Directed by:
Howard HawksCast:
Walter Huston, Phillips Holmes, Constance Cummings, Boris Karloff, Mary Doran, Paul Porcasi, Andy Devine, Russell Hopton, Harold Huber, Arthur Hoyt (more)Plots(1)
Howard Hawks' early sound prison melodrama, based on a play by Martin Flavin, already contains his stylistic signature of over-lapping dialogue -- a technique he would greatly expand upon in the next ten years. Walter Huston is district attorney Brady, who quickly convicts Robert Graham (Phillips Holmes) of murdering a man who was harassing his girlfriend. Brady is later made the warden of the prison where Robert is held. Brady tries to make friends with Robert, but Robert will have no dealings with the new warden. Nevertheless, Brady, who thinks Robert is a decent man who became embroiled in extraordinary circumstances, gives Robert a job as his chauffeur. As he drives with Brady's daughter Mary (Constance Cummings), the two fall in love. Meanwhile, things heat up back at the prison, where crazed killer Ned Galloway (Boris Karloff) kills the squealer Runch (Clark Marshall). Robert knows Ned killed Runch, but refuses to tell Brady. Brady reluctantly sends Robert to solitary confinement to get him to give up the murderer's name, but Robert holds out on him. (official distributor synopsis)
(more)Cast
![Walter Huston](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/164/360/164360037_3bc864.png)
Walter Huston
Canada
Best movies:
The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948)
Edge of Darkness (1943)
The Maltese Falcon (1941)
![Phillips Holmes](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/143/058/143058848_d0e497.jpg)
Phillips Holmes
USA
Best movies:
The Criminal Code (1931)
Dinner at Eight (1933)
Paramount on Parade (1930)
![Constance Cummings](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/273/273559_3e19f4.jpg)
Constance Cummings
USA
Best movies:
The Criminal Code (1931)
American Madness (1932)
The Battle of the Sexes (1959)
![Boris Karloff](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/163/522/163522520_00c5a5.jpg)
Boris Karloff
UK
Best movies:
The General (1926)
Scarface (1932)
Bride of Frankenstein (1935)
![Mary Doran](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/159/000/159000310_1ce221.jpg)
Mary Doran
USA
Best movies:
The Criminal Code (1931)
Movie Crazy (1932)
The Miracle Woman (1931)
![Paul Porcasi](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/160/579/160579948_5479eb.jpg)
Paul Porcasi
Italy
Best movies:
Casablanca (1942)
It Started with Eve (1941)
Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936)
![Andy Devine](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/359/359192_7f4b93.jpg)
Andy Devine
USA
Best movies:
Lonesome (1928)
Stagecoach (1939)
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962)
![Russell Hopton](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/158/078/158078066_c17d16.jpg)
Russell Hopton
USA
Best movies:
The Criminal Code (1931)
'G' Men (1935)
Tall in the Saddle (1944)
![Harold Huber](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/157/776/157776631_26184a.jpg)
Harold Huber
USA
Best movies:
The Good Earth (1937)
20,000 Years in Sing Sing (1932)
San Francisco (1936)
![Arthur Hoyt](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/162/098/162098724_c45998.jpg)
Arthur Hoyt
USA
Best movies:
Fury (1936)
Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936)
It Happened One Night (1934)
![John St. Polis](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/161/674/161674047_bf4137.jpg)
John St. Polis
USA
Best movies:
The Criminal Code (1931)
![Frank Hagney](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/160/209/160209542_2e8277.jpg)
Frank Hagney
Australia
Best movies:
It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
Modern Times (1936)
The General (1926)
![Otto Hoffman](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/160/566/160566265_f21065.jpg)
Otto Hoffman
USA
Best movies:
Ball of Fire (1941)
Texas (1941)
The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1939)
![Ethel Wales](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/160/750/160750072_6f9eb0.jpg)
Ethel Wales
USA
Best movies:
The Monster (1925)
The Sign of the Cross (1932)
The Criminal Code (1931)
![Lee Phelps](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/161/045/161045073_80d9c2.jpg)
Lee Phelps
USA
Best movies:
Love Crazy (1941)
The Roaring Twenties (1939)
After the Thin Man (1936)
![Tetsu Komai](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/161/104/161104976_674ee1.jpg)
Tetsu Komai
Japan
Best movies:
History Is Made at Night (1937)
China Seas (1935)
The Criminal Code (1931)
![Bob Kortman](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/161/231/161231898_3b4fd1.jpg)
Bob Kortman
USA
Best movies:
Sunrise (1927)
Ace in the Hole (1951)
Union Pacific (1939)
John Sheehan
USA
Best movies:
The People Against O'Hara (1951)
The Criminal Code (1931)
The Big Clock (1948)
Al Hill
USA
Best movies:
The Roaring Twenties (1939)
Strangers on a Train (1951)
Angels with Dirty Faces (1938)
DeWitt Jennings
USA
Best movies:
The Big Trail (1930)
Mutiny on the Bounty (1935)
The Mystic (1925)