The Big House (1930) | |
| Director(s) | George W. Hill, Ward Wing (uncredited) |
| Producer(s) | Irving Thalberg (uncredited) |
| Top Genres | Drama, Thriller/Suspense |
| Top Topics | Prison |
Featured Cast:
The Big House Overview:
The Big House (1930) was a Drama - Thriller/Suspense Film directed by George W. Hill and Ward Wing and produced by Irving Thalberg.
SYNOPSIS
Early talkie that set the stage for the countless men-behind-bars melodramas that followed. Grim depiction of the brutal conditions at an overcrowded prison that lead to a violent rebellion by angry prisoners.
(Source: available at Amazon AMC Classic Movie Companion).
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Academy Awards 1929/30 --- Ceremony Number 3 (source: AMPAS)
| Award | Recipient | Result |
| Best Actor | Wallace Beery | Nominated |
| Best Picture | Cosmopolitan | Nominated |
| Best Writing | Frances Marion | Won |
BlogHub Articles:
The Criminal Code (1931): Howard Hawks in The Big House
By 4 Star Film Fan on Jan 25, 2022 From 4 Star FilmsAlthough this is still a very early talkie, you can already see Howard Hawks developing a more intricate sense of dialogue which he would be known for in his pictures — most notably His Girl Friday. In the opening scene at the police station, we have dialogue piled on top of each other between... Read full article
Video of the Week: “Revolt in the Big House” trailer
By Marisa on Apr 22, 2015 From The Timothy Carey ExperienceAfter another short break, I’m back with a vengeance! In fact, we’re crashing out tonight. Our video for this week is the trailer for R.G. Springsteen‘s prison melodrama Revolt in the Big House (1958). Timothy can be seen doing his thing as Ed “Bugsy” Kyle (aka “T... Read full article
Videos of the Week: “Revolt in the Big House” and Robert Blake
By Marisa on Nov 6, 2014 From The Timothy Carey ExperienceD’OH! I was so busy yesterday I never got around to posting our regular Wednesday video. My apologies! So, to attempt to make up for my negligence, today you’re getting not one but two videos! Let’s start off with the one I should have posted last week but it hadn’t quite bee... Read full article
Pic of the Day: “Revolt in the Big House” promotional still
By Marisa on Oct 28, 2014 From The Timothy Carey ExperienceTo celebrate the long-awaited official commercial DVD release of Revolt in the Big House (1958), our pic today is another promotional still from that very film. Lou Gannon (Gene Evans) and Bugsy Kyle confer during said revolt. The Warner Archive Collection is a great source for several of Timothy&#... Read full article
Pic of the Day: “Revolt in the Big House” revisited
By Marisa on Jul 8, 2014 From The Timothy Carey ExperienceOur pic today takes another look at Revolt in the Big House (1958), the low-budget prison yarn directed by R.G. Springsteen. Big man on campus Bugsy Kyle holds forth while his lackeys Red (John Dennis, in the back) and Al (Sam Edwards) look on in approval. My MSTie pals will recognize Edwards from ... Read full article
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Quotes from
Facts about
Director George W. Hill threatened to fire anyone who "acted", and forbade makeup.
Hal Roach, who had been releasing his comedies through MGM, obtained an agreement allowing him to use the prison set from "The Big House" for a Laurel & Hardy short. Howver, as the comedy was being planned, MGM stipulated that Laurel & Hardy would have to make a film for the parent studio. Not wanting to loan out his biggest stars, Roach built his own set, an expense so great that the short was expanded to feature length to recoup the cost. The film became "Pardon Us", Laurel and Hardy's first starring feature.
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