Attorney for the Defense (1932) User Reviews

A lot better than you'd expect from a B-film

[planktonrules · 7/10 · 23 July 2009]

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.

Crisp courtroom drama starring Edmund Lowe...

[Doylenf · 6/10 · 10 July 2009]

Obviously a short programmer for the bottom half of a double feature bill, ATTORNEY FOR THE DEFENSE is a good melodrama from Columbia starring EDMUND LOWE. He's a lawyer who lets himself be accused of a crime so he can play his own defense lawyer to prove who is really guilty of the murder.

His charming secretary is played by CONSTANCE CUMMINGS, an attractive blonde who encourages him to solve the murder by playing the defense lawyer for a change.

DWIGHT FRYE has a melodramatic courtroom moment at the film's start, as an innocent man unable to prove his innocence in a court of law. EVELYN BRENT and DOUGLAS HAIG are good in strong supporting roles.

Trivia note: The first radio broadcast of a trial is mentioned in this film from '32, as is the word "television" several times. An early indication of things to come.

18 and Out

[kapelusznik18 · 5/10 · 18 September 2016]

***SPOILERS*** Being the 18th man to be sent directly to the Sing Sing electric chair James Wallace, Dwight Frye, makes a ruckus at his trial sentencing accusing the local D.A William "Hot Seat" Burton, Edmund Lowe, of railroading him like the other 17 men prosecuted by him just to get publicity in order to get himself elected in his upcoming race against Governorn F.D Roosevelt for governor of the Empire State of New York. This big victory on "Hot Seat's" part soon falls apart after Wallace's execution that the murder that he was zapped or executed for was admitted in a death bed confession, in knowing that he's got nothing to lose anyway, by the real murderer as he was about to check out for good!

In Burton trying to repent for sending an innocent man James Wallace as well as who knows how many more to the electric chair he takes it upon himself to pay for the late James Wallace's son Paul's, Don Dillaway, collage tuition in order to make up for what he did to his dad. Paul being both young and in love as well as a bit stupid falls head over heels for the two timing gold digger Val Lorraine,Evelyn Brent, who was a former old flame of Burton. It's Lorraine who uses the poor and love sick sop to steal a number of document from Burton's office safe in order to blackmail him that can have him disbarred. That in him stealing cash or chump change from his clients; That they probably didn't miss anyway.

***SPOILERS*** The rub in all this is that after Paul found out what Larraine was up to and how she played him, her lover, for a sucker he got gloriously drunk and passed out in her apartment only to find her dead when he finally, after about 5 hours, came to. In pops "Hot Seat" Burton who to save Paul's drunk and sorry a** from getting burned takes responsibly for Lorraine's murder, or so were made to believe, and is set to got on trial for it in order to prove his, Burton's, innocence. Using all the skills of a shyster or lawyer Burton draws out the true killer of Lorraine by playing the fool and letting the prosecution make him look, with him helping out, like a complete idiot on the witness stand. The link that prove's that the person who murdered Lorainne wasn't him is a bruise she had on her neck that was the results of a ring that her killer wore. Which Burton used to punch out one of the members of the audience with to prove his case!

P.S With all that now behind him Burton finally proposes to his long time and suffering private secretary Ruth Barry, Constance Commings,who put up with all his BS all these years and waited for him to finally pop the question. That's before he drops dead, he's some 15 years older then her, or is killed by one of his outraged clients or or one of those, after being released from prison, innocent men that he sent up the river.

Excellent Lead Performance Makes the Film

[Michael_Elliott · 16 December 2013]

Attorney for the Defense (1932)

