The Big House

A pretty great prison movie where Wallace Beery and Chester Morris gave a couple of really high quality performances. Robert Montgomery however was out of his element, but that was kind of his role anyway so it didn't do too much damage. Claustrophobic atmosphere and realistic for the era. One of the real Hollywood gems of the early sound era.

The film shines in it's first two-thirds, showing the dehumanising conditions of Auburn System prisons and the claustrophobia, both physical and emotional, that comes with it's close quarters. It falls flat, however, during it's climax, with a series of strange plot twists that feel forced in and a gunfight that goes on for too long time. Solid acting from the all the leads though, especially Beery, who earned a deserved Oscar nom for his performance.

O Presídio estreava há 90 anos em New York. O final bobo quase estraga o filme, mas a estupenda parte da rebelião no presídio vale cada segundo. Pre-code é isso. HDTVRip REGRET.

Wallace Beery proves himself the most charismatic actor in the cast, and this film revived his flagging career... he's not particularly tough by modern prison standards, though. Chester Morris is excellent and quite appealing... it's a pity his film career was a slow slide downhill after this picture. Its pseudo-documentary style depicting prison life is quite absorbing and interesting, visually. It goes off the rails a bit with the two prison breaks. Still, worthwhile.