The Big Brain

The Big Brain is a 1933 American pre-Code drama film directed by George Archainbaud and written by Sy Bartlett and Warren Duff. The film stars George E. Stone, Phillips Holmes, Fay Wray, Minna Gombell and Lilian Bond. The film was released on August 5, 1933, by RKO Pictures.^[1][2][3]

The Big Brain
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	George Archainbaud
Screenplay by	Sy Bartlett Warren Duff
Story by	Sy Bartlett
Produced by	Samuel Bischoff
Starring	George E. Stone Phillips Holmes Fay Wray Minna Gombell Lilian Bond
Cinematography	Arthur Edeson
Edited by	Rose Loewinger
Production company	K.B.S. Productions Inc.
Distributed by	RKO Pictures
Release date	August 5, 1933 (1933-08-05)
Running time	72 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

Plot

A ruthless small time crook's rise from backroom bookie in a barber shop to that of high stakes international con artist. Max Werner gets rich as he moves from gambling to crooked stocks and bond dealing. Fleeing the authorities, he absconds to England where he continues his deceptions and setting up fake companies. Following a newspaper exposé of an accomplice, he double-crosses another and returns to America with his girlfriend, where a trap awaits him.^[4]

Cast

• Phillips Holmes as Terry Van Sloan
• George E. Stone as Max Werner
• Fay Wray as Cynthia Glennon
• Minna Gombell as Margy
• Lilian Bond as Dorothy Norton
• Reginald Owen as Lord Darlington
• Berton Churchill as Colonel Higginbotham
• Reginald Mason as Lord Latham
• Sam Hardy as "Slick" Ryan
• Charles McNaughton as Wallack
• Lucien Littlefield as Justice of the Peace