Dist. Atty. Thomas Mathews (played by Walter Connolly) is a protagonist in Penitentiary.
Former district attorney turned prison warden who sentenced William Jordan to prison. He befriends Jordan and attempts to facilitate his rehabilitation by appointing him as the chauffeur for his daughter, despite feeling uneasy about Elizabeth's romantic interest in the convict. William Jordan (played by John Howard) appears in Penitentiary.
The protagonist, a young convict serving a manslaughter sentence. He is granted a chauffeur position by Warden Matthews to aid his rehabilitation. Bound by the inmate code, he takes the blame for another prisoner's murder but is ultimately spared execution due to his cellmate's timely confession. Elizabeth Mathews (played by Jean Parker) appears in Penitentiary.
The warden's daughter who develops a romantic relationship with prisoner William Jordan. Her father initially supports Jordan's rehabilitation work as a chauffeur but becomes uneasy about the developing romance. Jack Hawkins (played by Marc Lawrence) appears in Penitentiary.
Finch (played by Arthur Hohl) appears in Penitentiary.
Prison Yard Capt. Grady (played by Robert Barrat) appears in Penitentiary.
Dr. Rinewulf (played by Edward Van Sloan) appears in Penitentiary.
Leonard Nettleford (played by Charles Halton) appears in Penitentiary.
Penitentiary (1938) character relationship network mapped with AI analysis. Explore the connections, alliances, and conflicts between characters.
Characters
Dist. Atty. Thomas Mathews
(played by Walter Connolly) — protagonist
Former district attorney turned prison warden who sentenced William Jordan to prison. He befriends Jordan and attempts to facilitate his rehabilitation by appointing him as the chauffeur for his daugh...
William Jordan
(played by John Howard) — supporting
The protagonist, a young convict serving a manslaughter sentence. He is granted a chauffeur position by Warden Matthews to aid his rehabilitation. Bound by the inmate code, he takes the blame for anot...
Elizabeth Mathews
(played by Jean Parker) — supporting
The warden's daughter who develops a romantic relationship with prisoner William Jordan. Her father initially supports Jordan's rehabilitation work as a chauffeur but becomes uneasy about the developi...
Jack Hawkins
(played by Marc Lawrence) — supporting
Finch
(played by Arthur Hohl) — supporting
Prison Yard Capt. Grady
(played by Robert Barrat) — supporting
Dr. Rinewulf
(played by Edward Van Sloan) — supporting
Leonard Nettleford
(played by Charles Halton) — supporting
Red Parsons - Prison Barber (uncredited)
(played by Ward Bond) — supporting
Miss Katie Mathews
(played by Marjorie Main) — supporting
Prison Captain Dorn (uncredited)
(played by Stanley Andrews) — supporting
Story Analysis
A convict navigates prison politics, moral codes, and forbidden romance to achieve redemption and survival.
