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.
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Title: The Big House (1930)
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Edit
Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Chester Morris | ... | John Morgan | |
| Wallace Beery | ... | Machine Gun 'Butch' Schmidt | |
| Lewis Stone | ... | Warden James Adams | |
| Robert Montgomery | ... | Kent Marlowe | |
| Leila Hyams | ... | Anne Marlowe | |
| George F. Marion | ... | Pop | |
 |
J.C. Nugent | ... | Mr. Marlowe |
| Karl Dane | ... | Olsen | |
| DeWitt Jennings | ... | Wallace | |
| Matthew Betz | ... | Gopher (as Mathew Betz) | |
| Claire McDowell | ... | Mrs. Marlowe | |
| Robert Emmett O'Connor | ... | Donlin (as Robert Emmet O'Connor) | |
| Tom Kennedy | ... | Uncle Jed (scenes deleted) | |
|
|
Tom Wilson | ... | Sandy |
|
|
Eddie Foyer | ... | Dopey |
Edit
Plot Summary
|
Add Synopsis
Storyline
After a manslaughter conviction from drunk driving, nice but foolish Kent is sent to a prison over-crowded and unable to properly deal with it's inmates. There he meets veteran criminals like Morgan and his hardened pal Butch. And the system punishes them all, turning them against each other and bringing out the worst. Written by Ken Yousten <kyousten@bev.net>
Taglines:
Timely! Tremendous! Thrilling! Drama of Love and a Jail-Break! See more »Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parents »
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See full technical specs »
Details
Country:
USARelease Date:
14 June 1930 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
Big House See more »Filming Locations:
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA See more »Company Credits
Show more on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Sound Mix:
Mono (Western Electric Sound System)Color:
Black and WhiteAspect Ratio:
1.20 : 1
Edit
'Machine Gun' Butch Schmidt: [after getting no response] I said what's your name?
Kent: Kent Marlowe.
'Machine Gun' Butch Schmidt: Mine's Schmidt. I'm known the world over as "Machine Gun Butch." You heard of me, naturally.
'Machine Gun' Butch Schmidt: [after Kent shakes his head 'no.'] Never heard of the Delancey Gang bein' wiped out? Well, I done the wipin'.
See more »
(1922) (uncredited)
Music by Antonín Dvorák
from Second Movement (Largo) in Symphony No. 9 in E Minor "From the New World", Op.95, B.178 (1893)
Lyrics by William Arms Fisher (1922)
Sung offscreen by an unidentified prisoner in solitary
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
Ward Wing concurrently directed a Spanish-language version of this film. Pál Fejös directed separate German- and French-language versions. See more »Goofs
When Anne comes to visit Kent at the prison, and he walks up and says 'Hi sis,' the shadow of the microphone falls across her. See more »Quotes
'Machine Gun' Butch Schmidt: What's your name?'Machine Gun' Butch Schmidt: [after getting no response] I said what's your name?
Kent: Kent Marlowe.
'Machine Gun' Butch Schmidt: Mine's Schmidt. I'm known the world over as "Machine Gun Butch." You heard of me, naturally.
'Machine Gun' Butch Schmidt: [after Kent shakes his head 'no.'] Never heard of the Delancey Gang bein' wiped out? Well, I done the wipin'.
See more »
Connections
Featured in A Personal Journey with Martin Scorsese Through American Movies (1995) See more »Soundtracks
Goin' Home(1922) (uncredited)
Music by Antonín Dvorák
from Second Movement (Largo) in Symphony No. 9 in E Minor "From the New World", Op.95, B.178 (1893)
Lyrics by William Arms Fisher (1922)
Sung offscreen by an unidentified prisoner in solitary
See more »
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I really enjoyed this film. It was a refreshing change from the films of today which all seem to have to rely on special effects for the film to be a success. The story of 'The big house' is very good and I would venture an opinion that it was far and above the norm for films of that era. The acting was great from Robert Montgomary as Kent Marlowe and Wallace Beery as Butch Schmidt. Leila Hyams as Anne Marlowe was both a stunning looking, and brilliant actress and stole the film with her looks.