The Prisoner of Shark Island (1936)

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  • THE PRISONER OF SHARK ISLAND


    DIRECTED BY JOHN FORD
    PRODUCED BY NINNALLY JOHNSON/ DARRYL F. ZANUCK
    DARRYL F. ZANUCK PRODUCTIONS
    TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX



    Information from IMDb


    Plot Summary
    A few short hours after President Lincoln has been assassinated,
    Dr. Samuel Mudd gives medical treatment to a wounded man who shows up at his door.
    Mudd has no idea that the president is dead and that he is treating his murderer,
    John Wilkes Booth. But that doesn't save him when the army posse searching for Booth finds
    evidence that Booth has been to the doctor's house. Dr. Mudd is arrested for complicity
    and sentenced to life imprisonment, to be served i
    n the infamous pestilence-ridden Dry Tortugas.
    Written by Alfred Jingle


    Full Cast
    Warner Baxter ... Dr. Samuel Alexander Mudd
    Gloria Stuart ... Mrs. Peggy Mudd
    Claude Gillingwater ... Col. Jeremiah Milford Dyer
    Arthur Byron ... Mr. Erickson
    O.P. Heggie ... Dr. MacIntyre
    Harry Carey ... Commandant of Fort Jefferson
    Francis Ford ... Cpl. O'Toole
    John McGuire ... Lt. Lovett
    Francis McDonald ... John Wilkes Booth
    Douglas Wood ... Gen. Ewing
    John Carradine ... Sgt. Rankin
    Joyce Kay ... Martha Mudd
    Fred Kohler Jr. ... Sgt. Cooper
    Ernest Whitman ... 'Buck' Milford
    Paul Fix ... David Herold
    Frank Shannon ... Judge Advocate General Joseph Holt
    Frank McGlynn Sr. ... President Abraham Lincoln
    Leila McIntyre ... Mary Todd Lincoln
    Etta McDaniel ... Aunt Rosabelle Milford
    J.M. Kerrigan ... Judge Maiben
    Arthur Loft ... Frank J. Thomas
    Paul McVey ... Gen. David Hunter
    Maurice Murphy ... An Orderly
    Frank Baker ... (uncredited)
    Matthew 'Stymie' Beard ... Boy Come To Fetch Dr. Mudd (uncredited)
    Stanley Blystone ... (uncredited)
    Stanley Bordagaray ... (uncredited)
    Whitney Bourne ... (uncredited)
    Robert Dudley ... Druggist at Trial (uncredited)
    Jan Duggan ... Actress at Ford's Theatre (uncredited)
    Earl Eby ... Usher (uncredited)
    Dick Elliott ... Actor at Ford's Theatre (uncredited)
    Bess Flowers ... Woman Sitting Behind Lincoln in Theatre Box (uncredited)
    Bud Geary ... A Sergeant (uncredited)
    Charles Haefeli ... Prisoner (uncredited)
    Robert Homans ... A Sergeant (uncredited)
    John Lester Johnson ... Black Soldier at Prison (uncredited)
    Beulah Hall Jones ... Blanche (uncredited)
    Paul Kruger ... Soldier (uncredited)
    Duke R. Lee ... A Sergeant (uncredited)
    Wilfred Lucas ... Colonel Testifying at Trial (uncredited)
    Murdock MacQuarrie ... Edman Spangler (uncredited)
    James A. Marcus ... Blacksmith (uncredited)
    Paul McAllister ... Doctor (uncredited)
    Merrill McCormick ... Commandant's Aide (uncredited)
    J.P. McGowan ... Ship's Captain (uncredited)
    Arthur Millett ... (uncredited)
    Wedgwood Nowell ... Court-Martial Member (uncredited)
    Robert Parrish ... (uncredited)
    Vester Pegg ... Soldier (uncredited)
    Jack Pennick ... Corporal (uncredited)
    George Reed ... Black Man Giving Booth Directions (uncredited)
    Paul Stanton ... An Agitating Orator (uncredited)
    Tom Steele ... Trooper (uncredited)
    Harry Strang ... Ship's Mate (uncredited)
    Cyril Thornton ... Michael O'Laughlin (uncredited)
    Ray Turner ... Black Soldier at Prison (uncredited)
    Blue Washington ... Black Soldier at Prison (uncredited)
    Cecil Weston ... Mary Surratt (uncredited)
    Lloyd Whitlock ... Maj. Rathbone (uncredited)


    Writing Credits
    Nunnally Johnson (screenplay)


    Original Music
    R.H. Bassett (uncredited)
    Hugo Friedhofer (uncredited)


    Cinematography
    Bert Glennon


    Goofs
    Factual errors
    Booth is seen entering the President's theater box on the President's left; he even opens the door first to make sure the President is there. He then shoots him at a distance of at least 5 feet, again from Lincoln's left side. In reality, Booth entered the box from behind the President, and shot him at very close range in the back of the head. Also, in real life Booth shot Lincoln immediately after the line "...you sockdolagizing old mantrap!", thus insuring that the audience laughter would drown out the sound of the shot (Booth was very familiar with the play and knew just when to shoot). In the film, the line in question is uttered before Booth has even made his way into the box.


    Booth and his accomplice, David Herold, are seen riding away from Ford's Theater together, through the streets of Washington. In reality, Booth rode alone through Washington, and did not join up with with Herold until many miles outside the city.


    Booth stops and asks for the nearest doctor, and the bystander suggests Dr. Mudd, and gives Booth directions to the Doctor's house. In reality, Booth knew Dr. Mudd quite well, and knew just where to go for medical aid the night of the assassination (he had even stayed at Dr. Mudd's once, and so had no need to ask for directions). Also, in the film, Booth and Herold stay only a few minutes in Dr. Mudd's house, and then leave. In reality, Booth and Herold stayed the night at Dr. Mudd's, and were even served breakfast the following morning.


    Two errors with respect to the conspirators trial and hanging scenes. First, Mrs. Surratt is seen with a hood over her head in the trial scenes; in reality, she was the only one of the prisoners not required to wear a hood at any time. Also, the hanging is depicted as taking place at night when, in reality, it took place on a scorchingly hot July day.


    Memorable Quote
    Dr. Samuel Alexander Mudd:
    Once before I was a doctor. I'm still a doctor.


    Filming Location
    20th Century Fox Studios - 10201 Pico Blvd., Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA


    Title Sequence


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    Best Wishes
    Keith
    London- England

    Edited once, last by ethanedwards ().

  • The Prisoner of Shark Island is a 1936 film
    loosely based on the life of Samuel Mudd,
    produced by Darryl F. Zanuck, directed by John Ford,
    and starring Warner Baxter and Gloria Stuart.
    Also includes John Ford regulars,
    his brother Francis, Harry Carey, Paul Fix, John Carradine



    User Review

    Best Wishes
    Keith
    London- England

    Edited 2 times, last by ethanedwards ().

  • Brilliant film. Got it recently on DVD. Just proves how great a director John Ford was. Goes well with Young Mr. Lincoln.

    "Pour yourself some backbone and shut up!"