The dawn of sound gives birth to the prison film
There were prison and gangster films during the silent era. "The Godless Girl" and "Alias Jimmy Valentine" are examples of such films before sound came along. However, sound gave such films an added dimension. "The Big House" is one of the earliest and best examples of the prison film during the sound era. It allows the din of human beings living on top of one another, the prison riot, and the armed escape attempt and stand-off to come to life. Add to this great performances by Chester Morris, Wallace Beery, and Robert Montgomery as inmates with Lewis Stone playing in support as the warden who wants to reform the men but is faced with the constraints of a low budget, and you have a great film. Seeing that stiff performances and static cameras were the norm in sound films just the year before in 1929, the technical accomplishments in this film coupled with its natural performances make it way ahead of its time for a 1930 film. The film did win the first academy award for sound, but it is an often forgotten cinema gem. It's time Warner Home Video released this one on DVD.

First prison movie still one of the best.
One of the first prison movies is still one of the best, thanks to great early performances by Chester Morris (Five Came Back, Boston Blackie) and Robert Montgomery (The Lady In The Lake, The Were Expendable), and the great Wallace Beery near the peak of his career.
The plot concerns three prisoners, a new one, Kent, sentenced to 10 years for manslaughter by drunk driving (Robert Montgomery), and two who've been serving long terms: gunman Butch (Wallace Beery) and robber/forger Morgan (Chester Morris, possibly in his best role ever). Kent is yellow and carelessly betrays his new roommates out of sheer panic. After escaping, Morgan looks up Kent's family with possibly vengeance on his mind, but is soon softened by Kent's pretty sister, hangs around too long and gets recaptured. Back in the slammer Kent had convinced Butch he's not a stooly, and Butch and his gang have been planning an escape. Upon returning, Morgan doesn't want to get involved in these matters, but ends up right in the middle. The film climaxes with lots of action, as an attempted escape results in riot and a long gun battle, intensified by antique tanks.
The film has an expensive look for it's time; perhaps a special effects buff can tell me if the opening scene is a matte, animated, or just real. They've done a good job of balancing the high production value with story, character, and acting; the latter showing the various ways prisoners accept their lot.
Butch is an interesting character, at once repulsive and ingratiating, constantly commiting small betrayals against his fellow inmates (stealing cigarettes, cheating, etc.), and redeeming himself with lines like "Ah, I was only kiddin'," delivered perfectly by Beery - of course he's perfect for the role. Kent is bewildered by the hopeless situation he never expected to find himself in, his face a picture of fear varying from diffidence to panic. Morgan is calm and collected,a regretful criminal with enough decency to accept his punishment, enough confidence to survive it. The warden is played by Lewis Stone, best know as Judge Hardy, Andy Hardy's father.

Surprisingly Good
An unusual film from MGM, featuring a grim look to the harsh reality of prison conditions. Being an early talkie (1930), the first thing to surprise me favorably, was that the camera wasn't static at all, on the contrary there is as lot of camera movement indeed, showing lots of eye-catching angles of life in prison, especially of that big dining hall.

On the other hand, the pacing and the acting are both first rate, Chester Morris steals the film with his convincing performance of a forger finally finding the reason (love, what else?) for goin' straight; Wallace Beery gives another of those tough-guy performances (who after all, has a big heart hidden deep inside) he excelled at; and then newcomer, Robert Montgomery, is good as weak young lad, locked-in because of mansalughter.

A real discovery! Ought to look for more early talkies featuring this great tough-guy, forgotten actor, Chester Morris

Watch it!!!

A BOX-OFFICE SMASH IN 193O.
I was very pleased to find this long-obscure film on video. Still on of the most successful prison films ever produced, THE BIG HOUSE follows three inmates: a forger, a murderer, and a rather innocuous youth convicted of manslaughter. Big, brawny and wholly believable is Beery as the top bull con who settles fights and runs the yard: he plans a big break to escape the sadistic guards and the endless stoolpigeons. Weak-willed Montgomery informs the warden (Lewis Stone) of the impending escape attempt and the consequences which follow are horrific. Grimly realistic and often brutal, this was the Granddaddy of all prison films, exposing mean conditions, the paranoia, the vicious system that deepened criminal resolves among inmates. George Hill's uncomprimising direction captures all the ugliness and futility of prison life and Beery is perfect as the goonish ringleader of the inmates: half clown, half menace, soft-hearted, soft-headed, but with a killer instinct that is iron-willed. As the intelligent member of the threesome, Chester Morris is excellent. Young Montgomery had an uncharacteristic role as a spineless, despicable cringer wholly without character. The film was inspired by a particularly bloody riot in Auburn Prison in New York the previous year. The role of Butch Schmidt was originally intended for the terminally ill Lon Chaney, Sr. who would die soon after making his only talkie, THE UNHOLY THREE.

THE ONE AND ONLY PRISON FLICKER SHOW
DARK,GRITTY,TOUGH,DEPRESSING,NIGHTMARISH,BEERY,MORRIS,BUTCH cant be matched!