East of the River (1940): Alfred E. Green’s Crime Drama, Starring John Garfield and Brenda Marshall

Alfred E. Green directed this crime drama, written by Fred Niblo, Jr, and starring John Garfield, Brenda Marshall, Marjorie Rambeau, and George Tobias.

East of the River

Theatrical release poster

Mama Teresa (Marjorie Rambeau), who runs a small New York cafe, keeps her son Joe Lorenzo out of reform school and adopts his homeless pal Nick, hoping that they’ll stay out of trouble.

Joe pretends to be out west running a ranch, but he is actually doing time in San Quentin prison for his crimes. When he gets out, he returns to New York with his girl Laurie Romayne, a convicted forger, to see Nick graduate from college.

When they arrive at the crowded church, Joe escapes his captor while assaulting a police officer. In the end, as Joe is taken away to jail, he waves goodbye to the wedding party.

Cast
John Garfield as Joseph Enrico ‘Joe’ Lorenzo
Brenda Marshall as Laurie Romayne
Marjorie Rambeau as Mama Teresa Lorenzo
George Tobias as Tony Scaduto
William Lundigan as Nicholas Antonio ‘Nick’ Lorenzo
Moroni Olsen as Judge R.D. Davis

Credits:

Directed by Alfred E. Green
Screenplay by Fred Niblo, Jr., story by John Fante, Ross B. Wills
Produced by Jack L. Warner
Cinematography Sidney Hickox
Edited by Thomas Pratt
Music by Adolph Deutsch

Production and distribution: Warner Bros.

Release date: Nov 9, 1940

Running time: 74 minutes

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