Experiment Alcatraz

{{Short description|1950 film by Edward L. Cahn}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2026}} {{Infobox film | name = Experiment Alcatraz | image = Experiment Alcatraz poster.jpg | alt = | caption = Theatrical release poster | director = [[Edward L. Cahn]] | producer = Edward L. Cahn | screenplay = [[Orville H. Hampton]] | story = [[George W. George]]<br>George F. Slavin | starring = [[John Howard (American actor)|John Howard]]<br>[[Joan Dixon]]<br>[[Walter Kingsford]]<br>[[Robert Shayne]] | music = [[Irving Gertz]] | cinematography = [[Jackson Rose]] | editing = Philip Cahn | studio = Edward L. Cahn Productions | distributor = [[RKO Pictures]] | released = {{Film date|1950|11|21}} | runtime = 57 minutes | country = United States | language = English | budget = | gross = }}

'''''Experiment Alcatraz''''' is a 1950 American [[crime film]] directed by [[Edward L. Cahn]] and written by [[Orville H. Hampton]]. The film stars [[John Howard (American actor)|John Howard]], [[Joan Dixon]], [[Walter Kingsford]] and [[Robert Shayne]]. It was released on November 21, 1950 by [[RKO Pictures]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/74342/experiment-alcatraz|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140315080012/http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/74342/Experiment-Alcatraz/|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 15, 2014|title=Experiment Alcatraz (1950) - Overview - TCM.com|work=Turner Classic Movies|access-date=21 September 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://movies.tvguide.com/experiment-alcatraz/114165|title=Experiment Alcatraz|work=TV Guide|access-date=21 September 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/movies/movie/90751/Experiment-Alcatraz/overview|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307085446/http://www.nytimes.com/movies/movie/90751/Experiment-Alcatraz/overview|url-status=dead|archive-date=7 March 2016|department=Movies & TV Dept.|work=[[The New York Times]]|publisher=[[Baseline (database)|Baseline]] & [[All Movie Guide]]|author=Hal Erickson|title=Experiment Alcatraz (1950)|author-link=Hal Erickson (author)|date=2016|access-date=21 September 2014}}</ref>

==Plot== Many [[Alcatraz]] prisoners have volunteered to ingest an experimental serum that could cure a fatal blood disease. They have been promised parole in exchange for their participation. During the experiments, notorious racketeer Barry Morgan steals nurse Joan McKenna's scissors and stabs convict Eddie Ganz to death, then escapes.

The medical tests are abandoned, and the vaccine is called a failure. Joan is upset because the serum could help her brother Dick, who is afflicted with the disease. Dr. Ross Williams, who invented the medicine, and Joan attempt to understand why Morgan had reacted in a violent manner during the experiment. Ross is beaten by one of Morgan's thugs, Duke Shaw, and threatened to cease his pursuit of Morgan.

The trail leads Ross and Joan to [[Lake Tahoe]] and lodge owner Ethel Ganz, the dead inmate's stepdaughter, who points a gun at them. Eddie had hidden $250,000 in stolen loot that she found, and she is now married to Morgan, with whom she plotted the murder and prison breakout.

Morgan and his henchmen are caught and sent to jail, and the serum is given another chance.

== Cast == *[[John Howard (American actor)|John Howard]] as Dr. Ross Williams *[[Joan Dixon]] as Lt. Joan McKenna *[[Walter Kingsford]] as Dr. J.P. Finley *Lynne Carter as Ethel Ganz *[[Robert Shayne]] as Barry Morgan *[[Kim Spalding]] as Duke Shaw *Sam Scar as Eddie Ganz *[[Kenneth MacDonald (American actor)|Kenneth MacDonald]] as Col. Harris *Dick Cogan as Dan Staley *[[Frank Cady]] as Max Henry *[[Byron Foulger]] as Jim Carlton *Ralph Peters as Bartender *[[Lewis Martin (actor)|Lewis Martin]] as Asst. District Attorney Walton *[[Harry Lauter]] as Richard "Dick" McKenna *Raymond Largay as Warden Keaton

== References == {{reflist}}

== External links == * {{IMDb title|0042442|Experiment Alcatraz}}

[[Category:1950 films]] [[Category:American black-and-white films]] [[Category:1950 English-language films]] [[Category:RKO Pictures films]] [[Category:Films directed by Edward L. Cahn]] [[Category:1950 crime films]] [[Category:American crime films]] [[Category:1950 American films]] [[Category:Films scored by Irving Gertz]] [[Category:English-language crime films]]