The Criminal Code (1931)

After a failed attempt at running for governor, D.A. Mark Brady is appointed warden of the state prison where many of the criminals he prosecuted are incarcerated.

Writers:

Martin Flavin (play), Fred Niblo Jr. (adaptation),

Stars:

Walter Huston, Phillips Holmes, Constance Cummings

Nominated for 1 Oscar.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Walter Huston	...	Mark Brady
Phillips Holmes	...	Robert Graham
Constance Cummings	...	Mary Brady
Boris Karloff	...	Ned Galloway
DeWitt Jennings	...	Yard Captain Gleason (as De Witt Jennings)
Mary Doran	...	Gertrude Williams
Ethel Wales	...	Katie Ryan
Clark Marshall	...	Runch
Arthur Hoyt	...	Leonard Nettleford
John St. Polis	...	Dr. Rinewulf
Paul Porcasi	...	Tony Spelvin (as Paul Porcassi)
Otto Hoffman	...	Jim Fales
John Sheehan	...	'Mac' McManus

Storyline

A wily D.A.(Brady) gets a 10 year conviction of a young 20 year old (Robert Graham)who he knows killed a man in self defense. Years later Brady becomes warden of the prison holding Graham. When Brady realizes that 6 years of working in the prison jute mill has pushed Graham to the breaking point, he gives him a chance- a new job as his valet. Graham responds well and earns the respect of both the warden and his beautiful daughter. Graham's mettle is put to the test when he stumbles onto a prison murder committed by his cell-mate. He must choose between the criminal code of silence and the warden's strong persuasion to reveal the killer.

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Plot Keywords:

warden | prison | murder | cell mate | pinochle game | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

Passed

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 January 1931 (USA)

Also Known As:

Codice penale

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.20 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The play opened on Broadway in New York City, New York, USA on 2 October 1929 and closed in March 1930 after 173 performances. The opening night cast included Arthur Byron as Brady, Russell Hardie as Graham, Anita Kerry as Mary Brady, Burr Caruth, Ethel Griffies and Walter Kingsford. Galloway was played by Henry Crossen.

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Quotes

'Mac' McManus: [Noticing that the trustee barber shaving Brady is a former cutthroat] Say, you know who that barber is.
Mark Brady: Yeah, sure I do.
'Mac' McManus: You better lay off and grow a beard!

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Connections

Edited into Behind the Mask (1932)

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Soundtracks

"Accusation"
(uncredited)
Music by J.S. Zamecnik

User Reviews

An Eye for An Eye

"The Criminal Code" is centered around the theme "An Eye for An Eye." This theme is the reason that young Robert Graham is sent to prison, the reason why the prisoners object to the D.A. becoming the Warden of the prison, and the reason why Graham is sent to "the hole" near the end of the film. For 1931, it was one of the first critical looks at this theme. It raises certain questions as to the morals of the law, and the Criminal Code versus the Prisoners Code. Phillips Holmes gives a good enough performance as Robert Graham, and Boris Karloff came off well as the inmate with a bone to pick (months before becoming Frankenstein), but the performance that I liked the most was Walter Huston, who played the D.A.-turned-prison-warden. Huston's character was a wily one, who said "Yeah" and "Yeah?" about a hundred times throughout the film.