PENTHOUSE
US, 1933, 95 minutes, Black and white.
Warner Baxter, Myrna Loy, Charles Butterworth, Mae Clark, Phillips Holmes, Martha Sleeper, Nat Pendleton.
Directed by W. S. Van Dyke.
Penthouse is an interesting drama from MGM in 1933, one of the very many films directed by W. S. Van Dyke. It is a star vehicle for Warner Baxter who had received the second Oscar for Best Actor for In Old Arizona. He plays a lawyer who has won a case, getting a prominent gangster off the charges – the gangster being played by a genial Nat Pendleton, a more knowledgeable character than many he was to play.
There is a society murder, a young man arrested, with the lawyer deciding to defend him even though his own girlfriend had broken with him (wanting him to give up defending criminals) and taken up with the young man.
Investigating, he encounters a glamorous young woman played by Myrna Loy who was beginning to make her mark at MGM and would be teamed with William Powell many times including the Thin Man series. There is some amusing support from Charles Butterworth as butler.
1. A popular film of the 1930s? MGM production values? The city, newspapers, lawyers, clubs? The musical score?
2. The title, indication of wealth? Situation for the murder?
3. The opening with the journalist, writing the story, changing the headlines, the gangster going free? His personality, genial, offering the bodyguards to Jack? His club?
4. Jack, successful lawyer, getting the gangster off, his company and their dismissing him, his relationship with his girlfriend, her wanting to get in to give up working for criminals? The impossibility, his finding this exhilarating? His reaction to the bodyguards? Going to the party, the encounter with the girlfriend, her breaking off with him?
5. The girlfriend, taking up with Tommy, Tommy and his going to see Minnie, her character, free and easy, going to the party, the encounters, her death?
6. Minnie, the wealthy man, sinister, wanting a relationship with her? Her death?
7. Tommy and the arrest, Jack visiting him in prison, the gun, the evidence of the gun seller, his lies, Jack taking on the case, the company objecting?
8. Going to see the gangster, the girlfriends? The meeting with Gertie, attracted to her, their discussions, going to his apartment, are expecting a cross examination? The continued attraction?
9. The investigations, the confrontation, the interviews? The role of the gangster?
10. The light touch with the butler?
11. The solving of the case? Tommy and the engagement? Jack and Gertie – and the happy ending?
