The Criminal Code (1930)

The Criminal Code: Directed by Howard Hawks. With Walter Huston, Phillips Holmes, Constance Cummings, Boris Karloff. After a failed attempt at running for governor, D.A. Mark Brady is appointed warden of the state prison where many of the criminals he prosecuted are incarcerated.

“The Criminal Code (1931) is often passed over when it comes to discussion of the films of Howard Hawks, but itu0026#39;s actually one of my favorites from him.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThere are a lot of stagey aspects to be sure and the central love story is pretty boring, but thereu0026#39;s just so much to love. The film experiments with sound, overlapping dialogue and using crowd noise as a plot element.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe two standout actors are Walter Huston and a pre-stardom Boris Karloff. Anytime either of them walks on screen, everyone else just evaporates. Huston does a great job making the audience love and despise his character. And Karloff is just mesmerizing as Galloway, a convict hell-bent on vengeance.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eNo masterpiece, but it is an early sign of Hawksu0026#39; genius. And I would take it over Bringing Up Baby (1938) and His Girl Friday (1940) any day of the week.”