*** (out of 4)

Far-fetched but entertaining courtroom drama has Edmund Lowe playing lawyer William Burton who makes a living and headline off of sending people to the electric chair. Things change when he sends a man (Dwight Frye) to the chair who turns out to be innocent so the lawyer gives up his D.A. job and promises to support the man's widow and child. Ten years later the kid is now an adult in college and might have killed a woman who was trying to blackmail the lawyer. ATTORNEY FOR THE DEFENSE comes from Columbia and is a good example of a pre-code drama with some real sexuality as well as a dark plot full of twists and murder. I'm not going to sit here and say the film was flawless but it's certainly an entertaining picture that manages to keep one caught up in the story from the story to the end. I've always been very hit and miss on Lowe as an actor with most of his films and performances just not connecting with me but that's certainly not the case here because this is the best I've ever seen him. I thought the performance was excellent no matter what the screenplay called for. This includes him being cocky early on and more sensitive towards the end of the film. In the movie's highlight, after news breaks that the man was innocent, the lawyer goes to see the man's family and this is an exceptionally great sequence with Lowe really selling the emotions. Evelyn Brent is a real snake as the woman using blackmail and Constance Cummings is also very good as the lawyer's partner. Donald Dilloway is also good as the grown up boy and Dorothy Peterson is also good in her role. The supporting cast includes the before mentioned Frye, Nat Pendleton and Clarence Muse. The courtroom scene contains some very good energy, although the twist in the story is pretty far-fetched. Still, fans of these early courtroom dramas has enough working here to make this worth sitting through.

Good, But Should Be Better

[boblipton · 7/10 · 10 July 2009]

There's a great script here, fine players and some dynamite camera work by Ted Tetzlaff in this story about District Attorney Edmund Lowe. He sends the wrong man to the electric chair, quits to go into defense work and make amends, and winds up on trial for the murder of Evelyn Brent. However, there is something severely lacking that stops this script from Jo Swerling, who did great scripts for great directors like Capra and Hitchcock, from being great. Perhaps it's the way that every time you expect things to burst loose, the shot changes from a pacing moving camera into a tight two-shot. Perhaps it's the lack of overt action -- although given that Swerling wrote the screenplay for Hitchcock's claustrophobic LIFEBOAT, that answer doesn't feel right. Maybe it's the way that everyone wears their clothes, as if they've just come from a fresh pressing at the tailor shop.

Whatever is wrong with this movie, it winds up being too talky. Given that the director is Irving Cummings, who started directing in 1921, and that stars Lowe and Evelyn Brent were seasoned silent performers, it should work brilliantly, But it just works very well instead. Ah, well.

in the minority

[blanche-2 · 6/10 · 29 June 2021]

Edmund Lowe is the "Attorney for the Defense" in this 1932 film also starring Evelyn Brent and Constance Cummings.

Lowe is Burton, a prosecutor who manages to put 17 men into the electric chair. The last one ends up being executed by mistake when there is a death bed confession. Lowe goes to the man's family and offers to help and support the mother and son in any way he can.

Burton then resigns as prosecutor and opens a law practice as a criminal defense attorney

Fast forward a few years, and Paul Wallace (Don Dillaway), the son of the dead man, is a football star at his school and has been given the best education. Burton wants him to work in his office.

Burton has a girlfriend Val (Brent), and he learns she's also having a relationship with a crook, Bradley Page (Nick Quinn). He drops her. Paul then takes up with her, surprisingly, and he and Burton fight about it. Burton knows she's no good and is using Paul.

Paul hears Val on the phone and realizes that indeed, he has been used. We don't know what happens after that, only that Burton arrives at the apartment and finds Paul unconscious and Evelyn dead. Burton takes the rap and decides to defend himself in court, and, knowing Paul innocent, reveal the true murderer.

The problem with this film for me is that there were so many of this type of film made in the '30s - William Powell, Warren William, so any actors played great attorneys. It's hard to keep them all straight.

I see raves here about Evelyn Brent. She was terrific, but I frankly couldn't see young Paul being taken with herl

The reason I watched this is because I'm a huge fan of Constance Cummings. She plays Burton's secretary. Here she's a beautiful ingenue. She had a huge theater career on both sides of the pond, and in her seventies played a stroke victim in a show, Wings. She doesn't have much to do here, but I still love her.

Clever courtroom antics by Burton, who is well played by Edmund Lowe.

From prosecutor to protector - attorney turns a new leaf

[SimonJack · 7/10 · 11 October 2021]

"Attorney for the Defense" is a good film about a district attorney, William J. Burton, who turns from prosecuting accused criminals to defending them. His conversion happens after the real killer confesses to a murder for which an innocent man has already been convicted and executed. It was Burton's prosecution that convinced the jury to give him the electric chair. But Burton's change of heart doesn't mean life will be a bed of roses for him from then on.

Burton's past acquaintances with a two-timing gal, Val Lorraine, and his new career and dedication to helping Mrs. Wallace and her son Paul, will lead to problems in the future. His devoted secretary and legal assistant, Ruth Barry, is his last hope when Burton himself stands trial for murder.

