Each Dawn I Die (1939)

 

☆ ☆ ☆ 

Each Dawn I Die (1939) – W. Keighley

Solid prison drama from Warner Brothers, one of their specialities (along with gangster films), which would have been exciting for filmgoers of the day (especially the big prison riot near the end). Somehow though, I found it a bit dull.  Cagney is a reporter fighting corruption who is framed for murder and sent to jail where he meets hardcore criminal George Raft and strikes up a friendship.  When a prison informant is murdered, Raft and Cagney hatch a plan that sees Cagney accuse Raft of the crime so that he can escape during the subsequent court case (outside of prison).  Raft agrees to help find evidence that will prove Cagney innocent.  All does not really go as planned, but Cagney’s gal (Jane Bryan) helps convince Raft to hold up his end of the deal. Meanwhile Cagney is in The Hole (solitary confinement) all this time. It turns out however that the man who framed Cagney has been in prison all this time…