Shadow of the Law (1930) User Reviews

Got any weed?

[AAdaSC · 7/10 · 3 December 2018]

Wow.......that phrase has changed its meaning. William Powell (Jim) gets arrested for the murder of some complete stranger who he starts fighting with in order to protect Natalie Moorhead (Ethel). She, however, gives him no respect and just disappears leaving Powell to receive a life sentence. He escapes from jail and pursues Moorhead. He must find her to prove his innocence.

It's a good cast although Marion Schilling's (Edith) insipid love interest doesn't merit top female billing. The story develops at a good pace and Powell is a good leading man to take you along on his journey. He has a great voice. I did have to laugh out loud when cellmate Paul Hurst (Pete) asks him if he's got any weed.

If you like William Powell you'll like this early talkie

[AlsExGal · 7/10 · 19 March 2011]

Jim Montgomery (William Powell) has an evening out with a lovely neighbor (Agnes Moorehead as Ethel) and he is hoping for a nightcap and maybe a little more than that when they arrive back at her front door, she seems nervous about letting him in and should be - an angry jealous man awaits her inside. Jim excuses himself not knowing if the man is a husband or a gangster or both. Later the neighbors can hear the man yelling and slapping Ethel around. Dressed in her nightclothes, Ethel runs into Jim's apartment and begs for his protection, but the angry man is right behind her and intends to continue the beating. Jim intervenes and tries to contain the man, and in the process the unknown man loses his balance and falls from Jim's apartment window to his death. Ethel mentions something about how she cannot have a scandal, and runs away - as in packing her things and vacating the apartment before the police even get there.

Without anyone to back up his story, Jim faces murder charges and gets life. He spends three years in prison before the warden makes him head con at the machine shop. He uses this opportunity of trust to escape by packing himself into one of the crates slated for shipment. Two years after that Jim's old cellmate, Pete, finishes his sentence and comes to where Jim is at Jim's request, a textile plant in North Carolina where Jim is now known as John Nelson. He is supervisor of the plant and practically engaged to the daughter of the plant's owner. Nobody there knows who he really is . Jim says that he's tired of hiding and wants to live out in the open but can't do so unless the mysterious Ethel agrees to an affidavit saying Jim is really innocent. He's hired private detectives who have found her but he needs Pete to go to her and convince her to speak up. He can't go himself for fear of risking arrest. Plus there is a police detective that is still looking for Jim after all these years since Jim is the only escaped con he ever trailed that he could not find. Jim gives Pete five thousand dollars to sweeten the pot for Ethel to tell the truth. Pete is an ex-con - will he take the money and run? If he doesn't can he convince Ethel to return with him? And what was so special about her identity that she wouldn't come forward in the first place? Watch and find out.

I honestly don't know why this one has such a low rating. William Powell plays his familiar dapper self although it is a bit of a shock seeing him minus his trademark moustache and in prison garb for about 15 or 20 minutes of the movie. Natalie Moorehead plays the mysterious femme fatale so well as she does in so many of these early talking films. The only bad thing I could say about it is the final showdown of the film - if you watch it you'll know what I'm talking about - is just talked about by a third party. You never see it happen, and that makes the ending somewhat unsatisfactory. Also, besides Powell and Moorehead and a cameo appearance by Regis Toomey all of the other actors in the film were pretty much unknowns. I'd say this is definitely worth your time if you like William Powell.

Janes

[view_and_review · 6/10 · 5 January 2023]

A suave gentleman named Jim Montgomery (William Powell) did the chivalrous thing and fought off a man trying to abuse a lady. The lady, Ethel Barry (Natalie Moorhead), ran into Jim's apartment screaming with a brute chasing her. Jim struck the man causing him to fall out of the window; falling to his death. It was an accident, of course, that could be easily cleared up with Ethel's testimony. But Ethel split and was never to be heard from again.

Jim, for his troubles, went to prison on a murder charge which made him a sympathetic character. No one wants to see a guy get locked up for a bum rap.

In prison Jim met Pete Shore (Paul Hurst), his cellmate. He had simple advice for Jim: stay away from them Janes, as he called women.

Jim would escape prison with Pete's help and make it his life's mission to find Ethel and convince her to come forth to the authorities with the truth. Until that time he lived under the pseudonym James Nelson and worked at a plant in North Carolina. Even though he fell in love with the owner's daughter, Edith (Marion Shilling), his life would never be unfettered so long as he was an escaped convict.

This was a passable movie. The "romance" between Jim and Edith was a bit tepid. When we first see her he kindly declined an invitation of hers because he was trying not to get anyone else involved in his quagmire of a life, but she ran to daddy who all but demanded Jim accompany his daughter. It made Edith out to be a spoiled rich girl who always gets what she wants, and that's pretty much what happened. It seemed like they tried to clean up her image later, but I already had a bad taste in my mouth about her.

