The Big House (1930 film) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Big House |
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Original lobby card depicting Chester Morris and Wallace Beery
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| Directed by | George Hill |
| Produced by | no credit |
| Screenplay by | Story and dialogue by Frances Marion Additional dialogue by Joe Farnham and Martin Flavin |
| Starring | Chester Morris Wallace Beery Lewis Stone Robert Montgomery Leila Hyams George F. Marion J. C. Nugent |
| Music by | no credit |
| Cinematography | Harold Wenstrom |
| Editing by | Blanche Sewell |
| Studio | A Cosmopolitan Production |
| Distributed by | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
| Release date(s) | June 24, 1930 |
| Running time | 87 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $414,000 |
| Money made | $1,715,000 (worldwide rentals) |
The Big House is an exciting American film from 1930. It's one of the first movies ever made about life in prison. The film was directed by George Hill and released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. It stars famous actors like Chester Morris, Wallace Beery, Lewis Stone, and Robert Montgomery.
The main story and dialogue were written by Frances Marion. She even won an Oscar for her amazing writing! This movie was very important because it set the stage for many other prison films that came after it.
Contents
Making the Movie: Behind the Scenes
The idea for The Big House came from real events. In 1929, there were many prison riots, and the government started an investigation. George Hill, the director, wrote a story idea called "The Reign of Terror: A Story of Crime and Punishment" based on these events. Irving Thalberg, a big name at the movie studio, liked the idea and asked Frances Marion to write the full script with George Hill.
A famous actor named Lon Chaney was first chosen to play the tough character Butch. But sadly, he was very sick and couldn't take the role. So, Wallace Beery got the part instead. This movie was a huge success for Wallace Beery. Even though he was a popular actor in silent films, some studios weren't sure about his voice for "talkies" (movies with sound). But after The Big House became a hit, he was even nominated for an Oscar for his role. He became one of the highest-paid actors in the world in just two years!
Frances Marion won an Oscar for her writing. Also, Douglas Shearer won the very first Oscar for Sound for this film! The movie was also nominated for Best Picture. The Big House really changed how prison movies were made and influenced many films that followed.
The Story: Life Inside the Walls
The story begins with a young man named Kent (Robert Montgomery). He is sent to prison for ten years after causing a serious accident. The prison is very crowded, with 3000 people in a space meant for 1800. Kent is put in a cell with two of the prison's leaders: Butch (Wallace Beery) and Morgan (Chester Morris). Butch is a bit scary but can also be friendly. Morgan tries to help the scared new guy, Kent, but Kent doesn't want his help.
One day, Butch gets sent to a special punishment cell (solitary confinement) for starting a protest about the prison food. Before he's searched, he secretly passes his knife to Kent. Later, Morgan finds out he might be released from prison early. But before a cell search, Kent hides the knife in Morgan's bed. When the knife is found, Morgan's release is canceled, and he's also sent to solitary. Morgan is very angry and promises to get back at Kent.
When Morgan is finally let out, he finds a clever way to escape. He makes his way to a bookstore run by Kent's kind sister, Anne (Leila Hyams). Anne recognizes him and tries to call the police, but she changes her mind and lets him go. Morgan, who likes Anne, gets a job and spends time with her and her family. They all like him a lot, especially Anne. But eventually, Morgan is caught and sent back to prison.
Butch plans a big prison break for Thanksgiving. Morgan tells him he wants to live a good life now and doesn't want to join. Kent, hoping to get free, tells the warden (Lewis Stone) about the escape plan, but he doesn't know all the details. Even with the warning, the prisoners manage to take over parts of the prison and capture many guards. However, they can't break out of the prison itself. Butch gets angry and threatens to hurt the guards if they aren't allowed to escape. When the warden refuses, Butch harms one of the guards.
The army is called in with tanks to break down the prison entrance. Morgan grabs a gun from a prisoner guarding the captured officers. He finds Kent hiding with a guard but doesn't hurt him. Kent panics and tries to open the main doors, but he gets caught in the fighting and is sadly killed. Butch is told that Morgan was the one who warned the warden. He also learns Morgan saved the guards. Butch goes to find Morgan to fight him. In the fight, both are hurt, and Butch is badly injured and dies. Before he passes away, Butch learns that Kent was the real informer, and he and Morgan become friends again. Because of his actions, Morgan is given a full pardon and walks out of prison a free man. Anne rushes to hug him as he leaves.
International Versions
In the early days of movies with sound, Hollywood studios sometimes made different language versions of their films. They would use the same sets and costumes but have different actors speak in French, Spanish, or German. The Big House has surviving versions in French (called Révolte dans la prison), Spanish (El presidio), and German (Menschen hinter Gittern).
Cast
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Images for kids
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Original lobby card depicting Chester Morris and Wallace Beery
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Chester Morris and Wallace Beery in The Big House
See also
In Spanish: El presidio para niños
