The Big House (1930): cast, story & where to watch
1930 · Film · ★ 6.8
Released in 1930, The Big House is a drama and crime film directed by George W. Hill, running about 87 minutes. “Timely! Tremendous! Thrilling! Drama of Love and a Jail-Break!” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. Convicted of manslaughter for a drunken driving accident, Kent Marlowe is sent to prison, where he meets vicious incarcerated figures who are planning an escape from the brutal conditions.
Who’s in it. The Big House stars Chester Morris as John Morgan, Wallace Beery as Machine Gun 'Butch' Schmidt, Lewis Stone as Warden James Adams and Robert Montgomery as Kent Marlowe, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.8/10, The Big House has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. In US you can rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and YouTube. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Big House page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Big House tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Big House (1930)?
- In US, The Big House is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Google Play Movies. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is The Big House worth watching?
- The Big House holds an audience score of 6.8 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama and crime. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in The Big House?
- The Big House stars Chester Morris, Wallace Beery, Lewis Stone, Robert Montgomery and Leila Hyams.
- When was The Big House released?
- The Big House was released in 1930, with a runtime of about 87 minutes.