Murder in the Big House

1942 "Murder Behind Bars! WHEN? WHO? HOW?"

Murder in the Big House

6.3 | NR | en | Adventure

When a prisoner on Death Row is "accidentally" killed just before his execution, a reporter smells something fishy...

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6.3 | NR | en | Adventure , Drama , Action | More Info

Released: April. 11,1942 | Released Producted By: Warner Bros. Pictures , Country: Budget: 0 Revenue: 0 Official Website:

Synopsis

When a prisoner on Death Row is "accidentally" killed just before his execution, a reporter smells something fishy...

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Cast

Van Johnson , Faye Emerson , George Meeker

Director

B. Reeves Eason

Producted By

Warner Bros. Pictures ,

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Trailers & Images

Cast

Van Johnson

as Bert Bell

MGM: When the Lion Roars Flight from Paradise Killer Crocodile The Purple Rose of Cairo Scorpion with Two Tails From Corleone to Brooklyn Superdome The Girl on the Late, Late Show Call Her Mom

Faye Emerson

as Gladys Wayne

Guilty Bystander Nobody Lives Forever Danger Signal Hotel Berlin Crime by Night The Very Thought of You In Our Time Between Two Worlds The Desert Song

George Meeker

as 'Scoop' Conner

Spoilers of the Plains Government Agents vs Phantom Legion The Invisible Monster Omoo-Omoo the Shark God The Denver Kid Superman The Gay Ranchero Road to Rio Murder Is My Business

Reviews

boblipton If "The Front Page" had been written by the boys at Warner Brothers instead of Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur; and if Howard Hawks going over it with his script girl and converting it into "His Girl Friday" had been Briny Foy's boys and girls in the B unit at Warner Brothers; and if it had starred Faye Emerson and Van Johnson in his debut as a leading man, instead of Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell, it might have turned out pretty much like this movie, a decent locked room mystery with great visuals by cinematographer Ted McCord.Unfortunately for this movie, none of that stuff is true and this might be worth a look to see Miss Emerson in a role with some snap in it. Alas, that's for the guys like me who will look at dental x-rays. Go look at the Hawks version again.

edward wilgar I watched this smart little B film on TCM in Australia and was agreeably impressed. I was reminded somewhat of "His Girl Friday" with the newspaper setting, the theme of corruption and the hard-boiled dialogue though needless to say "Murder in the Big House" is not in the same league as the Howard Hawks classic. Incidentally, the version I watched was called "Born for Trouble", a title which makes no sense at all.If you ignore the occasional plot hole in a movie lasting only an hour this is good entertainment with some very black humour concerning the electric chair. A street newspaper seller calls out "Mile-Away Gordon gets the hot squat tonight" and a potential execution witness declares "I like to see 'em sizzle" I've always found Van Johnson a little insipid for serious roles but perhaps that's just a personal prejudice; Faye Emerson, who I was unaware of, is a Rosalind Russell type ("His Girl Friday" again!) and the rest of the cast of mainly older unknowns perform competently."Murder in the Big House" was made and set in the era when hats for men were compulsory wear; a room full of reporters all sport felt hats and Van's fedora remains firmly in place after a fast and furious fist fight with much wrestling on the floor! I couldn't find a mention of this film in any of my reference books but I assure you they cover plenty that are worse. Have a look if you get a chance, you won't be sorry.