The Criminal Code (1931)

Philips Holmes is really good in this Howard Hawks story of a twenty year old who accidentally kills a man in a silly brawl. The DA - "Mark Brady" (Walter Huston) realises quickly that he could have claimed self-defence for the young man, but the ensuing prosecution ends in conviction and a ten year stretch. Spool on six years and "Brady" is now the warden of the prison and seeing the damage internment has done to the young man, he gives him a job as his personal assistant. That relationship is seriously tested, however, when an inmate is murdered and both men must choose their best path to truth and redemption. This is rarely seen, nowadays, but is a well written and constructed prison story with the despair of the younger man writ large - you simply can't help but empathise with him. Huston and Boris Karloff ("Galloway") also find their feet with strong, sparing, dialogue that builds the tension without cluttering it up. It does take a little while to get going, but is well worth the effort.