There are a couple of good twists in this Columbia Pictures mystery drama. The production quality isn't very good - Columbia was a second tier studio at the time and wasn't able to as quickly adopt the changes and innovations that the major studios of the day made. The screenplay is just fair, but the plot is a good one.

And this is a good film in which to see an actor who isn't much remembered in the 21st century like many of the movie icons of the mid-20th century. Edmund Lowe finished his last decade in TV series in the 1950s, but had a career with more than 100 films. Many of those were in leading roles during the silent film era. He transitioned well with sound, but was already 40 years old in 1930. He still got lead roles, mostly in mysteries with some comedies and dramas through the mid-1930s. But after that, when the new young stars begam making names for themselves, Lowe's roles were most often supporting. He made movies for different studios, including some B studios by the end of his film career.

Constance Cummings is very good as Ruth Barry. Nat Pendleton is the most recognizable of the supporting cast. Most of the rest of the cast wouldn't be recognized except by die-hard movie buffs and aficionados.

Here's a favorite line from this film.

Val Lorraine (played by Evelyn Brent), "Anyway, it'd ruin my chances to marry the man from Dubuque." William Burton, "Grand Rapids."

Comes in like a lion, goes out like a lamb

[RickeyMooney · 6/10 · 14 March 2022]

The first half of this movie is a fine example of a fast-paced pre-code drama raising moral issues (i. E., how far should an attorney go in prosecuting a doubtful case) with crisp dialogue, surprising plot twists, and a cynical attitude. About midway it slows down and resolves in a tepid courtroom scene with the climax pulled out of a hat as in a lesser Perry Mason episode. Too bad. Worth a watch for pre-code buffs and those who enjoy any courtroom scene as long as the good guy wins.

PC alert: Talented black actor Clarence Muse, who seldom got meaningful roles in that era, plays a key witness. He isn't treated disrespectfully but Muse was made to act the role in the stereotypical eye-rolling childish manner and cornball dialect then seemingly required.

An Ethical Lawyer

[bkoganbing · 8/10 · 10 July 2009]

Every now and then a real long shot pays off so to speak with B films. You'll get one that's really good with some fine performances and a great script from a cast without any really big name players. Such a film is Attorney For The Defense.

Edmund Lowe is an ambitious prosecutor who after he sends an innocent Dwight Frye to the electric chair turns defense attorney. He also helps to provide for the widow and son of Frye, Dorothy Peterson and Douglas Haig. Fast forward several years and Lowe's now in the big chips and he's given girl friend Evelyn Brent the heave ho because she's been two timing him with crook Bradley Page.

But Page is now facing some real jail time with evidence that Lowe's gathered as head of a citizen's committee. In he sends Evelyn Brent to work her charms on Lowe and if not on him on Donald Dillaway who is the now grown son of Dwight Frye. But Brent's got an agenda all her own.

Attorney For The Defense suffers from some sloppy editing so you have to jump a little to make the plot connections. This was treated I'm sure as an assembly line product from Columbia Pictures so no great care was given it. But the performances here are really good, this would have been given much better care at Warner Brothers or MGM at the time.

Evelyn Brent is one two timing woman, we wouldn't see a piece of work like her until Jane Greer in Out Of The Past. She steals the film in every scene she's in. Constance Cummings is also in Attorney For The Defense as Lowe's girl Friday. She's written a bit too goody goody just to contrast Brent.

Lowe's citizen's committee reminded the movie going public at the time of the committee headed by Samuel Seabury in New York investigating corruption there. In fact when Lowe gets in a jackpot of his own, Cummings reaches out to big-shot defense attorney Joe Steiner (Max Steuer) played by Eddie Kane.

Kane won't do it without some big bucks so Lowe decides to challenge the adage about a fool for a client. He does one amazing job as his own counsel. It's a courtroom scene any player would sell his soul to do.

Sad that Attorney For The Defense was done at a poverty row outfit like Columbia was at the time. Done at Warner Brothers this would have been a classic. It's still pretty good.

