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Poster for The Criminal Code

The Criminal Code

Seen it?

1931 | 97 min | Crime, Drama

Weeknight Watchearly rating

Why it’s a Weeknight Watch

With soft box office and little lasting buzz, it's a mixed bag. Fine if it's on; don't plan your night around it.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it
Made for crime-drama fans. If you loved Bad Boys, start here.
The mood
Dark and gritty.
The pace
Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 37 min.
What might put you off
Made in 1931: an older pace and style.

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 earned its rating

  • CriticsNot counted

    Not enough reviews on record yet

  • AudiencesNot counted

    Not measured yet: not enough ratings

  • AwardsBelow par

    Nominated for 1 Oscar.

  • Reach & staying powerBelow par

    Streaming release that reached a small audience so far; still draws a steady audience long after release

  • Buzz & cultural impactBelow par

    About 12K people sought it out in the past year

Trailer

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Cast & crew

Directed by Howard Hawks

  • Walter HustonMark Brady
  • Phillips HolmesRobert Graham
  • Constance CummingsMary Brady
  • Boris KarloffNed Galloway
  • DeWitt JenningsYard Captain Gleason
  • Mary DoranGertrude Williams
  • Ethel WalesKatie Ryan
  • Clark MarshallRunch
  • Arthur HoytLeonard Nettleford
  • John St. PolisDr. Rinewulf