IMDb RATING
7.2/10
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The story of Dr. Samuel Mudd, who was imprisoned after innocently treating President Lincoln's assassin in 1865.The story of Dr. Samuel Mudd, who was imprisoned after innocently treating President Lincoln's assassin in 1865.The story of Dr. Samuel Mudd, who was imprisoned after innocently treating President Lincoln's assassin in 1865.
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Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaOn the envelope Buck hands to Mudd in prison, the prop department took the time and effort to get the correct 1861 Washington three-cent stamp and the spiral cancellation mark as well.
- GoofsBooth 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.
- Quotes
Dr. Samuel Alexander Mudd: Once before I was a doctor. I'm still a doctor.
- Alternate versionsSince this film has never been released to the video market in the USA, the only version available for home entertainment is an Argentinean VHS edition that was lifted from a 16mm print. Although the film plays in English with Spanish language subtitles, the credits and all signs and letters shown in the picture were redone in Spanish. The name of this version is "Prisionero del destino".
- ConnectionsFeatured in Directed by John Ford (1971)
- SoundtracksDixie's Land
(uncredited)
Written by Daniel Decatur Emmett
Played over the opening credits
Reprised by the Union Army band at Lincoln's request
Played as background music often.
Featured review
Dr. Samuel Mudd thought he was being kindly by setting a stranger's broken leg in the middle of the night. He didn't know the stranger was John Wilkes Booth on the run after killing President Lincoln. Mudd was tried as a conspirator in the assassination plot and sentenced to a living hell to a prison a prison off the Florida Keys. Legendary director John Ford took this true story and turned it into one of the best films about the Civil War. Every scene has true suspense (the assassination itself, troops finding Booth's boot at Mudd's house) or genuine sentimentality (Lincoln asking Union troops to play "Dixie") While Warner Baxter (as Mudd) and Gloria Stuart do wonders with their roles, the real scene stealer is John Carradine. His performance as a sadistic Sargent at Shark Island is chilling, like something out of a horror movie. The ending is a bit dated, otherwise this is top notch John Ford.
- How long is The Prisoner of Shark Island?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
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- Also known as
- Jetniki otoka smrti
- Filming locations
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- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime1 hour 36 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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