Criminal Lawyer (1937)

Action Crime Drama Romance

Barry Brandon, a criminal lawyer, visits the night club of Denny Larkin, his primary client, with Betty Walker, a spoiled society girl. The police raid the club and Brandon pleads that the whole group is guilty, just to get even with Larkin for a rebuke. On the same night in court, Madge Carter is on trial for disorderly conduct, and Brandon volunteers to defend her, and proves the case against her if a frame-up. Finding that she is penniless, Brandon hires her as his secretary, and falls in love with her. Brandon is appointed district attorney and has ambitions of becoming the state governor. Having dinner at Betty's home, she maneuvers him, while he is drunk, into marrying her. Later, Madge is a witness when Larkin shoots down a fellow gangster. By threatening Brandon's life, he forces her to commit perjury at his trial, and say he fired in self-defense. Brandon, the prosecuting attorney (who has had his marriage to Betty annulled) knows she is lying but doesn't know why.

Updated May 29 2020

Releases:

US -

1937-01-29

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FACTS

Runtime: 72 mins Rating: 5.8

Cast

Eduardo Ciannelli

Larkin

Erik Rhodes

Bandini

Wilfred Lucas

Brandon's Assistant

Lee Tracy

Brandon

Betty Lawford

Betty Walker

Margot Grahame

Madge Carter

William Stack

District Attorney Hopkins

Frank M. Thomas

William Walker

Crew

Darrell Silvera

Set Dressing Artist

Van Nest Polglase

Art Direction

Cliff Reid

Associate Producer

David Abel

Director of Photography

Renié

Costume Design

Christy Cabanne

Director

Edward Killy