Up the River (1930): cast, story & where to watch

1930 · Film · ★ 6

Up the River poster

Released in 1930, Up the River is a comedy, drama and crime film directed by John Ford, running about 85 minutes. “You bet ~ IT'S FUNNY a movietone laugh riot.” — that tagline sets the tone.

What it’s 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’s in it. Up the River stars Spencer Tracy as Saint Louis, Claire Luce as Judy Fields, Warren Hymer as Dannemora Dan and Humphrey Bogart as Steve Jordan, among others.

How it landed. With an audience score of 6.0/10, Up the River has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.

Where to watch. In US you can stream it on fuboTV and rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and YouTube. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Up the River page.

If you liked it. Fans of Up the River tend to enjoy Forrest Gump, Parasite, Life Is Beautiful and Fight Club.

Frequently asked

Where can I watch Up the River (1930)?
In US, Up the River is available to stream on fuboTV, and rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Google Play Movies. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
Is Up the River worth watching?
Up the River holds an audience score of 6.0 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy comedy, drama and crime. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
Who stars in Up the River?
Up the River stars Spencer Tracy, Claire Luce, Warren Hymer, Humphrey Bogart and William Collier Sr..
When was Up the River released?
Up the River was released in 1930, with a runtime of about 85 minutes.