The Secret Six (1931) in Color — Starring Wallace Beery & Lewis Stone

The Secret Six (1931) — Buy This Classic in Color

Experience the hard-hitting Pre-Code gangster thriller The Secret Six (1931) colorized in stunning HD quality. Directed by George W. Hill, this MGM production features an extraordinary ensemble cast including Wallace Beery, Lewis Stone, Clark Gable, Jean Harlow, Johnny Mack Brown, and Ralph Bellamy in a brutal, unflinching portrait of organised crime’s rise to power during Prohibition — and the secret committee of prominent citizens who risk their lives to fight back. Beery plays Louis Scorpio, a coarse, uneducated slaughterhouse worker who claws his way up through the criminal underworld to become a powerful mob boss controlling bootlegging, gambling, and political corruption across the city, while Gable and Harlow — both on the brink of superstardom — electrify every scene they share. Now available as an instant, DRM-free digital download for only €15.00.

Plot Summary

Louis Scorpio (Wallace Beery) is a crude, brutal slaughterhouse worker with animal cunning and absolute ruthlessness. When Prohibition creates vast opportunities for criminal enterprise, Scorpio muscles his way into bootlegging, using violence and intimidation to rise from petty thug to powerful mob lieutenant. Under the mentorship of the urbane criminal lawyer Newton (Lewis Stone), Scorpio learns enough polish to handle power — but never enough to disguise the savage brutality underneath.

Scorpio’s rise is swift and merciless. He eliminates rivals, corrupts politicians, buys police protection, and builds a criminal empire that controls the city’s bootlegging, gambling, and vice operations. His reign of terror is documented by two ambitious reporters: Hank Rogers (Clark Gable), a tough, cynical journalist who gets dangerously close to the mob world, and Anne Courtland (Jean Harlow), a beautiful, sharp-witted woman who moves between the newspaper world and the criminal underworld with calculating intelligence.

As Scorpio’s power grows and his violence becomes increasingly brazen, a secret committee of six prominent citizens — businessmen, judges, and civic leaders — organises to bring him down. Operating in shadow, risking assassination, the Secret Six gather evidence and build the case that the corrupted justice system cannot or will not pursue. The film builds with documentary-style urgency toward the climactic trial, in which the rule of law confronts organised crime in a courtroom battle that will determine whether the city belongs to its citizens or to its criminals.

Cast & Crew

Director: George W. Hill
Stars: Wallace Beery dominates the film with his powerful, animalistic portrayal of Scorpio — a performance of raw, brutal energy that creates one of the most convincing screen gangsters of the era. Clark Gable, in an early role that showcased the tough charm and magnetic screen presence that would make him the ‘King of Hollywood,’ is electric as the reporter skating the edge of the underworld. Jean Harlow, platinum blonde and razor-sharp, brings dangerous glamour to every scene.

Why Buy This Classic in Color?

This professionally colorized edition enhances the film’s gritty Prohibition-era atmosphere with era-accurate hues. The dark speakeasies, the smoky newsrooms, the opulent criminal headquarters, and the stark courtroom sequences gain extraordinary visual texture through careful colour restoration. Now also available in colour.

Buy now for an instant, secure digital download with no DRM restrictions. Compatible with all devices that play MP4 files.

Historical Significance

Released in 1931, at the height of the Pre-Code era, The Secret Six was unusually frank in its depiction of criminal violence, political corruption, and sexual morality. The film is historically significant as an early showcase for both Clark Gable and Jean Harlow — two actors who would become the biggest stars of the 1930s. Its plot about citizens’ committees fighting organised crime reflected real events in cities like Chicago. Through colorization, this extraordinary Pre-Code gangster ensemble is preserved for modern audiences.

Technical Details

• Format: MP4
• Resolution: HD 720p
• Colorized: Yes — professionally restored frame-by-frame
• Audio: Original English mono soundtrack
• Runtime: 83 minutes
• DRM-free: Yes — play anywhere, keep forever
• Instant download: Yes — available immediately after purchase
• Price: €15.00

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Movie-Specific Questions

Q: Are Clark Gable and Jean Harlow in this together?
A: Yes — this is one of their earliest pairings, and their electric chemistry is already fully evident. Both were on the brink of superstardom when this film was made, and their scenes together crackle with energy.

Q: Is this a Pre-Code film?
A: Yes — made before Hollywood’s Production Code was enforced, it features unusually frank depictions of criminal violence, political corruption, and sexual relationships that would be prohibited in later 1930s films.

Q: Is the ‘Secret Six’ based on a real group?
A: The concept was inspired by real citizens’ committees that formed in cities like Chicago during Prohibition to combat organised crime when official law enforcement was ineffective or corrupted.

Digital Download Questions

Q: What format is the download?
A: The film is delivered as a high-quality MP4 file compatible with all modern devices and media players.

Q: Is there DRM protection?
A: No. The download is completely DRM-free — you own it outright and can play it on any device forever.

Q: How do I receive the film after purchase?
A: You receive an instant download link immediately after payment. A backup copy of the link is also sent to your email address.

Related Colorized Classics

• The Public Enemy (1931)
• Little Caesar (1931)
• Scarface (1932)
• The Roaring Twenties (1939)
• Red Dust (1932)