In the 1930s and 40s, Columbia Pictures made a ton of B-movies as well as a few A-budget films each year. Often people assume that B's are always bad, though this is certainly not the case. While some were very poor, just as many were very good or in between. So, just because ATTORNEY FOR THE DEFENSE has a low budget and lesser-known stars doesn't mean it's bad. In fact, I almost gave these film an 8--it was that good.
The film begins with Edmund Lowe playing a District Attorney who is intent on creating a name for himself--in particular by getting people convicted and sent to death row. The problem is that he's lost track of the pursuit of truth and it all comes to a head when one of the men who was executed following his prosecution turns out to be innocent! Lowe is truly repentant and he goes to the widow and her son to promise to do what he can to make amends. He pays to send the boy to college and is as good as his word towards them.
A decade passes. Now, the college boy is involved with an evil seductress. She hopes to get to Lowe through the young man. In particular, to get some incriminating evidence against a mobster who she is seeing on the side. When Lowe tells the guy that his girl is bad, he doesn't believe him--having had his mind poisoned by the woman. When she is killed and it looks like the college boy did it, Lowe takes the rap--most likely out of a continuing sense of guilt. Now, a new District Attorney who wants to make a name for himself makes it his personal crusade to convict Lowe.
Overall, a pretty interesting plot though a few of the plot points seem a tad far-fetched. As for the acting, it's generally very good and Lowe in particular is excellent--as he was in every other film I saw him in over the years. This is better than just a time-passer--it is pretty well written and interesting throughout.
The film begins with Edmund Lowe playing a District Attorney who is intent on creating a name for himself--in particular by getting people convicted and sent to death row. The problem is that he's lost track of the pursuit of truth and it all comes to a head when one of the men who was executed following his prosecution turns out to be innocent! Lowe is truly repentant and he goes to the widow and her son to promise to do what he can to make amends. He pays to send the boy to college and is as good as his word towards them.
A decade passes. Now, the college boy is involved with an evil seductress. She hopes to get to Lowe through the young man. In particular, to get some incriminating evidence against a mobster who she is seeing on the side. When Lowe tells the guy that his girl is bad, he doesn't believe him--having had his mind poisoned by the woman. When she is killed and it looks like the college boy did it, Lowe takes the rap--most likely out of a continuing sense of guilt. Now, a new District Attorney who wants to make a name for himself makes it his personal crusade to convict Lowe.
Overall, a pretty interesting plot though a few of the plot points seem a tad far-fetched. As for the acting, it's generally very good and Lowe in particular is excellent--as he was in every other film I saw him in over the years. This is better than just a time-passer--it is pretty well written and interesting throughout.