Runtime: 96 minutes
Directed by: Howard Hawks
Starring: Walter Huston, Phillips Holmes, Constance Cummings, Boris Karloff, DeWitt Jennings
From: Columbia
Snitching was a big deal even in 1930.
In this special later than typical Friday night posting, I mention that this Howard Hawks movie will leave the Criterion Channel after Saturday; as I should see more from him anyhow along w/ more from the 30’s, Thursday night was not a night featuring a long struggle determining what to check out.
Walter Huston portrayed district attorney Mark Brady, who prosecuted young Phillips Holmes (Robert) for an involuntary manslaughter due to a misunderstanding. Bobby eventually experiences a mental decline; the lawyer becomes the warden of that prison (which is a little far-fetched, even if they address that most of the convicts despise him… it’s hand-waved away) and because he’s a caring dude, Robert becomes his valet. Of course, Brady has a pretty young daughter in Constance Cummings.
The crux of the film is snitching; someone spills his guts concerning an attempted prison break, then the expected happens to him, which results in others keeping their mouth shut and not snitch despite strong pressure to. This was a compelling drama where the lack of musical score and obvious play origins was irrelevant when I was interested in the story and characters.
As the other famous face in the cast was Boris Karloff, who was-get this-the heavy, and this was a drama w/ a bit of romance I was happy to have tackled.
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