When young, wealthy Kent (Robert Montgomery) is sentenced to ten years for vehicular manslaughter, he is thrown into a dangerously overcrowded maximum-security prison. Placed in a cell with hardened convict Morgan (Chester Morris) and the volatile, ruthless Butch (Wallace Beery), Kent is exposed to the brutal realities of life behind bars. As overcrowding, corrupt guards, and harsh conditions push the inmates to the breaking point, Butch plans a bloody, desperate prison break. The Big House (1930) is an Oscar-winning pre-Code masterpiece directed by George Hill that set the cinematic standard for all prison films that followed.
🎬 DIRECTORS
George W. Hill (as George Hill)
Ward Wing — additional director (uncredited)
✍️ WRITERS
Frances Marion — story and dialogue
Joseph Farnham (as Joe Farnham) — additional dialogue
Martin Flavin — additional dialogue
🎭 CAST
Chester Morris — Morgan
Wallace Beery — Butch
Lewis Stone — Warden
Robert Montgomery — Kent
Leila Hyams — Anne
George F. Marion — Pop
J.C. Nugent — Mr. Marlowe
Karl Dane — Olsen
DeWitt Jennings — Wallace
Matthew Betz (as Mathew Betz) — Gopher
Claire McDowell — Mrs. Marlowe
Robert Emmett O’Connor (as Robert Emmet O’Connor) — Donlin
Tom Kennedy — Uncle Jed (scenes deleted)
Tom Wilson — Sandy
Eddie Foyer — Dopey
Roscoe Ates (as Rosco Ates) — Putnam
Fletcher Norton — Oliver
🎭 GENRES
Crime, Drama, Thriller
🎬 ALSO KNOWN AS (AKA)
The Big House — 🎬 Original title, 🇦🇷 Argentina, 🇦🇺 Australia, 🇬🇧 United Kingdom, 🇺🇸 United States
The Big House (English) — 🇨🇦 Canada, 🇮🇳 India, 🇮🇪 Ireland, 🇳🇿 New Zealand, 🇿🇦 South Africa
The Big House (French) — 🇨🇦 Canada
Das graue Haus — 🇦🇹 Austria
O Presídio — 🇧🇷 Brazil
Голямата къща (Bulgarian) — 🇧🇬 Bulgaria
Velika kuća — 🇭🇷 Croatia
Velika kuća (Serbian, literal title) — 🏴 Yugoslavia
Mennesker bag Gitret — 🇩🇰 Denmark
Kymmenen vuoden tuomio — 🇫🇮 Finland
Vankilaristikon takaa — 🇫🇮 Finland
Big House — 🇫🇷 France
Hölle hinter Gittern — 🇩🇪 Germany
Sta katerga (transliterated title) — 🇬🇷 Greece
Carcere — 🇮🇹 Italy
Biggu hausu — 🇯🇵 Japan
ビッグ・ハウス (Japanese) — 🇯🇵 Japan
Szary dom — 🇵🇱 Poland
Casa cea mare — 🇷🇴 Romania
Казенный дом (Russian) — ☭ Soviet Union
El presidio — 🇪🇸 Spain, 🇺🇸 United States (Spanish)
Demir kapı (Turkish) — 🇹🇷 Turkey