Just a shadow of its contemporaries

[1930s_Time_Machine · 2/10 · 17 January 2023]

This is the weakest of all those 1932 lawyer films inspired by real life celebrity prosecutor turned defender, Gene Fowler. It's weaker in terms of story, direction and especially its star, Edmund Lowe. This role relies on the charisma of the lead but unfortunately Edmund Lowe just doesn't have it. He's not a bad actor, he simply doesn't sparkle. Compared with his counterparts in the other 1932 lawyer films he doesn't have either: the sleazy charm of Warren William in MOUTHPIECE, the over-the-top extravagance of John Barrymore in STATE'S ATTORNEY or the warmth of William Powell in LAWYER MAN. He's just an actor reading his lines - you don't feel as though you want to know anything about him.

Of all these similar movies, the story in this one is possibly the most interesting and unexpected but because of the pedestrian direction and the one dimensional characters you never fully engage with it. On paper this probably sounded really exciting and handled differently it could have been but it looks like Columbia picked their B team for this and it shows.

Great little precode legal drama

[AlsExGal · 8/10 · 25 December 2009]

Columbia in the 30's was more than Frank Capra and the Three Stooges. They also cranked out some precode dramas that were every bit as good in plot and pacing as those of Warner Brothers, but because Columbia didn't have the star power Warner Brothers had, these films are often unremembered today. This is one of the better Columbia precodes, not because you can't see how it's probably going to play out from ten miles away, but because of the fine performances from stars of which you've probably not seen much.

Edmund Lowe does a fine job of playing district attorney William J. Burton. The film opens with defendant James Wallace (Dwight Frye) being sentenced to die for a murder of which he's just been convicted. Wallace doesn't take this well, and makes a short manic speech about how D.A. Burton is guilty of murder if he fries. Burton is unmoved - until it is discovered that Wallace was innocent after he's already been executed. Wracked with guilt, Burton resigns as D.A., takes up supporting Wallace's widow and son, and also becomes a defense attorney.

Ten years pass, and Burton has somewhat made amends for his past wrong. Wallace's son has become as his own, is graduating law school, and will soon be practicing alongside Burton in his office. Also, Burton has formed and is legal counsel to a civic reform movement that is aiming at the conviction of a bootlegger who has been bribing public officials - Nick Quinn. Nick is the long time lover of Burton's old lover, Val Lorraine (Evelyn Brent). Val comes to visit Burton in his office to try to get Burton to lay off of her long-time meal ticket - but neither the promise of sex nor violence moves Burton an inch.

Back at her apartment, Nick comes up with a new angle to get Burton off of his back - one that involves using Burton's young ward Paul Wallace. All of this eventually leads Burton back into the courtroom as defense attorney, but this time he is representing himself as he is on trial for his own life.

Edmund Lowe was very effective at playing a somewhat likable scoundrel during the precode era, and that is also the truth here. Although he is much more likable here than I've seen him in other roles. Here he is not out so much for himself and he shows a reliable if somewhat rusty moral compass. He can still show the hard cynical side though, and all of this together make for a very interesting character. Evelyn Brent is fantastic here as femme fatale Val Lorraine. Always dressed to the nines, she'll do whatever and use whoever it takes to get her own way and keep herself in ermine. Some of the best scenes in the movie consist of her sparring with Burton - these people both know who they're dealing with. Constance Cummings is the other essential player in this film in a low-key but important role as Burton's girl Friday and secretary Ruth Barry.

Highly recommended for the precode fan.

Evelyn Brent and Constance Cummings - Together They Sizzle!!!

[kidboots · 8/10 · 1 June 2012]

Starting out with debonair man about town roles, a chance teaming with Victor McLauglin in "What Price Glory?" could have seen him typed as a loud mouth serviceman - he even appeared in Fox's all star singing and dancing extravaganza "Happy Days" along with McLauglin, spoofing their images. Happily with talkies came a return to the kind of stylish gent roles he originally played only this time with a touch of humour. "Attorney for the Defense" was also greatly enhanced by having two of the most sizzling of actresses - Evelyn Brent and Constance Cummings. Dwight Frye had so many parts where he only had seconds to make an impact and as this film begins he holds centre stage with an electrifying few moments as Wallace, a man condemned to death (Dorothy Peterson, another unsung actress plays his grief stricken wife). In return he charges Burton (Lowe), the laid back District Attorney with accelerating sentencing to fast track his road to Governership. Like all good D.A's he has a conscience - his pretty secretary Ruth Barry (Cummings)and she is sickened by his persecution of people on sometimes circumstantial evidence. When new evidence finds Wallace innocent he has already gone to the electric chair and Burton does some soul searching - he decides to take up the role of defender of the little people.

