El código penal
Cast & Crew
Phil Rosen
Barry Norton
María Alba
Carlos Villarías
Manuel Arbó
María Calvo
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
[The following plot summary is based on the English-language version of this film, The Criminal Code ; character names refer to that version. For further information regarding the English-language version, please see the entry for The Criminal Code .] Young Robert Graham, under the influence of alcohol, accidentally kills the son of Thaddeus Parker, who is running for governor, when the man insults Robert's date. Though sympathetic to the boy, district attorney Mark Brady, who wants to run for governor in the upcoming election, decides to go ahead and prosecute Robert. Robert is sent to prison for ten years. After six years of incarceration, Robert's mother dies, and the boy, on the verge of a nervous breakdown, is given a special assignment by Brady, who after losing the election was appointed as the prison's warden. Appalled at what prison life has done to the young man, Brady makes Robert his chauffeur. Robert and Brady's daughter Mary fall in love. Robert is about to be pardoned when Runch, a stool pigeon, is murdered by Robert's cellmate Galloway, and Brady puts Robert in solitary confinement for refusing to inform on his fellow prisoner. After enduring torture in solitary by the brutal head guard Gleason, Robert is slipped a knife with which to kill Gleason, or himself. That evening, as Robert is on the verge of going through with his plan to kill Gleason, Galloway escapes from his cell and kills Gleason himself, in retaliation for the guard's returning him to prison for a minor parole infraction. Then Galloway confesses to the murder of Runch and is subsequently gunned down by guards who have noticed his attempted escape. Robert is reunited with Mary and they receive Brady's blessings.
Director
Phil Rosen
Cast
Barry Norton
María Alba
Carlos Villarías
Manuel Arbó
María Calvo
Julio Villarreal
Alfredo Del Diestro
Ramón Peón
José Soriano Viosca
Crew
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
This was the Spanish-language version of the 1931 film The Criminal Code, which was directed by Howard Hawks and starred Walter Houston and Phillips Holmes. The following actors were listed in publicity in different countries as having appeared in the Spanish-language version: Max Barón, Juan Duval, José Peña "Pepet," Paco Moreno, Hipólito Mora, Manuel Sánchez Navarro, Manuel París, Amelia Suso, Pat Hartigan and Luis Hickus. According to a news item in Cine Mundial, Tito Davison was originally cast for a role in the Spanish version, but was replaced by Ramón Peón. Harry Ham May have been the co-director or dialogue director of the Spanish version. A French version, produced in France in 1932 by Forrester-Parant Productions, was entitled Criminel. It was directed by Jack Forrester and starred Harry Baur and Jean Servais, and used some scenes from the English-language version. The film was remade by Columbia in 1938 as Penitentiary. That version was directed by John Brahm and starred Walter Connolly and John Howard. In 1950, the film was again remade as Convicted, directed by Henry Levin, and starring Glenn Ford and Broderick Crawford.