The only other significant female in the movie was Ethel who was a sly snake. Her behavior later in the movie made it understandable why the guy earlier in the movie wanted to kill her.

The ending was rather nebulous. Jim staved off an extradition from North Carolina to New York, but there's no telling what may have happened after the end. The implications were that Ethel would be forced to give a statement, but she already proved herself very clever and very treacherous, and her testimony could only prove to harm Jim more.

Would I have liked a more definitive and happy ending? Sure, but it wasn't a deal breaker. I would've liked a more compelling relationship between Jim and Edith and a more compelling dramatic script overall.

Free on YouTube.

Hard to believe....but enjoyable.

[planktonrules · 7/10 · 20 October 2021]

When the story begins, Jim (William Powell) has taken a neighbor in his apartment on their first date. Later that evening after he returned her to her flat, there is a HUGE commotion in her place. Jim arrives to see what the problem is and a guy is beating Ethel. He tries to stop the guy and quiet things down...and the guy attacks him! While defending himself, the guy is knocked out the window to his death. Jim had done nothing wrong but when he tells the police, his witness, Ethel, beats it and can't be found. With no proof he's innocent, he's sent to prison.

While in prison, Jim in a model prisoner. So, after three years he's made a foreman and given special privileges...though he STILL has a life sentence. In addition, the warden wants him to be a snitch...to find out where his cellmate, Pete, has hidden the loot from a robbery. Well, Jim will have no part of snitching and instead warns Pete. And, since he won't snitch, Jim decides to use his privileges to help him escape...which he does.

A couple years pass. Jim has a new identity and is a well to do executive. But he STILL has that life sentence hanging over him, so he has had detectives searching high and low for Ethel. When he finds her, he has Pete (who has now finished his sentence) approach her about telling the authorities the truth. She pretends to agree but soon runs away because she's an evil weasel. What's next? I won't say....but remember, she IS an evil weasel...and her plans will NOT be for good!

The plot is very, very difficult to believe (both at the beginning and the end). But even in cases like this, if the acting is good you can overlook this....and the acting is fine. Powell is typically good and Paul Hurst is excellent as Pete. Well worth seeing...though very improbable.

I really shouldn't have loved this but I did

[1930s_Time_Machine · 6/10 · 18 November 2023]

I was totally mesmerised by this nonsense. The story was absolutely ridiculous and it was obvious what was going to happen. The acting, apart from that of William Powell was nothing special but I was absolutely blown away by it. Thoroughly enjoyable!

This is such a typical 1930 programmer - or rather one of the good 1930 ones (most of them were rubbish). The plot is ultra-simple with no sub plot, no hidden meaning or social commentary. It's just a straight forward story told clearly and simply. The fact that the story is so unbelievable doesn't matter - it's told so brilliantly you don't mind.

William Powell was possibly the most likeable man in the world - he somehow turns this into something really special, something totally absorbing, something to ensure your eyes are permanently glued to your screen. In this he plays......well, William Powell but he's so slick and professional you're rooting for him straight away.

Besides the annoyingly illogicalness of the story, director Louis Gasnier along with Paramount's superstar cameraman Charles Lang actually create a pretty impressive (certainly for 1930) piece of cinema. Even though it doesn't feel rushed - time is spent setting up scenes - there's literally never a dull moment. Every one of its 70 minutes are used efficiently to keep on the edge of your seat.

This really shouldn't be this good but it is!

Intelligent Powell Performance Salvages a Flawed Melodrama

[boblipton · 6/10 · 5 January 2018]

I have some issues with the set-up of this movie. William Powell is convicted of murdering a man by shoving him out a window; it was self-defense, when the man's lover, played by Natalie Moorhead, rushed into Powell's apartment, followed by the man, who attacked her. Powell defends her and, in the struggle, the man goes out the window. The woman flees. However, the woman's apartment is in the same building; the elevator operator had seen the man in her apartment; people had heard them fighting for some time before they wound up in Powell's apartment.

Anyway, Powell winds up in prison, escapes, makes his way down south and reestablishes himself under a different name, and the story continues on its melodramatic way, lent some sense by Powell's typically intelligent air. It's not great, despite a script co-written by by John Farrow.

It's directed by Louis Gasnier. Gasnier may be remembered only for the hideous REEFER MADNESS, but he had a long and fine career, entering films alongside Max Linder and directing the landmark serial THE PERILS OF PAULINE. If this mediocre melodrama points to why his career was on the downslide, perhaps it reflects more a change in taste and attendant carefulness in production than failure on his part.

