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(1930, Columbia) Walter Huston, Phillips Holmes, Boris Karloff, Constance Cummings, DeWitt Jennings. Huston turns in a brilliant performance as a hard-nosed prison warden in this terrific Howard Hawks prison drama. Huston’s daughter, Cummings, falls in love with a young, floundering inmate played by Holmes, whom Huston sent to jail years earlier on manslaughter charges when he was a DA. To complicate matters further, Holmes witnesses the murder of another inmate who was stabbed to death for being a squealer. But with his parole ready to be signed and freedom within his grasp, Holmes refuses to turn squealer himself. The scene where Huston tries to berate Holmes into giving him the name of the killer is unforgettable. Karloff is wonderful as the slimy inmate who has a grudge against the head prison guard and has “an appointment” with him. Famed director James Whale reportedly saw Karloff’s performance and was struck by his unique face and sinister presence, which ultimately landed Boris the monster’s role in Frankenstein a few months later. Look for a very young Andy Devine as a convict and veteran bad guy Bob Kortman has a wonderful bit with Huston involving a razor. All in all this is a gritty, captivating film with a top-notch script, fine performances, and wonderful B&W cinematography. Way cool. From 35mm.
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