The Public Defender (1931)

Rich playboy Pike Winslow dons the mantle of 'The Reckoner', a mysterious avenger, when he learns that his lady friend Barbara Gerry's father has been framed in a bank embezzlement scandal.... See full summary »

Director:

J. Walter Ruben

Writers:

George Goodchild (by), Bernard Schubert (adaptation)

Stars:

Richard Dix, Shirley Grey, Purnell Pratt

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Richard Dix	...	Pike Winslow
Shirley Grey	...	Barbara Gerry
Purnell Pratt	...	John Kirk
Ruth Weston	...	Rose Harmer
Edmund Breese	...	Frank Wells
Frank Sheridan	...	Charles Harmer
Alan Roscoe	...	Inspector Malcolm O'Neill
Boris Karloff	...	The Professor
Nella Walker	...	Aunt Matilda
Paul Hurst	...	Doc
Carl Gerard	...	Cyrus Pringle
Robert Emmett O'Connor	...	Detective Brady (as Robert Emmet O'Connor)
Phillips Smalley	...	Thomas Drake (as Phillip Smalley)

Storyline

Rich playboy Pike Winslow dons the mantle of 'The Reckoner', a mysterious avenger, when he learns that his lady friend Barbara Gerry's father has been framed in a bank embezzlement scandal. Using meticulous planning and split-second timing, Pike, along with his associates, the erudite 'Professor' and tough-guy scrapper 'Doc', attempt to find proof that will clear Gerry and identify the real culprits.

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Plot Keywords:

decoy | apartment | swindler | explosive | guard | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Romance

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Certificate:

Passed

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 August 1931 (USA)

Also Known As:

Million Dollar Swindle

Company Credits

Production Co:

RKO Radio Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

69 min 69 min (Turner library print)

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Photophone System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Little Daddy and a Toby the Pup cartoon played before this film in some venues during it's original release.

User Reviews

BORIS KARLOFF AS A PROFESSOR !

Taped this Richard Dix film in the early 70's and never realized that Boris Karloff made an appearance in this film. Dix(Pike Winslow) plays a Robin Hood in this film and seeks to correct all the wrong doing of blue collar executives in high places,(which sounds like 2003)who try to cheat people with their share holdings. Pike leaves his calling card, "The Reckoner", which means you are in trouble and will likely go to jail. He has sidekicks, namely Boris Karloff(Professor) who do all the undercover work so Pike Winslow can get them behind bars. A sweet charming and sexy looking young blond girl(or lady like she wants to be called) Barbara Gerry (Shirley Grey) fell in love with Pike when she was 12 and he was 18. Winslow finds out that her father has lost his entire fortune to these crooks and she will be out in the street with her aunt. The acting and film direction is fantastic, all the actors were very professional. This was Shirley Grey's first film debut and Boris Karloff was eager for work and was beginning to be seen in Hollywood, around the time of "Criminal Code" and "Frankenstein". I noticed that Max Steiner wrote the music for his film and was uncredited. This was a great film classic that I was happy I taped years ago and will enjoy for many years in the future. Richard Dix had a great magic in his acting that will live on forever and

ever.