Shadow of the Law

[CinemaSerf · 6/10 · 16 February 2024]

This packs quite a lot into an hour or so, with William Powell doing just about enough to keep it afloat. He is the wealthy "Nelson/Montgomery" who in concluding a rather promising first date before an unfortunate encounter with a stranger (to him, anyway) who ends up splatted all over the pavement several stories below. Now he's in handcuffs and the only witness to the whole affair - indeed, the entire cause of the affair, has done a bunk. After three years incarcerated, he becomes a trusty - the warden wants him to do some snitching for him, but he manages to escape. Starting from scratch, with an whole new identity, he becomes successful but never lets up with his search for "Ethel" (Natalie Moorhead) whom he hopes has some answers. This isn't the usual predictable lunchtime fayre, the story has a little more depth to it and Moorhead is actually quite efficient as the rather odious creature whom he learns can not, should not, be trusted. Can he clear his name? Well it's not that unpredictable, but there are still enough sub-plots and characters to keep it interesting and it's well enough paced to rattle along episodically, but fine.

Odd and feeble film

[rhoda-9 · 5/10 · 2 September 2021]

William Powell is the only character of substance in this movie, but, charming as he is, he can't compensate for its lack of characters and plot. After having what must be the worst defense counsel in the world, Powell is convicted of murder when he actually killed a man in self-defense. There is a witness who would exculpate Powell, but it seems he is never called, or, if called, not believed--because he is black? The woman he was helping disappears, and never turns up to support the man who saved her life--for no reason that we are ever told. Later on she is found, and Powell, who has escaped from prison, tries in vain to get her to tell her story. However, he does manage to convince a friendly policeman, who promises that he will visit the woman and beat the truth out of her. End of movie.

Nutty or what?

A Must For Powell Fans

[djbrown-00897 · 10/10 · 14 March 2020]

Shadow of The Law is a very difficult film to find ( I found it online), but well worth the effort. It is about an innocent man (Powell) who gets convicted of murder, and is sentenced to life in Sing Sing but escapes. His goal is to find the woman ( Natalie Morehead) who can give him an alibi. Powell's character Jim Montgomery is also one of the nicest he ever played. He played some real nasty characters during his time at Paramount ( Behind The Makeup and Nevada come to mind), but even as a good guy he is a bit of a rascal . Here he is a straightforward good guy. There is one scene in prison where the warden wants him to be an informant against someone and instead he tells that person about it. If there are weaknesses it is the ending ( where Morehesd will be caught off screen) and Powell's leading lady ( Karen Schiller) who is NOT exactly Myrna Loy. But at least she was not Kay Francis ( who I cannot stand). I have seen over 50 Powell films and it is in the Top Five non-Loy films. Basically a must for Powell fans and my favorite from his Paramount period. 10/10 stars.

tragic

[HandsomeBen · 5/10 · 2 March 2022]

Imagine saving a woman and this same woman double crosses you and blackmails you, after you're accused of something you didn't do. The ending was rushed, i wanted to see the look on her face when she finally faced justice. Evil woman.

Natalie Moorehead - the Vamp Supreme!!

[kidboots · 8/10 · 29 December 2015]

Sweet Marion Shilling's training in stock as a child did not seem to bode well for the movies but she began at the top in MGM's "Wise Girls" (1929)- her next one, however, bought her undone. It was "Lord Byron of Broadway" - MGM had hopes it was going to be their musical of the year but maybe because of the unlikeability of the main star (he played an ego driven song smith who deserts his real friends on his way to the top) it was a huge flop and as a result Shilling soon found herself on an express to poverty row. Her option was picked up by Paramount for a few films and even though for all her top female billing in this one she only made her appearance around the 39 minute mark, she still had a cute and winning personality!!

It was up to exotic Natalie Moorehead, she of the vamp supreme, to grab the juiciest female part. She plays Ethel George who after a night on the town with debonair James Montgomery (William Powell) returns to her apartment and into the flying fists of her "sugar daddy"!! Appropriately attired in black underwear!!! she flies to the gentlemanly Montgomery who after intervening between the sparing pair accidentally causes the man's death!! Ethel flees and James faces the law alone with no-one to confirm it was self defence.

This movie is all story with more twists than a winding road. It's nice to see Paul Hurst in a sympathetic role, he plays Pete Shore, Jame's prison buddy whose friendship is cemented when James is asked by authorities to turn "stoolie" on his mate but refuses. Next comes "I Am a Fugitive From a Chain Gang" deja vu (maybe that illustrious film copied this more lowly one) - James has escaped and two years later he is working as a factory manager down South under a new name. He is eager to find Ethel so she can go to the authorities and corroborate his innocence, he has a new girl, sweet Ethel and wants to clear his name so he can hold his head high. And while Ethel sounds contrite with "I've gone through hell, knowing I've let James down", her only thought is to shake him down to the tune of $50,000!!! Regis Toomey who after his break through role the year before in "Alibi" must have wondered where his career was heading - he has just a walk on role as a man Ethel picks up on the train bound for South Carolina!!

This is one early talkie that could not be accused of being static. Powell as usual gives a dependable performance and shows why he was going to be around for many years to come!!