prison riot

collapsed at 10:54 tonight

and will take with it

the entire Moett's machine.

Right now, a volunteer Jimmy Valentine

is about to produce the prison records

by the perfectly legal cracking

of the Warden's safe.

This ain't no safe.

This is a sardine can!

Well, we're on our way

to Chicago, after all.

Thanks to you.

Thanks to you.

Do you remember what you said about

believing, without proof or anything?

- Just believing.

- Uh-huh.

That's what did it.

Then... then if I told you

that I love you,

you'd believe me, wouldn't you?

All the girls gotta have some proof.

Transcription and subtitle

made by gamboler[noirestyle]