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Cast
Lee Tracy
as Brandon
Margot Grahame
as Madge Carter
Eduardo Ciannelli
as Gene Larkin
Betty Lawford
as Betty Walker
Erik Rhodes
as Tony Bandini
Frank M. Thomas
as William Walker
Wilfred Lucas
as Brandon's Assistant
William Stack
as District Attorney Hopkins
Charles Lane
as Attorney (uncredited)
Aileen Pringle
as Mrs. Manning (uncredited)
Movie Info & Details
Release Year1937
Runtime1h 12m
LanguageEnglish
CertificationNR
GenresAction, Romance, Drama
Votes5
DirectorEdward Killy, Christy Cabanne
WritersThomas Lennon, Louis Stevens, G.V. Atwater
TypeFeature Film
Rating6.5 out of 10
Cast10 credited
Also Known AsCriminal Lawyer
About Criminal Lawyer
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.
Directed by Edward Killy, Christy Cabanne, Criminal Lawyer leans on a strong ensemble — Lee Tracy, Margot Grahame, Eduardo Ciannelli — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.
The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about action titles of 1937.
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