The Last Mile (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

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.