Up the River
“You bet ~ IT'S FUNNY a movietone laugh riot.”
Synopsis
Daily life at men and women's prison units where baseball and the marching band are serious business. Two prisoners escape in order to help paroled Steve from being blackmailed by his girlfriend's ex-partner-in-crime.
Top Cast
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Spencer Tracy
Saint Louis
Claire Luce
Judy Fields
Warren Hymer
Dannemora Dan
Humphrey Bogart
Steve Jordan
William Collier Sr.
Pop
Joan Marie Lawes
Jean
Marion Aye
Actress (uncredited)
Ward Bond
Inmate Socked by Saint Louis (uncredited)
Joe Brown
Deputy Warden (uncredited)
Bob Burns
Slim - Bazooka Player (uncredited)
Eddy Chandler
Guard (uncredited)
Edythe Chapman
Mrs. Jordan (uncredited)
Harvey Clark
Nash (uncredited)
Dick Curtis
New Inmate (uncredited)
Mike Donlin
Upstate Baseball Manager (uncredited)
Noel Francis
Sophie (uncredited)
Althea Henley
Cynthia Jordan (uncredited)
Elizabeth Keating
May (uncredited)
Release History & Theatrical Window
October 10, 1930
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- John Ford
- Screenplay & Story
- Maurine Dallas Watkins
- Original Score
- James F. Hanley
- Original Title
- Up the River
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- Spanish, English
- Runtime
- 1h 25m
- Production Studios
- Fox Film Corporation
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
John Ford
Maurine Dallas Watkins
James F. Hanley
Joseph H. August
Frank E. Hull
William Fox
Department Leadership Roster
William Fox
Producer
John Ford
Director
Frank E. Hull
Editor
Sophie Wachner
Costume Design
Joseph H. August
Director of Photography
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
NR: Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Up the River.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Up the River.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Up the River
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Up the River about?
Daily life at men and women's prison units where baseball and the marching band are serious business. Two prisoners escape in order to help paroled Steve from being blackmailed by his girlfriend's ex-partner-in-crime.
Who directed Up the River?
Up the River was directed by John Ford.
Who stars in Up the River?
The principal cast of Up the River includes Spencer Tracy, Claire Luce, Warren Hymer, Humphrey Bogart, William Collier Sr..
When was Up the River released and how long is it?
Up the River was released in 1930 with a total runtime of 1h 25m.
Who composed the musical score for Up the River?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Up the River was composed by James F. Hanley.
What is the age rating and content advisory for Up the River?
Up the River holds official age classifications: US: NR (Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.).