The film, with Victorian undertones, was produced by Carl Laemmle Jr.for Universal Pictures, the same year thatDracula (1931), another classic horror film, was produced within he same studio - both films helped to save the beleaguered studio.Big Daddy""s wife "Big Mama" Ida (Judith Anderson) joyfully delivers jubilant news about his medical report: "The exploratory operation proved there""s nothin"" wrong with Big Daddy.He is listening as Raymond Pratt ("Tramp"), one of the "new meat" inmates, is tempted (in a set-up) by seasoned inmate Koko (Lou Antonio) that he can have his easier job of sweeping for $1.Seth takes his liquor under the name of ""Long Life Bitters."" Martha is "a relic" - nobody needs a newspaper when she is around.The Constable is on a leisurely "man hunt," pulled in his open buggy by his fiery steed Napoleon, but his horse lazily refuses to climb a hill.[Note: It""s an ""urban legend"" that Ronald Reagan was seriously considered for a role in the film.The Warner Bros.publicity office famously planted a pre-production press release inThe Hollywood Reporteron January 5, 1942 (it was also released o dozens of newspapers across the country two days later), stating hat Reagan would co-star with Ann Sheridan for the third time inCasablanca (1942)- in order to actually encourage support for the soon-to-be-released filmKings Row (1942)with the wo stars.