Junior Durkin (spelled Durkin) played Jimmy in this film. If he is billed as Dirkin - it is probably a printing error (which often popped up on poverty row productions.) Capitol Films was hardly MGM and probably didn't have the budget for such extravagances as printing people's names right!!!
Durkin also appeared in "Tom Sawyer" (1930) and "Huckleberry Finn" (1931) with his friend Jackie Coogan. Unfortunately he died in a road accident in 1935 - Jackie Coogan was also injured.
This was an early teenage reform school drama. In this film Durkin plays Jimmy, who is orphaned early in the movie and goes to live with an aunt and uncle (Emma Dunn and Charley Grapewin). Pat O'Brien, in an uncharacteristic "baddie" role, plays their boarder. Outwardly he is everybodys friend but he is really a bootlegger and Jimmie comes under his spell. Jimmy is sent to reform school after refusing to inform on his friend, Mr. Kelly. It is the "Hell's House' of the title. While there he witnesses suffering and cruelty to the young boys and makes a friend of Shorty (Junior Coughlin, another child actor of the silents) a boy with a bad heart. When Shorty is sent to solitary confine- meant, Jimmy escapes to try to find him good medical treatment. When Shorty dies Jimmy exposes the dreadful conditions of the school, Mr Kelly confesses his guilt and Jimmy is free.
It is an alright film. It's only interest is a mousey Bette Davis in one of her earliest roles.
Durkin also appeared in "Tom Sawyer" (1930) and "Huckleberry Finn" (1931) with his friend Jackie Coogan. Unfortunately he died in a road accident in 1935 - Jackie Coogan was also injured.
This was an early teenage reform school drama. In this film Durkin plays Jimmy, who is orphaned early in the movie and goes to live with an aunt and uncle (Emma Dunn and Charley Grapewin). Pat O'Brien, in an uncharacteristic "baddie" role, plays their boarder. Outwardly he is everybodys friend but he is really a bootlegger and Jimmie comes under his spell. Jimmy is sent to reform school after refusing to inform on his friend, Mr. Kelly. It is the "Hell's House' of the title. While there he witnesses suffering and cruelty to the young boys and makes a friend of Shorty (Junior Coughlin, another child actor of the silents) a boy with a bad heart. When Shorty is sent to solitary confine- meant, Jimmy escapes to try to find him good medical treatment. When Shorty dies Jimmy exposes the dreadful conditions of the school, Mr Kelly confesses his guilt and Jimmy is free.
It is an alright film. It's only interest is a mousey Bette Davis in one of her earliest roles.