pre-Code
Pre-Code Hollywood was an era in the Cinema of the United States, American film industry that occurred between the widespread adoption of sound in film in the late 1920s and the enforcement of the Motion Picture Production Code censorship gui ...
prison drama film (originally with songs) produced and released by
First National Pictures
First National Pictures was an American motion picture production and distribution company. It was founded in 1917 as First National Exhibitors' Circuit, Inc., an association of independent theatre owners in the United States, and became the count ...
, a subsidiary of
Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (WBEI), commonly known as Warner Bros. (WB), is an American filmed entertainment studio headquartered at the Warner Bros. Studios complex in Burbank, California and the main namesake subsidiary of Warner Bro ...
, and directed by
Mervyn LeRoy
Mervyn LeRoy (; October 15, 1900 – September 13, 1987) was an American film director and producer. During the 1930s, he was one of the two great practitioners of economical and effective film directing at Warner Bros., Warner Brothers studios, ...
Conrad Nagel
John Conrad Nagel (March 16, 1897 – February 24, 1970) was an American film, stage, television and radio actor. He was considered a famous matinée idol and leading man of the 1920s and 1930s. He was given an Honorary Academy Award in 1940, a ...
,
Raymond Hackett
Raymond Hackett (July 15, 1902 – July 7, 1958) was an American stage and screen actor. He had been a child actor on the Broadway stage and was the brother of Albert Hackett. He was born in New York City the son of Maurice Hackett and Florence ...
and
Ralph Ince
Ralph Waldo Ince (January 16, 1887 – April 10, 1937) was an American pioneer film actor, director and screenwriter whose career began near the dawn of the silent film, silent film era. Ralph Ince was the brother of John Ince (actor), John E. I ...
. The film was based on the play entitled ''Jail Break'' by Dwight Taylor.
Plot
Bertie "Duke" Gray is a counterfeiter who has been sentenced to prison for ten years. Seeing that there is no chance to escape, he accepts his fate and settles into prison life. Gray's friend Bud Leonard, a young man who cannot tolerate prison because he is in love with Mary Dane and misses her terribly. While Bud is in prison, Lou Rinaldo, the man who framed him, is pursuing Mary romantically. When Mary tempts Bud to escape, he is ready to take the risk although it may mean his death. The two plan to meet each other when Bud discloses that he is being sent to work on a
road gang
''Road Gang'' is a 1936 American drama film directed by Louis King, written by Dalton Trumbo, produced by Bryan Foy, and starring Donald Woods and Kay Linaker. The film shows economic and social injustice due to political corruption.
Plot
The ...
. Mary takes a job at a farmhouse where the convicts usually eat, hoping to see Bud there. Rinaldo traces her to the house and schemes to eliminate Bud so that he can have Mary to himself. Rinaldo convinces Bud and prisoner King Callahan, whom Rinaldo had framed, that they should attempt to escape, hoping that he can cause them to be caught in the attempt. Mary prevents Bud's escape but Callahan takes the bait. Callahan later shoots Rinaldo and is himself killed. To save Bud, who is scheduled to be released soon, Gray informs on Rinaldo, although the evidence that he provides will lead to an additional prison term for him. Gray is happy to make the sacrifice, knowing that Mary will be with the man whom she truly loves.
Conrad Nagel
John Conrad Nagel (March 16, 1897 – February 24, 1970) was an American film, stage, television and radio actor. He was considered a famous matinée idol and leading man of the 1920s and 1930s. He was given an Honorary Academy Award in 1940, a ...
as 26521 (Bertie "Duke" Gray)
*
Raymond Hackett
Raymond Hackett (July 15, 1902 – July 7, 1958) was an American stage and screen actor. He had been a child actor on the Broadway stage and was the brother of Albert Hackett. He was born in New York City the son of Maurice Hackett and Florence ...
as 31857 (Bud Leonard)
*
Ralph Ince
Ralph Waldo Ince (January 16, 1887 – April 10, 1937) was an American pioneer film actor, director and screenwriter whose career began near the dawn of the silent film, silent film era. Ralph Ince was the brother of John Ince (actor), John E. I ...
as 33410 ("King Callahan")
*
Ivan Linow
Ivan Linow (born Jānis Linaus; November 21, 1888 – November 11, 1940), also known as Jack Linow, was a Latvian-born American wrestler, who became a character actor in American films during the silent film, silent and early sound film eras.
B ...
as 41226 ("Babyface")
* George Cooper as 27635 ("Happy Howard")
* Fred Howard as 50134 (Jimmy Martin)
*
Tully Marshall
Tully Marshall (born William Phillips; April 10, 1864 – March 10, 1943) was an American character actor. He had nearly a quarter century of theatrical experience before his debut film appearance in 1914 which led to a film career spanning alm ...
as Lemuel Barnes
*
Maurice Black
Maurice Black (January 14, 1891 – January 18, 1938) was an American character actor known for his portrayal of mobsters. He appeared in more than 100 films from 1928 to 1938, when he died of pneumonia, four days after his 47th birthday. ...
as Lou Rinaldo
*
Blanche Friderici
Blanche L. Friderici (January 21, 1878 – December 23, 1933) was an American film and stage actress, sometimes credited as Blanche Frederici.
Early years
Friderici was a native of Brooklyn, New York. Her parents were William E. Friderici and ...
as Mrs. Miller
Music
Although music was mentioned when the film was in production and first previewed, ads and reviews soon mentioned that although Bernice Claire was primarily a musical comedy star, there would be no singing in the film, perhaps in response to the public's waning desire for musical films. Current existing prints of ''Numbered Men'' are missing at least five minutes of film containing musical sequences. The complete musical film was released intact in countries outside the U.S. where a backlash against musicals never occurred. It is unknown whether a copy of this full version still exists.
Reception
In a contemporary review for ''
The New York Times
''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...
'', critic
Mordaunt Hall
Mordaunt Hall (1 November 1878 – 2 July 1973) was the first regularly assigned motion picture critic for ''The New York Times'', working from October 1924 to September 1934.
Preservation
The film survives only in the edited version that was released in late 1930 by Warner Bros., with the musical sections removed. This version has been broadcast on television.