CRIMINAL LAWYER
US, 1937, 72 minutes, Black and white.
Lee Tracy, Margot Graham, Eduardo Ciannelli.
Directed by Christy Cabanne.
Criminal Lawyer is a short vehicle of 1937 for Lee Tracy, a smart-talking star of the 1930s who did not have the expected career. Here he plays a lawyer, too smart for his own good, under the influence of the gangster played by Eduardo Ciannelli. After a police raid, he is able to manoeuvre a fine for the gangster to get out of trouble but, at the night court, he encounters a young woman who has been attacked in the street and saves her from her accusers. He arranges for accommodation in his hotel, employs her as a secretary, but is caught when she witnesses a murder perpetrated by the gangster and fears for the lawyer’s life and career, perjuring herself. To save her, he confesses to being a criminal, having to step down from the DA position he had agreed to.
1. A film of the 1930s? Crime in the US? Justice?
2. The title, the two meanings: Barry as a lawyer for criminals, Barry as a criminal?
3. Black-and-white photography, New York City, apartments, the courts, clubs, gambling? The streets?
4. The credibility of the plot, the law, criminals, fixed cases and juries, the courts?
5. Barry, Lee Tracy and his style, in action, in the court, the initials in hat, not being there? Employed by Larkin? The police raid, organising Larkin to pay a fine? Larkin’s hold, the stacking of juries? Madge, the attack, his stopping to help? A possible DA, Larkin wanting him to accept, the interview, his acceptance?
6. Betty, the outings? Putting her off? The attraction to Madge, helping her? Organising the apartment? Her working as his secretary?
7. The shootings in the street, Larkin, Madge and her evidence? Larkin’s laughter in the court, Barry changing his mind? Madge and her lies, to protect Barry, confessing?
8. The picture of the courts, the judges, the female judge in the night court, defending the prostitutes? The upright judge presiding at the trial?
9. Barry, his confession of guilt, for Madge? His future?
