Poster

For the Defense ()

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William Powell plays William Foster, a slick attorney who stays within the law, but specializes in representing crooks and shady characters. He's adept at keeping them out of jail, winning acquittals, and having decisions reversed, thus... See more »
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Photos and Videos

4 photos

Cast

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William B. Foster
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Irene Manners
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Jack Defoe
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District Attorney Herbert L. Stone
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Daly
Harry Walker ...
Miller
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Parrott
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Joe
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Judge Evans
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
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Eddie Withers (uncredited)
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Drunk (uncredited)
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Jailer (uncredited)
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Second Reporter at Trial (uncredited)
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Speakeasy Customer (uncredited)
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Snooper (uncredited)
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Joseph McGann (uncredited)
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Juror (uncredited)
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Ben--Waiter (uncredited)
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Lineup Lieutenant (uncredited)
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Judge at First Trial (uncredited)
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Juror (uncredited)
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Jury Foreman at First Trial (uncredited)
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Young Man at Speakeasy (uncredited)
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Evening Sun Reporter (uncredited)
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Juror (uncredited)
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Charlie--Chauffeur (uncredited)

Directed by

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John Cromwell

Written by

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Oliver H.P. Garrett ... (scenario)
 
Charles Furthman ... (story) (as Charles Furthmann)

Cinematography by

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Charles Lang ... (photographed by)

Editing by

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George Nicholls Jr. ... (uncredited)

Casting By

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Fred A. Datig ... (uncredited)

Costume Design by

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Travis Banton ... (uncredited)

Sound Department

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Harold M. McNiff ... sound (uncredited)

Casting Department

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Mel Ballerino ... casting assistant (uncredited)
Joe Egli ... casting assistant (uncredited)

Music Department

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Karl Hajos ... composer: stock music (uncredited)
Crew believed to be complete

Production Companies

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Distributors

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Special Effects

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Other Companies

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Storyline

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Plot Summary

William Powell plays William Foster, a slick attorney who stays within the law, but specializes in representing crooks and shady characters. He's adept at keeping them out of jail, winning acquittals, and having decisions reversed, thus springing criminals out of prison. He is romantically involved with dancer Irene Manners (Kay Francis), who is two-timing him, although she wants to marry him. She kills a man driving while out with her other man, Jack Defoe (Scott Kolk), who takes the blame. Unfortunately, a ring Foster had just given Irene is found at the crime scene. Foster ends up defending Jack, but when the ring is found, he thinks he is protecting Irene, so pleads guilty to jury tampering, which he had done for the first time to save Irene. After his plea, the the prosecuting DA confides that Jack would have gotten off... Written by Becie

Plot Keywords
Taglines The Thrilling Drama behind the Screaming Headlines- Now Revealed! See the Price This Man Pays for Love! And Why! (Print Ad- Prescott Evening Courier, ((Prescott, Ariz.)) 31 December 1930) See more »
Genres
Parents Guide Add content advisory for parents »
Certification

Additional Details

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Also Known As
  • El acusador de sí mismo (Spain)
  • Во имя защиты (Soviet Union, Russian title)
  • 唇の罪 (Japan, Japanese title)
  • Defesa que Humilha (Brazil)
  • See more »
Runtime
  • 65 min
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Language
Color
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Filming Locations

Did You Know?

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Trivia This was a surprise hit for Paramount. A quickie, it was shot in a mere 15 days and its success immeasurably helped director John Cromwell's career. See more »
Goofs At one point when Bill and Irene are talking at the speakeasy and sitting beside each other, they go from holding hands to not and back again between shots. See more »
Movie Connections References Shoulder Arms (1918). See more »
Quotes William Foster: [Addressing the jury on summation] Gentlemen, I'm not going to give you the usual baloney.
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