The Secret 6 (1931)

After rising bootlegger Slaughterhouse Scorpio eliminates his gangland competition, two reporters and a cabal of six businessmen work to expose him.

Director:

George W. Hill (as George Hill)

Writer:

Frances Marion (story and dialogue)

Stars:

Wallace Beery, Lewis Stone, Johnny Mack Brown

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Wallace Beery	...	Louis Scorpio
Lewis Stone	...	Richard Newton - Attorney at Law
Johnny Mack Brown	...	Hank Rogers (as John Mack Brown)
Jean Harlow	...	Anne Courtland
Marjorie Rambeau	...	Peaches
Paul Hurst	...	Nick Mizoski - the Gouger
Clark Gable	...	Carl Luckner
Ralph Bellamy	...	Johnny Franks
John Miljan	...	Joe Colimo
DeWitt Jennings	...	Chief of Police Donlin
Murray Kinnell	...	Metz - the Dummy
Fletcher Norton	...	Jimmy Delano
Louis Natheaux	...	Eddie
Frank McGlynn Sr.	...	Judge (as Frank McGlynn)
Theodore von Eltz	...	District Attorney Keeler (as Theodore Von Eltz)

Storyline

Bootlegger/cafe owner Ralph Bellamy recruits crude working man Wallace Beery to join his gang which is masterminded by crooked criminal defense lawyer Lewis Stone. Beery eventually takes over Bellamy's operation, beats a rival gang, becomes wealthy and dominates the city for several years until a secret group of 6 masked businessmen have him prosecuted and sent to the electric chair with the help of rival crusading newspapermen Clark Gable and Johnny Mack Brown. Waitress Jean Harlow is torn between her love for the honest newsman Brown and her financial dependence on her generous boss, Beery.

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Plot Keywords:

shot in the arm | beer | chewing tobacco | cigar | diamond ring | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama

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Certificate:

Passed

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Italian

Release Date:

18 April 1931 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Secret Six

Filming Locations:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$494,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

83 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

After previewing Warner Bros. upcoming releases of "Public Enemy" and "Little Caeser," MGM production chief Irving Thalberg commissioned writer Francis Marion to come up with MGM's first real "talking" gangster picture.

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Goofs

When Slaughterhouse is dividing up the money, the cash wad mysteriously switches from being held in both hands to just his right hand.

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Quotes

Scorpio: I got a swell job. You know how much money I made last week - not counting overtime? Thirty-five bucks.

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Connections

Referenced in Hollywood Hist-o-Rama: Jean Harlow (1962)

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Soundtracks

For He's a Jolly Good Fellow
(uncredited)
Traditional
Played at the party for Scorpio

User Reviews

How much can crime buy?

This is a great gangster movie with a very talented cast. Wallace Beery plays a Capone-type hoodlum that allows nothing to stand in his way. Well, tax problems do put his power and glory on the skids. The veteran actor Lewis Stone is a 'high brow' crime lord. Usual good guy Ralph Bellamy is a bootlegger/night club owner. The Chicago night life and gangland activity keeps this flick rocking back and forth, but well worth watching.

Talk about a great supporting cast. Get a load of this: Johnny Mack Brown, Clark Gable and the enchanting Jean Harlow. Fun to watch on the same evening with SCAREFACE(32) and THE STAR WITNESS(31)