The Big House (1930)
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- Passed
- 1h 27min
- Crime, Drama
- 14 Jun 1930 (USA)
- Movie
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.
Directors:
Writers:
Stars:
Awards:
- Won 2 Oscars. Another 2 nominations.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
Chester Morris | ... |
Morgan
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Wallace Beery | ... |
Butch
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Lewis Stone | ... |
Warden
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Robert Montgomery | ... |
Kent
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Leila Hyams | ... |
Anne
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George F. Marion | ... |
Pop
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J.C. Nugent | ... |
Mr. Marlowe
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Karl Dane | ... |
Olsen
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DeWitt Jennings | ... |
Wallace
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Matthew Betz | ... |
Gopher
(as Mathew Betz)
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Claire McDowell | ... |
Mrs. Marlowe
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Robert Emmett O'Connor | ... |
Donlin
(as Robert Emmet O'Connor)
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Tom Kennedy | ... |
Uncle Jed (scenesDeleted)
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Tom Wilson | ... |
Sandy
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Eddie Foyer | ... |
Dopey
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Roscoe Ates | ... |
Putnam
(as Rosco Ates)
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Fletcher Norton | ... |
Oliver
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Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
Edgar Dearing | ... |
Inmate (uncredited)
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Ethan Laidlaw | ... |
Trustee (uncredited)
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Eddie Lambert | ... |
Inmate (uncredited)
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George Magrill | ... |
Convict in Yard (uncredited)
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Chris-Pin Martin | ... |
Inmate (uncredited)
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Louis Natheaux | ... |
Morgan's Lawyer (uncredited)
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Charles O'Malley | ... |
Inmate (uncredited)
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Herbert Prior | ... |
Prison Doctor (uncredited)
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Angelo Rossitto | ... |
Inmate (uncredited)
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Adolph Seidel | ... |
Prison Barber (uncredited)
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Michael Vavitch | ... |
Inmate (uncredited)
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Harry Wilson | ... |
Inmate #46375 (uncredited)
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Directed by
George W. Hill | ... | (as George Hill) |
Ward Wing | ... | (additional director) (uncredited) |
Written by
Frances Marion | ... | (story and dialogue) |
Joseph Farnham | ... | (additional dialogue) (as Joe Farnham) and |
Martin Flavin | ... | (additional dialogue) |
Produced by
Irving Thalberg | ... | producer (uncredited) |
Cinematography by
Harold Wenstrom | ... | (photographed by) |
Editing by
Blanche Sewell | ... | film editor |
Art Direction by
Cedric Gibbons |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
William Ryan | ... | assistant director (uncredited) |
Harry Sharrock | ... | assistant director (uncredited) |
Art Department
Glenn Cravath | ... | poster artist (uncredited) |
Sound Department
Douglas Shearer | ... | recording director |
Robert Shirley | ... | recording engineer (uncredited) |
Camera and Electrical Department
Reggie Lanning | ... | camera operator (uncredited) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
David Cox | ... | wardrobe |
Music Department
William Axt | ... | composer: title music (uncredited) |
Production Companies
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (controlled by Loew's Incorporated) (A Cosmopolitan Production)
- Cosmopolitan Productions
Distributors
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1930) (United States) (theatrical) (as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer)
- Regal Films (1930) (Canada) (theatrical)
- Jury Metro-Goldwyn (1930) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1994) (United States) (VHS)
- Warner Home Video (2009) (United States) (DVD) (dvdr)
- CineClub Channel (2016) (Spain) (DVD)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Turner Entertainment (DVD package design)
- Warner Bros. Entertainment (DVD package design)
Storyline
Plot Summary |
After a manslaughter conviction from drunk driving, nice but foolish Kent is sent to a prison over-crowded and unable to properly deal with its 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 |
Plot Keywords | |
Taglines | Timely! Tremendous! Thrilling! Drama of Love and a Jail-Break! See more » |
Genres | |
Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
Certification |
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Additional Details
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Filming Locations |
Box Office
Budget | $414,000 (estimated) |
Did You Know?
Trivia | Frances Marion's Academy Award for Best Screenplay made her the first woman to win an Oscar in a non-acting capacity. See more » |
Goofs | The hallway area outside Butch and Kent's cell changes between scenes, possibly due to reshoots (see Trivia). See more » |
Movie Connections | Alternate-language version of El presidio (1930). See more » |
Soundtracks | Taps See more » |
Quotes |
John Morgan:
You know it means the rope, Butch, if they catch you? Who's in on it? 'Machine Gun' Butch Schmidt: Well, me and Olsen and Joe and the Hawk. John Morgan: The Hawk? That means blood. 'Machine Gun' Butch Schmidt: No, he promised me he wouldn't bump nobody off. John Morgan: Why, he croaked his own mother. 'Machine Gun' Butch Schmidt: Sure he did. He cut her throat. He was sorry for it. He's all right. See more » |