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Summary

After healing the leg of the murderer John Wilkes Booth, responsible for the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln, perpetrated on April 14, 1865, during a performance at Ford's Theatre in Washington; Dr. Samuel A. Mudd, considered part of the atrocious conspiracy, is sentenced to life imprisonment and sent to the sinister Shark Island Prison.

Cast

Warner Baxter

Dr. Samuel Alexander Mudd

Gloria Stuart

Mrs. Peggy Mudd

Claude Gillingwater

Colonel Dyer

Arthur Byron

Mr. Erickson

O. P. Heggie

Dr. Mac Intyre

Harry Carey

Commandant

Francis Ford

Corporal O'Toole

John McGuire

Lieutenant Lovett

Francis McDonald

John Wilkes Booth

Douglas Wood

General Ewing

John Carradine

Sergeant Rankin

Joyce Kay

Martha Mudd

Fred Kohler Jr.

Sergeant Cooper

Ernest Whitman

Buck

Paul Fix

David Herold

Frank Shannon

Mr. Holt

Frank McGlynn Sr.

Abraham Lincoln

Leila McIntyre

Mrs. Abraham Lincoln

Etta McDaniel

Aunt Rosabelle

J.M. Kerrigan

Judge Maiben

Arthur Loft

Carpet Bagger

Paul McVey

General Hunter

Maurice Murphy

Orderly

Matthew Beard

Boy at Dr. Mudd's Door (uncredited)

Crew

Director

John Ford

Screenplay

Nunnally Johnson

Reviews

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felixxx999

January 9, 2022

8

Don't know how I missed this one but it's a great thriller. From the title you'd never guess it's an historical drama about Dr. Samuel Mudd who infamously helped set Lincoln's killer's broken leg. The history goes from suspect to flat out wrong -- and it's almost pro-slavery -- but if you can look past that it's a hell of a tall tale. Warner Baxter is put through the ringer and he does very well in this a very physical role -- much more entertaining that his smiling lover roles he usually did. Also a standout is the lean, terrifying John Carridine. Not to be forgotten is some thrilling scenes in the prison. And, yes, there are sharks!