Murder in the Big House

This 1942 Warner Bros. B movie was Van Johnson's first major role and even given the limitations of the plot he displays the boy-next-door likeability that was soon to make him an MGM star. Unfortunately Faye Emerson is miscast in the typical tough-girl-heart-of-gold role that made Jean Arthur famous. Fans of newspapermen stories will not be disappointed, however. They'll find the usual suspects: the wise-cracking card-playing police reporters, the irascible editor-in-chief, the prison warden, the crooks that we love from FRONT PAGE and countless other 1930s movies. Ruth Ford who was Zachary Scott's wife at the time has a small role as Irene Gordon. The film was directed by B.Reeves Eason, more famous as one of the best second-unit directors in town. He staged the chariot race in the 1925 BEN HUR, the charge in THE CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE (1936) and the burning of Atlanta in GWTW (1939).

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.

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.

Prisoner Dan Malloy is set to get the electric chair. He calls in intrepid reporter Scoop Conner to ask about a pardon from the governor. When Scoop gives him no chance, he tells Scoop that he's got names and he's ready to take them all down. He keeps threatening to squeal and then lightning strikes. New reporter Bert Bell is eager for a big assignment from managing editor Pop Ainslee and Gladys Wayne falls for him.

It starts out with an interesting premise but it slowly grinds down as it goes along. It's a crime B-movie. It's not the worst but it isn't the best. I don't think there are any stars. This could work if it has more fun with the material. It seems to try but non of the actors are able to exceed beyond the rat-tat-tat of the reporter standard characters.

Louis B. Mayer lent Jack Warner one of his up and comers Van Johnson for this B film from Warner Brothers Murder In The Big House. Van is eager for a reporter's job and because the regular man gets himself sloshed before covering an execution Van and Faye Emerson fill in.

But before the big event occurs the condemned man is found electrocuted in his cell on death row. He had been quoted as threatening to name names in his final remarks from the chair so a rush execution was in somebody's interest.

Roland Drew the victim's partner was slated for the chair the next night and he and his wife Ruth Ford could be targets. Johnson and the inebriated guy he was filling in for George Meeker are also nearly killed.

The original story given out was that the Deity couldn't wait and the victim was struck by lightning in his cell. As if anyone would believe that.

Some obvious references here to His Girl Friday. Johnson is more Ralph Bellamy than Cary Grant.