The Secret 6 (1931)
The Secret Six (original title)Reference View | Change View
- Passed
- 1h 23min
- Crime, Drama
- 18 Apr 1931 (USA)
- Movie
After rising bootlegger Slaughterhouse Scorpio eliminates his gangland competition, two reporters and a cabal of six businessmen work to expose him.
Director:
Writers:
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Wallace Beery | ... |
Louis Scorpio
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| Lewis Stone | ... |
Richard Newton
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| Johnny Mack Brown | ... |
Hank Rogers
(as John Mack Brown)
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| Jean Harlow | ... |
Anne Courtland
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| Marjorie Rambeau | ... |
Peaches
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| Paul Hurst | ... |
Nick Mizoski - the Gouger
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| Clark Gable | ... |
Carl Luckner
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| Ralph Bellamy | ... |
Johnny Franks
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| John Miljan | ... |
Joe Colimo
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| DeWitt Jennings | ... |
Chief Donlin
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| Murray Kinnell | ... |
Metz
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| Fletcher Norton | ... |
Jimmy Delano
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| Louis Natheaux | ... |
Eddie
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| Frank McGlynn Sr. | ... |
Judge
(as Frank McGlynn)
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| Theodore von Eltz | ... |
D.A. Keeler
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| William A. Boardway | ... |
Assistant District Attorney (uncredited)
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| Lynton Brent | ... |
Reporter (uncredited)
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| Mary Carlisle | ... |
Girl (uncredited)
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Charles Giblyn | ... |
Mr. Simms (uncredited)
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| Joseph W. Girard | ... |
Official (uncredited)
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| Dick Gordon | ... |
Reporter (uncredited)
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| Chuck Hamilton | ... |
Police Officer (uncredited)
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Betty Lawson | ... |
Undertermined Secondary Role (uncredited)
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| Tom London | ... |
Gangster (uncredited)
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| George Magrill | ... |
Police Guard at Jailhouse (uncredited)
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Lee Phelps | ... |
Smelts (uncredited)
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| Bob Reeves | ... |
Gangster (uncredited)
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| Buddy Roosevelt | ... |
Gang Member (uncredited)
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Oscar Rudolph | ... |
Ivan Colimo (uncredited)
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| Hector V. Sarno | ... |
Finko (uncredited)
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| Carol Tevis | ... |
Manicurist (uncredited)
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Arthur Thalasso | ... |
Stockyard Worker (uncredited)
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Walter Walker | ... |
Onlooker in Courtroom (uncredited)
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| S.D. Wilcox | ... |
Protesting Man in Courtroom (uncredited)
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Directed by
| George W. Hill | ... | (as George Hill) |
Written by
| Frances Marion | ... | (story) |
| Frances Marion | ... | (dialogue) |
Produced by
| George W. Hill | ... | producer (as George Hill) |
| Irving Thalberg | ... | producer (uncredited) |
Cinematography by
| Harold Wenstrom | ... | (photographed by) |
Editing by
| Blanche Sewell | ||
Production Design by
| Edgar G. Ulmer | ... | (uncredited) |
Art Direction by
| Cedric Gibbons | ||
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Phil Ryan | ... | assistant director (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| Douglas Shearer | ... | recording director |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| René Hubert | ... | wardrobe |
| Eugene Joseff | ... | costume jeweller (uncredited) |
Production Companies
- Cosmopolitan Productions
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (presents) (controlled by Loew's Incorporated) (A George Hill-Cosmopoliitan Production)
Distributors
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1931) (United States) (theatrical) (controlled by Loew's Incorporated)
- Regal Films (1931) (Canada) (theatrical) (as Regal Films, Ltd.)
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1931) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (1931) (Australia) (theatrical)
- Metro-Goldwyn Filmselskap (1931) (Norway) (theatrical)
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1932) (Belgium) (theatrical)
- France 3 (1988) (France) (tv) (French subtitles)
- Warner Home Video (2012) (United States) (DVD) (dvdr)
- CineClub Channel (2016) (Spain) (DVD)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Western Electric (sound system)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
Bootlegger/cafe owner Johnny Franks recruits crude working man Louis 'Slaughterhouse' Scorpio to join his gang which is masterminded by crooked criminal defense lawyer Richard Newton. Slaughterhouse eventually takes over Franks' 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 Carl Luckner and Hank Rogers. Waitress Anne Courtland is torn between her love for the honest newsman Hank and her financial dependence on her generous boss, Slaughterhouse. Written by Sandra Bockelman |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | A sensational tale of crooked politics-every big city has its political czar. "The Secret Six" depicts the rise and downfall of one of the greatest. You'll hate and admire him all at the same time-this ruthless ruler of a political machine. (Print Ad- Osceola County Herald,((Reed City, Mich.)) 20 August 1931) See more » |
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| Parents Guide | Add content advisory for parents » |
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Additional Details
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Box Office
| Budget | $494,000 (estimated) |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | Despite being billed seventh in the cast, Clark Gable has more screen time than this implies, and much greater impact. During the filming, Irving Thalberg had scenes added to bolster Gable's part. The result was a screen presence three times longer than that called for in the original script. He was given an MGM contract after shooting was completed. See more » |
| Goofs | Although supposedly set in Chicago, after the shoot-out in the bar, as the gangs drive off on the rear-projection in the background can be seen the large vertical sign for the Metropolitan Theater in Los Angeles (at the corner of 6th and Hill Streets). That footage was also shot in 1929 or before as during that year Paramount bought the theater and renamed it "The Paramount). The distinctive 5-globe Llewellyn Iron Works streetlights are also a giveaway those shots were done in L.A. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Referenced in Jean Harlow (1962). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Prelude in C-, Op. 28, No. 20 See more » |
| Quotes |
Donlin:
[Noticing Slaughterhouse's bloody arm]
Where'd you get these wounds, Slaughterhouse? Scorpio: A bee stung me. Donlin: Yeah? Scorpio: Yeah! Donlin: You're gonna have a whole hive on you before I get through with yuh. Scorpio: Yeah? Donlin: Yeah! See more » |