I always keep my promises, even to those I don’t like, and that isn’t going to change now. Michael Curtiz directed 20,000 Years in Sing Sing, with a screenplay by Wilson Mizner, Brown Holmes, Courtney Terrett, and Robert Lord based on the book by Warden Lewis E. Lawes. Spencer Tracy, Bette Davis, Lyle Talbot, Arthur Byron, Grant Mitchell, and Warren Hymer are featured in the cast. Bernhard Kaun composed the music, and Barney McGill handled the cinematography. Tom Connors (Tracy), a confident criminal, finds himself inside Sing Sing where he immediately shows no respect for those in charge. It’s possible that the warden—who is tough but also wants to see people change—can guide him toward a better path. Coming from Warner Brothers, this crime/prison drama surpasses its underlying message of social responsibility and delivers some genuinely thrilling moments. A significant factor in this is Tracy's strong performance, along with the filming on location, the inclusion of actual prisoners in important scenes, and the authenticity derived from adapting Lawes’ book about Sing Sing prison life. Curtiz prevents it from becoming a heavy-handed film with a clear point to make, maintaining a dark tone throughout. However, he doesn't quite control Davis’s occasionally exaggerated portrayal of Tom’s girlfriend. It earns a 7/10.

Source on TMDB