The Criminal Code

A somber, deliberate prison drama that builds quiet tension through moral dilemmas and loyalty, with a touch of romance.

Directed by

Howard Hawks

Genres

Crime, Drama

Starring

Walter Huston, Phillips Holmes, Constance Cummings

Tagline

LOVE saved him from worse than THE CHAIR

Overview

After young Robert Graham commits a murder while drunk and defending his girlfriend, he is prosecuted by ambitious Mark Brady and sentenced to 10 years. Six years later, Brady becomes the prison warden and offers the beleaguered Robert a job as his chauffeur. Robert cleans up his act, but, on the eve of his pardon, his cellmate drags him back into the world of violence, and he faces a difficult choice that could return him to prison.

How it feels

Dark, tense, earnest and melancholic. Measured and needs your attention.

About

Justice, loyalty, betrayal, redemption

Content

Mild violence, sexual content and language. No gore.

Note

Written by AI, so it can be wrong. Full breakdown

Your rating is saved. See your suggestions, or find titles like this one below.

Rate it, and Mesmero finds titles that feel like it. You do not need an account.

Search YouTube for a trailer (opens in a new tab)