The Last Mile (play)

The Last Mile is a Broadway play by John Wexley that ran for 289 performances from February 13, 1930 to October 1930 at the Sam H. Harris Theatre. It was produced by Herman Shumlin and staged by Chester Erskine. It is set in the death row wing of a prison. The lead role of John "Killer" Mears was first played by Spencer Tracy, and it was the role that brought him to the attention of Hollywood. It was later played for a time by Clark Gable on tour. The play was adapted into a 1932 film starring Preston Foster and into a 1959 film starring Mickey Rooney.

For the 1993 TV play, see The Last Mile (TV play).
The Last Mile
First edition 1930
Written byJohn Wexley
Date premieredFebruary 13, 1930
Place premieredSam H. Harris Theatre
New York City, New York
Original languageEnglish
GenreDrama
SettingKeystone State Penitentiary death-house in Keystone, Oklahoma in late May and June

Cast


Adaptations
Poster for The Last Mile (1932)

The Last Mile was adapted for a 1932 feature film directed by Samuel Bischoff. The film took a number of liberties with the original story, toning down its grim realism and shifting the emphasis from Killer Mears (Preston Foster) to Richard Walters (Howard Phillips).[2]

A 1959 adaptation starring Mickey Rooney as Mears was directed by Howard W. Koch.[3]

References
  1. Atkinson, J. Brooks (February 14, 1930). "The Play". The New York Times. Retrieved 2016-01-17.
  2. "The Last Mile". AFI Catalog of Feature Films. American Film Institute. Retrieved 2017-11-04.
  3. "The Last Mile". AFI Catalog of Feature Films. American Film Institute. Retrieved 2017-11-04.


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