The Big Guy is a 1939 American drama crime film directed by Arthur Lubin starring Victor Mclaglen and Jackie Cooper. It was released by Universal. It is considered a rather rare film today, as it has never been officially released on home video. Currently, the only way to see it is on a bootleg DVD.
The storyline is a young man named Jimmy Hutchins (Cooper) is kidnapped by organized criminals and forced to be their getaway driver. A police officer pursues them and is killed, so Jimmy is charged as an accomplice to the murder. Nobody believes that he was kidnapped, and had really gone down to the abandoned garage to meet a businessman, Jack Lang, to sell him the plans for a motor he designed.
Prison warden, Bill Whitlock (Mclaglen), finds the crooks bag of money and takes it for himself. Inside the bag, he discovers Jimmy's motor designs that had been in his car. When Jimmy is sentenced to death, Whitlock must choose between the money or saving the innocent young man's life.
Tropes
- Abusive Parents: Jimmy was an orphan who was adopted by a farmer and his wife, who just used him for manual labour. He ran away when he was 12, and lived on his own (somehow) ever since.
- Artistic License – Law: During Jimmy's trial, his defence lawyer was unable to find Mr. Lang. However, he just shows up in court one day and he goes up and testifies, lying about his relationship with Jimmy since he was in on the frame up plot. In reality, no lawyer would ever allow someone to testify they had not interviewed first for exactly this reason. All witnesses have to be approved by the courts well in advanced as well.
- Alone with the Psycho: During the climax of the film, Jimmy is again held at gunpoint as a driver. This time, on a forced prison break with the unstable killer, Dibby.
- The Atoner: Bill turns in the evidence and writes an affidavit, thus securing Jimmy's release.
- Clear My Name: Jimmy is desperate to prove he is innocent.
- Confess to a Lesser Crime: The judge, and Jimmy's lawyer offer him a plea deal to plead guilty for manslaughter. He refuses.
- "Why should I plead guilty when I'm innocent?"
- Frame-Up: The mobsters lure Jimmy outside of town, and kidnap him to try and get away with their stolen cash in his unsuspicious tow-truck. However, a detective see's the switch and pursues them. Jimmy is then convicted as an accomplice.
- Inconveniently Vanishing Exonerating Evidence: Jimmy's motore diagram
- I Just Want to Be Normal: Jimmy's lifelong dream is to attend community college.
- It's All My Fault: The guilt of keeping the evidence to himself eats away at Bill every time he has to interact with Jimmy.
- Jail Break: Jimmy breaks out to meet up with Lang, who thinks Jimmy hid the money. He hopes by doing so he can prove he set him up. However, he is kidnapped by Dibby during the escape.
- Luxury Prison Suite: The warden's guilt over knowing Jimmy is innocent, causes him to give Jimmy one.
- Melodrama
- "You took the money! You know I'm innocent! You've known all along!!"
- Miscarriage of Justice: The entire plot of the film.
- Troubled Teen: Jimmy. He's an orphan who was adopted out to an abusive family who used him like a work horse. He ran away at a young age, lived on the street and now is in prison for a crime he didn't commit.
