20,000 Years in Sing Sing

Directed by Michael Curtiz, 20,000 Years in Sing Sing follows brash criminal Tommy Connors (Spencer Tracy) as he adjusts to a life behind bars. Filmmaker Curtiz, armed with Wilson Mizner and Brown Holmes’ screenplay, delivers an erratic yet watchable endeavor that fares best within its briskly-paced (and sporadically electrifying) first half, and there’s little doubt, certainly, that the picture benefits significantly from Tracy’s engrossing, captivating work as the hot-headed central character – with the actor’s stirring turn, which is matched by Bette Davis’ small but compelling efforts as Connors’ love interest, elevating the proceedings on a regular basis. And while the inclusion of a few enthralling digressions and set-pieces (eg an exciting escape interlude, Connors and his nemesis’ energetic bedroom brawl, etc) undoubtedly perpetuates the engaging vibe, 20,000 Years in Sing Sing builds towards a comparatively lackluster (and oddly sedate) final third focused on Connors’ stint on death row – with the somewhat anticlimactic bent of this stretch ultimately ensuring the whole thing concludes on a less-than-gripping note. (The downbeat finale is fairly memorable, at least.)

**1/2 out of ****