East of the River is a 1940 American drama film directed by Alfred E. Green and written by Fred Niblo, Jr.

The film stars John Garfield, Brenda Marshall, Marjorie Rambeau, George Tobias, William Lundigan and Moroni Olsen.

She keeps son Joe Lorenzo out of reform school and adopts his hopeless, homeless pal Nick, hoping they'll stay out of trouble.

He pretends to be out west running a ranch, but Joe is actually doing time in San Quentin prison for his crimes.

He gets out and returns to New York with his girl, Laurie Romayne, a convicted forger, to see Nick graduate from college.

When they arrive at the crowded church, Joe escapes his captors long enough to assault a police officer.