The Big House1930
The Big House (1930)
The Big House Photos
Movie Info
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Cast
as Butch
as Kent
as Morgan
as Olsen
as Warden James Adams
as Anne Marlowe
as Pop Reicher
as Mr. Marlowe
as Capt. Wallace
as Gopher
as Mrs. Marlowe
as Sgt. Donlin
as Sgt. Donlin
as Sandy, the Guard
as Dopey
as Putnam
as Oliver
as Prison Barber
as Uncle Jed
as Inmate (uncredited)
as Inmate (uncredited)
Critic Reviews for The Big House
All Critics (7) | Fresh (6) | Rotten (1)
George W. Hill expertly directed the film and some of the scenes with prisoners en masse are beautifully choreographed. I love how cinematographer Harold Wenstrom plays with light and shadow especially in the earlier part of the movie.
It's an outsized, abstracted version of everyday life circa 1930.
A good early prison drama with a strong, Oscar-nominated performance of Wallace Beery as a tough murderer; Beery took over after Lon Chaney's sudden death.
Despite its flaws, for those who love this genre it's a must see film.
Any niggling doubts about the film disappear in the last twenty minutes.
Great early prison drama from the ever-inventive George Hill.
Audience Reviews for The Big House
***Spoilers ahead, Maybe?*** Since I like old black & white prison movies so much I expected to like this movie as well but I couldn't get into it.For me it was just OK.Right from the start I felt like I was watching it just to be watching it.Things didn't get exciting until the very end with the failed escape & shoot out.It was the only time I was able to get into the movie but there was only like 10 minutes left so it really didn't matter.During the riot I can't believe they brought out a couple of tanks.I was NOT expecting that.It had me wondering if there were ever any actual prison riots where tanks were used to bring the prison back to order.A thing I thought that was interesting was the inmate that escaped, went straight on the outside & seemed like he would've stayed that way if he wasn't captured & sent back, fell right back into place on the inside, the inmate who I thought would never let prison change him, ended up changing in the end & the main inmate you knew there was no hope for, was never going to change.I'm not sure The Big House is a movie I'd recommend.It got alot of good reviews but I just wasn't into it.It's something you'll have to see & decide for yourself
Super Reviewer
an early prison break film. robert montgomery is completely overshadowed by the now forgotten actor chester morris. i'm afraid montgomery would be everyone's bitch at prison. wallace beery is fun and this film made him a huge star. frances marion became the first woman to win an oscar for screenwriting. it's a little hokey at times. i'd like to see what warner bros could've done with it. interesting to note that prison overcrowding was already an issue in 1930
Super Reviewer
A classic jailhouse saga.
Super Reviewer
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