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IMDbPro

The Big House

  • 19301930
  • PassedPassed
  • 1h 27m
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
2.4K
YOUR RATING
The Big House (1930)
CrimeDramaThriller
A convict falls in love with his new cellmate's sister, only to become embroiled in a planned break-out which is certain to have lethal consequences.A convict falls in love with his new cellmate's sister, only to become embroiled in a planned break-out which is certain to have lethal consequences.A convict falls in love with his new cellmate's sister, only to become embroiled in a planned break-out which is certain to have lethal consequences.
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
2.4K
YOUR RATING
    • George W. Hill
    • Ward Wing(additional director)
    • Frances Marion(story and dialogue)
    • Joseph Farnham(additional dialogue)
    • Martin Flavin(additional dialogue)
  • Stars
    • Chester Morris
    • Wallace Beery
    • Lewis Stone
    • George W. Hill
    • Ward Wing(additional director)
    • Frances Marion(story and dialogue)
    • Joseph Farnham(additional dialogue)
    • Martin Flavin(additional dialogue)
  • Stars
    • Chester Morris
    • Wallace Beery
    • Lewis Stone
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 39User reviews
    • 27Critic reviews
    • 74Metascore
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 2 Oscars

    Photos35

    Robert Montgomery c. 1931
    Robert Montgomery in The Big House (1930)
    Wallace Beery, Robert Montgomery, and Chester Morris in The Big House (1930)
    Wallace Beery and Chester Morris in The Big House (1930)
    Robert Montgomery and Chester Morris in The Big House (1930)
    Wallace Beery, Robert Montgomery, and Chester Morris in The Big House (1930)
    The Big House (1930)
    Leila Hyams and Chester Morris in The Big House (1930)
    Wallace Beery, Robert Montgomery, and Chester Morris in The Big House (1930)
    Wallace Beery and Chester Morris in The Big House (1930)
    Robert Montgomery and Chester Morris in The Big House (1930)
    Chester Morris in The Big House (1930)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Chester Morris
    Chester Morris
    • Morgan
    Wallace Beery
    Wallace Beery
    • Butch
    Lewis Stone
    Lewis Stone
    • Warden
    Robert Montgomery
    Robert Montgomery
    • Kent
    Leila Hyams
    Leila Hyams
    • Anne
    George F. Marion
    George F. Marion
    • Pop
    J.C. Nugent
    J.C. Nugent
    • Mr. Marlowe
    Karl Dane
    Karl Dane
    • Olsen
    DeWitt Jennings
    DeWitt Jennings
    • Wallace
    Matthew Betz
    Matthew Betz
    • Gopher
    • (as Mathew Betz)
    Claire McDowell
    Claire McDowell
    • Mrs. Marlowe
    Robert Emmett O'Connor
    Robert Emmett O'Connor
    • Donlin
    • (as Robert Emmet O'Connor)
    Tom Kennedy
    Tom Kennedy
    • Uncle Jed
    • (scenes deleted)
    Tom Wilson
    Tom Wilson
    • Sandy
    Eddie Foyer
    • Dopey
    Roscoe Ates
    Roscoe Ates
    • Putnam
    • (as Rosco Ates)
    Fletcher Norton
    Fletcher Norton
    • Oliver
    Edgar Dearing
    Edgar Dearing
    • Inmate
    • (uncredited)
      • George W. Hill
      • Ward Wing(additional director) (uncredited)
      • Frances Marion(story and dialogue)
      • Joseph Farnham(additional dialogue)
      • Martin Flavin(additional dialogue)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Frances Marion's Academy Award for Best Screenplay made her the first woman to win an Oscar in a non-acting capacity.
    • Goofs
      The hallway area outside Butch and Kent's cell changes between scenes, possibly due to re-shoots (see trivia).
    • Quotes

      John Morgan: You know it means the rope, Butch, if they catch you? Who's in on it?

      'Machine Gun' Butch Schmidt: Well, me and Olsen and Joe and the Hawk.

      John Morgan: The Hawk? That means blood.

      'Machine Gun' Butch Schmidt: No, he promised me he wouldn't bump nobody off.

      John Morgan: Why, he croaked his own mother.

      'Machine Gun' Butch Schmidt: Sure he did. He cut her throat. He was sorry for it. He's all right.

    • Connections
      Alternate-language version of El presidio (1930)
    • Soundtracks
      Taps
      (1862) (uncredited)

      Music by Daniel Butterfield

      Played offscreen by a bugler

    User reviews39

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    7/10
    Good prison film
    Kent (Robert Montgomery) arrives in prison and is put in a cell with Butch (Wallace Beery) and Morgan (Chester Morris), a couple of hardened criminals who run the place. Kent is warned by them to choose his friends wisely. He doesn't.

    This is a strange film in that it starts out as Kent's story but gradually turns into Morgan's story. The film moves at a good pace climaxing in the attempted escape where old pals Butch and Morgan have a final confrontation. Robert Montgomery is a wimp/coward/creep in this film while Wallace Beery is the thug.

    It's an enjoyable film with a touch of romance thrown in by the storyline involving Anne (Leila Hyams) and Morgan. Morgan escapes and hangs out with Anne and her family. She is Kent's sister. There are tense moments involving him and the policeman that finally re-arrests him. Morgan maintains a smart outlook throughout the film and goes out of his way to protect Kent even though Morgan knows what a traitor Kent has been. Shagging his sister must only increase his inner torment as to what he should do. It all works out nicely in the end!
    helpful•6
    1
    • AAdaSC
    • Dec 15, 2010

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 14, 1930 (United States)
      • United States
      • English
      • Russian
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • Pacific Woolen & Blanket Works, Long Beach, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
      • Cosmopolitan Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • 1 hour 27 minutes
      • Black and White

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