20,000 Years in Sing Sing

1932
Approved
1h 18m

IMDb RATING

YOUR RATING

Brash hoodlum Tom Connors enters Sing Sing cocksure of himself and disrespectful toward authority, but his tough but compassionate warden changes him.Brash hoodlum Tom Connors enters Sing Sing cocksure of himself and disrespectful toward authority, but his tough but compassionate warden changes him.Brash hoodlum Tom Connors enters Sing Sing cocksure of himself and disrespectful toward authority, but his tough but compassionate warden changes him.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.8/10

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

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Spencer Tracy

Tommy Connors

Bette Davis

Fay Wilson

Arthur Byron

Warden Paul Long

Lyle Talbot

Bud Saunders

Warren Hymer

Hype

Louis Calhern

Joe Finn

Bull Anderson

Prisoner
(uncredited)

Ward Bond

Police Officer
(uncredited)

Spencer Charters

Officer Daniels
(uncredited)

G. Pat Collins

Mike - Death Row Convict
(uncredited)

Lucille Collins

Girl with Friend Helping Tommy
(uncredited)

James Donlan

Reporter #1
(uncredited)

Mike Donlin

Inmate
(uncredited)

Rockliffe Fellowes

Friend Helping Tommy
(uncredited)

Fireman Jim Flynn

Guard
(uncredited)

Sam Godfrey

Reporter #2
(uncredited)

Betty Jane Graham

Warden Long's Daughter
(uncredited)

Bobbie Hale

Inmate
(uncredited)

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
Writer Lewis E. Lawes was still warden of Sing Sing prison during filming and allowed the crew to film inside and outside the prison, including mob scenes.

Goofs
When the warden's letter of resignation is shown, it's addressed to "The Honorable Governor Strang" in Albany. The letter is dated June 1932, Franklin D. Roosevelt (soon to be elected President) was Governor from 1929-1933.

Quotes
Tommy Connors: I'd give a million bucks to be alone with you for a little while honey. Do you love me?
Fay Wilson: Yeah.
Tommy Connors: Well don't come up here dolled up like that anymore.
Fay Wilson: Why, Tommy?
Tommy Connors: What's the matter with you? Do you want me to go crazy? You have me foaming at the mouth like a cream puff.
Fay Wilson: On, I'm sorry, Tommy, I never thought about that. I just want to look nice for you.
Tommy Connors: That's alright. But, you know you don't have to come up here looking too hot!

Connections
Featured in Secret Service of the Air (1939)

Soundtracks
Spirit of Independence
(1912) (uncredited)
Music by Abe Holzmann
Played during the baseball and marching montage

User reviews45

Review

Featured review

Good Cast

20,000 Years in Sing Sing (1932)

** 1/2 (out of 4)

A tough guy (Spencer Tracy) gets 5-30 in Sing Sing but he thinks the journey will be easy due to his connections on the outside. The Warden (Arthur Byron) eventually reforms the guy but when his girlfriend (Bette Davis) gets injured, the Warden offers the man one night outside the prison if he promises to return the following day. This Michael Curtiz directed prison drama is pretty good, although it really doesn't offer us anything new or original. The story eventually falls apart in the middle section but Tracy and Davis, in their only film together, makes it worth watching.