The Criminal Code

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The Criminal Code

Released Jan 3, 1931

1h 35m

Crime

Drama

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3 Reviews

50%

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50+ Ratings

After young Robert Graham (Phillips Holmes) commits a murder while drunk and defending his girlfriend, he is prosecuted by ambitious Mark Brady (Walter Huston) and sentenced to 10 years. Six years later, Brady becomes the prison warden and offers the beleaguered Robert a job as his chauffeur. Robert cleans up his act, but, on the eve of his pardon, his cellmate drags him back into the world of violence, and he faces a difficult choice that could return him to prison.

Mordaunt Hall

New York Times

Granted that Howard Hawks's direction is for the most part intelligent and firm, there are occasional sequences which he spoils by extravagant ideas or by leaving too little to the imagination.

Rated: 3/5

Jan 28, 2006

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Michael E. Grost

Classic Film and Television

Prison melodrama is stuffy and uninventive, despite good cast.

Jul 7, 2010

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Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

Unsentimental prison drama.

Rated: B

Dec 22, 2006

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Steve D

Nothing new but effective. Not enough Huston.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

12/24/23

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Bill T

Somewhat preachy expose about the prison system as Walter Huston stars as a District Attorney who has put many a prisoner away in the big house.. Now he's the Prison Warden! There's lots of people who don't like him, one being Phillips Holmes! He got a murder rap put on him a number of years ago. But Huston thinks Holmes is A Good Boy, and rethinks his sentence while also allowing him to canoodle with his daughter! Oh and as well, Boris Karloff (who's performance got him noticed for Frankenstein) has issues with the warden as well. Good story, keeps it going mostly, gets a little preachy about reform etc, and Huston is always stiff as a board. But not bad.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/16/23

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Audience Member

Granted that Howard Hawks's direction is for the most part intelligent and firm, there are occasional sequences which he spoils by extravagant ideas or by leaving too little to the imagination.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/21/23

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Audience Member

Wonderful early Hawks film is tough, devilish fun. Standing out is a rare, non-horror movie performance by Karloff as a deadly inmate "with an appointment to keep".

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/24/23

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Audience Member

The best thing about this movie was Boris Karloff.This was the 1st time I've ever seen him in a non horror role & He was truly creepy.I love old prison flicks so I was hoping for a good movie but it was just OK.Without Boris Karloff, It would've totally sucked

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/23/23

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Audience Member

Uncharacteristically, I give this a thumbs down, but nevertheless recommend The Criminal Code for the chance to see Boris Karloff before The Monster overwhelmed his persona.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

01/22/23

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Howard Hawks

Director

Walter Huston

Warden Brady

Phillips Holmes

Robert Graham

Constance Cummings

Mary Brady

Boris Karloff

Ned Galloway

DeWitt Jennings

Yard Captain Gleason

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Synopsis

After young Robert Graham (Phillips Holmes) commits a murder while drunk and defending his girlfriend, he is prosecuted by ambitious Mark Brady (Walter Huston) and sentenced to 10 years. Six years later, Brady becomes the prison warden and offers the beleaguered Robert a job as his chauffeur. Robert cleans up his act, but, on the eve of his pardon, his cellmate drags him back into the world of violence, and he faces a difficult choice that could return him to prison.

Director: Howard Hawks
Producer: Harry Cohn
Screenwriter: Martin Flavin, Seton I. Miller, Fred Niblo Jr.
Distributor: Columbia Pictures
Production Co: Columbia Pictures Corporation
Genre: Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 3, 1931, Original
Runtime: 1h 35m
Sound Mix: Mono
Aspect Ratio: 35mm, Flat (1.37:1)