The Criminal Code (1931)
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- Passed
- 1h 37min
- Crime, Drama
- 03 Jan 1931 (USA)
- Movie
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.
Director:
Writers:
Awards:
- Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 3 wins.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Walter Huston | ... |
Mark Brady
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| Phillips Holmes | ... |
Robert Graham
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| Constance Cummings | ... |
Mary Brady
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| Boris Karloff | ... |
Galloway
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| DeWitt Jennings | ... |
Captain Gleason
(as De Witt Jennings)
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| Mary Doran | ... |
Gertrude Williams
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| Ethel Wales | ... |
Katie Ryan
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| Clark Marshall | ... |
Runch
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| Arthur Hoyt | ... |
Leonard Nettleford
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| John St. Polis | ... |
Dr. Rinewulf
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| Paul Porcasi | ... |
Tony Spelvin
(as Paul Porcassi)
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| Otto Hoffman | ... |
Jim Fales
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| John Sheehan | ... |
McManus
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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Richard Bishop | ... |
Minor Role (uncredited)
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| Andy Devine | ... |
Cluck - a Convict with knife (uncredited)
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James Guilfoyle | ... |
Detective Doran (uncredited)
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| Frank Hagney | ... |
Prison Guard in Yard (uncredited) (unconfirmed)
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| Al Hill | ... |
Jerry (uncredited)
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| Russell Hopton | ... |
State's Attorney (uncredited)
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| Harold Huber | ... |
Convict in Yard (uncredited)
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Tetsu Komai | ... |
Convict (uncredited) (unconfirmed)
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| Bob Kortman | ... |
Convict Barber (uncredited)
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| Harry Lamont | ... |
Convict (uncredited)
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Joseph McInerney | ... |
Prisoner (uncredited)
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Lee Phelps | ... |
Detective Doherty (uncredited)
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| Nicholas Soussanin | ... |
Convict (uncredited)
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Jack Vance | ... |
Reporter (uncredited)
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Hugh Walker | ... |
Lew (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Howard Hawks | ||
Written by
| Martin Flavin | ... | (from the stage play by) |
| Fred Niblo Jr. | ... | (adaptation & added dialogue) and |
| Seton I. Miller | ... | (adaptation & added dialogue) |
Produced by
| Harry Cohn | ... | producer |
| Frank Fouce | ... | producer (uncredited) |
| Howard Hawks | ... | producer (uncredited) |
Music by
| Sam Perry | ... | (uncredited) |
Cinematography by
| James Wong Howe | ... | (photography by) (as James How) |
| Ted Tetzlaff | ... | (photography by) (as Teddy Tetzlaff) |
Editing by
| Edward Curtiss | ... | film editor |
Art Direction by
| Edward C. Jewell | ... | (uncredited) |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| David Selman | ... | assistant director (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| Glenn Rominger | ... | sound (uncredited) |
Camera and Electrical Department
| L. William O'Connell | ... | photographer (uncredited) |
Music Department
| Mischa Bakaleinikoff | ... | composer: stock music (uncredited) |
| Alfonso Corelli | ... | composer: stock music (uncredited) |
| Heinrich Kiehl | ... | composer: stock music (uncredited) |
| Jean Talbot | ... | composer: stock music (uncredited) |
Additional Crew
| Edward Shulter | ... | technical director (uncredited) |
Production Companies
- Columbia Pictures (presents) (A Howard Hawks Production)
Distributors
- Columbia Pictures (1930) (United States) (theatrical)
- Columbia Pictures of Canada (1931) (Canada) (theatrical)
- United Artists (1931) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Greater Australasian Films (1931) (Australia) (theatrical) (as Greater Australasian Films, Ltd.)
- Internationalt Films (1931) (Norway) (theatrical)
- RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video (1984) (United States) (VHS)
- Sony Pictures Television (2002) (United States) (tv) (syndcation)
- Sony Pictures Television International (2005) (United States) (tv) (syndication)
- Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2013) (United States) (DVD) (included in TCM Vault Collection: "Karloff: Criminal Kind")
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Motion Picture Producers and Distributors Association of America (acknowledgement)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
A wily D.A. (Brady) gets a 10-year conviction of a 20-year-old (Robert Graham) who 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 cellmate. He must choose between the criminal code of silence and the warden's strong persuasion to reveal the killer.
Written by Gary Jackson |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | BIGGER THAN "THE BIG HOUSE" -And You Know How Big That Was! (Print Ad- Albany Evening News, ((Albany, NY)) 10 January 1931) See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | Add content advisory for parents » |
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Did You Know?
| Trivia | The prison yard sequence was shot at M-G-M, using the set originally built for "The Big House" (1930). See more » |
| Goofs | Paul Porcasi's name is spelled "Porcassi" in the opening credits. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Alternate-language version of El código penal (1931). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Romance See more » |
| Crazy Credits | The film's credits do not say that Howard Hawks directed the film; instead, they say that the film is "A Howard Hawks Production." See more » |
| Quotes |
Mark Brady:
[to Graham]
Tough luck, Bob, but that's the way they break sometimes. You got to take them the way they fall. See more » |