The Prisoner of Shark Island

Play trailer

The Prisoner of Shark Island

Released Feb 12, 1936

1h 35m

History

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

89%

Tomatometer

9 Reviews

70%

Popcornmeter

250+ Ratings

Dr. Samuel Mudd (Warner Baxter) is arrested for being an accomplice to the assassination of Abraham Lincoln (Frank McGlynn Sr.) when he unknowingly aids an injured John Wilkes Booth (Francis McDonald) following the shooting at Ford's Theater. He's sentenced to life in prison and sent to a treacherous penal colony on a remote island in the Dry Tortugas. But when yellow fever breaks out on the island and strikes the prison's doctor, Mudd's medical training becomes invaluable.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Buy Now

Frank S. Nugent

New York Times

Fact can be stranger than fiction, but occasionally fiction gets there first. [The Prisoner of Shark Island] may be accurate historically, but it still reads like a typical Hollywood scenario.

Apr 16, 2024

Full Review

Abel Green

Variety

The Prisoner of Shark Island Is a production, histrionic and technical credit, to all concerned. Werner Baxter [gives] perhaps his top acting performance.

Apr 16, 2024

Full Review

Cinelandia Staff

Cinelandia

A dramatic and painful film that shows us a new Warner Baxter. [Full review in Spanish]

Apr 16, 2024

Full Review

Gus McCarthy

Motion Picture Herald (Exhibitors Herald)

The picture is one that took courage to make.

Apr 16, 2024

Full Review

P.S. Harrison

Harrison's Reports

Despite its somber theme, this is a forceful melodrama ; it grips the spectator, and holds his attention throughout.

Apr 16, 2024

Full Review

Film Daily Staff

The Film Daily

Emotionally moving, suspenseful and acted with conviction by a good cast, especially Warner Baxter in the title role.

Apr 16, 2024

Full Review

Read all reviews

Ed M

Good movie, but they take liberties with historical facts.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

11/08/18

Full Review

Audience Member

Dirigida con un buen pulso , esta es una pelicula que no decae en ningun momento gracias al maesto John Ford.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/13/23

Full Review

Audience Member

An exciting well told story of Dr. Samuel Mudd a man wrongfully accused for aiding John Wilkes Booth just after her assassinated Abraham Lincoln. He is sent to a prison in the Gulf of Mexico called Shark Island. The story is an interesting one & despite the injustice he goes through he remains a moral man. Mudd was played Warner Baxter who did a wonderful job with his role. John Ford truly was an incredible director & this is a great film of perseverance & struggle & victory.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Despite its attempts, this movie is--for the most part--very boring. Probably my least favorite John Ford film I've seen. (Though it still looked great.)

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

01/21/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Really strange prison film about a man accused of plotting to assassinate Abraham Lincoln. Very cinematic-looking - especially for the era in which it was made.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/23/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Netter Film von John Ford der aber die ein oder andere kleinere Länge vorzuweisen hat. 3/5

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/18/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

John Ford

Director

Warner Baxter

Dr. Samuel Mudd

Gloria Stuart

Mrs. Peggy Mudd

Claude Gillingwater Sr.

Col. Jeremiah Milford Dyer

Arthur Byron

Mr. Erickson

O.P. Heggie

Dr. MacIntyre

In Old Chicago

67%

52%

In Old Chicago

Watchlist

Young Mr. Lincoln

100%

81%

Young Mr. Lincoln

Watchlist

Drums Along the Mohawk

82%

60%

Drums Along the Mohawk

Watchlist

Demetrius and the Gladiators

75%

65%

Demetrius and the Gladiators

Watchlist

The Barbarian and the Geisha

40%

43%

The Barbarian and the Geisha

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

Dr. Samuel Mudd (Warner Baxter) is arrested for being an accomplice to the assassination of Abraham Lincoln (Frank McGlynn Sr.) when he unknowingly aids an injured John Wilkes Booth (Francis McDonald) following the shooting at Ford's Theater. He's sentenced to life in prison and sent to a treacherous penal colony on a remote island in the Dry Tortugas. But when yellow fever breaks out on the island and strikes the prison's doctor, Mudd's medical training becomes invaluable.

Director: John Ford
Screenwriter: Nunnally Johnson
Production Co: Twentieth Century Fox
Genre: History, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 12, 1936, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2013
Runtime: 1h 35m

Most Popular at Home Now