Years later, after helping Wallace's family and becoming a pillar of the community Burton finally has enough evidence to send racketeer Nick Quinn up for a long stretch. To get even, Nick sends his mistress Val (sultry Evelyn Brent) (who used to be Burton's mistress before he wised up to her two-timing) to romance Wallace's son Paul (Don Dillaway) who is now a football hero, so he will be persuaded to take some incriminating evidence from Burton's safe. When Val is found dead Burton is suddenly arrested for murder but when "Barry" convinces Burton to defend himself and with unlooked for help of Workingwell (Clarence Muse) the hotel elevator operator, he brings the case to a stunning conclusion.

Once again Constance Cummings proved that Hollywood lost an actress of great charm and appeal when she followed her heart and settled in England.

You're going to electrocute me, and expect me to shut up?

[mark.waltz · 10/10 · 22 June 2022]

Obviously influenced by the presence of director Frank Capra at Columbia, the front office took the opportunity to rise above their B+ status to make prestige pictures that would make the critics stand up and take notice. This legal drama, directed by Irving Cumming, is a near masterpiece, up there with "American Madness", Capra's big picture of the year, and gives Edmund Lowe one of his best roles. He's the district attorney, responsible for sending Dwight Frye to the electric chair and told off by him as Frye is removed from court.

Lowe's been paid off by criminal Bradley Page to keep him out of jail, and his guilt over finding out that Frye was innocent has him resigning and deciding to become a defense attorney instead, all the while going out of his way to make up to Frye's family by arranging for the young son to be educated. He's going to need that defense expertise in years to come when the grown man (Don Dillaway) is accused of the murder of gangster's moll Evelyn Brent was once involved with.

A stunning melodrama that is filled with wonderful performances, dialogue both witty and gritty, and great production values, this is one of the best unsung pre-code films made during the depression. Constance Cummings is sophisticated and beautiful as Lowe's secretary, and Page is delightfully slimy. Brent is terrific as the femme fatale, and Dorothy Peterson noble as the grateful widow who learns that forgiveness is a most important quality. Nat Pendleton get some funny lines as Lowe's chauffeur. Definitely being added to my list of the top films of 1932.

Switching sides

[jarrodmcdonald-1 · 26 November 2023]

Courtroom dramas like this were popular with audiences in the 1930s. All the studios made them. RKO had STATE'S ATTORNEY with John Barrymore which was remade a short time later as CRIMINAL LAWYER with Lee Tracy. Universal produced COUNSELLOR AT LAW, again with Barrymore. Warner Brothers made THE MOUTHPIECE with Warren William. In all these productions, the main character was typically a shrewd well-paid litigator.

Most often, he's born on the wrong side of the tracks and has worked his way up. He may be still fighting some of his old demons...and dealing with a whole lot of hubris. This particular drama is Columbia's version with contract player Edmund Lowe in the lead role. We learn he's a successful prosecutor at the beginning of the story, and he's just sent an eighteenth person to the electric chair.

While Lowe's professional life is firing on all cylinders, his personal life is another matter. His girlfriend (Evelyn Brent) is stepping out with a cheap hood (Bradley Page). He quickly ends things with her, but it isn't the last time she will cause problems.

At the same time, a local newspaper publishes editorials questioning Lowe's methods. Especially when a recently convicted man has been cleared by someone else's confession. Experiencing a sudden epiphany, Lowe decides to vacate his position and switch sides. Developing a newfound conscience, he chooses to become a public defender and to use his skills to start helping those most in need. It's a nice change.

Though this isn't a film with a jaw-dropping plot, it does offer some thoughtful observations about legal ethics and the moral responsibility that lawyers have to society. Seeing Lowe's character take a turn for the better is gratifying to watch. Also, the scenes that follow in which he works to make amends with those he's wronged seem to come from the heart. Of course, he gets assistance and encouragement from a lovely girl Friday (Constance Cummings).

Meanwhile the story wouldn't be complete if it didn't put Lowe's character back in the courtroom, fighting for his own life. After being accused of murdering his ex-girlfriend, he defends himself and manages to clear his own name. After all is said and done, he is free to live the rest of his life, which is something the men he previously worked to convict couldn't experience.