Release CalendarDVD & Blu-ray ReleasesTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsIn TheatersComing SoonMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersEmmysAPA Heritage MonthSTARmeter AwardsSan Diego Comic-ConNew York Comic-ConSundance Film FestivalToronto Int'l Film FestivalAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)

Counsellor at Law

  • 19331933
  • PassedPassed
  • 1h 22m
IMDb RATING
7.6/10
1.2K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
John Barrymore in Counsellor at Law (1933)
  • Comedy
  • Drama
A successful attorney has his Jewish heritage and poverty-stricken background brought home to him when he learns that his wife has been unfaithful.A successful attorney has his Jewish heritage and poverty-stricken background brought home to him when he learns that his wife has been unfaithful.A successful attorney has his Jewish heritage and poverty-stricken background brought home to him when he learns that his wife has been unfaithful.
IMDb RATING
7.6/10
1.2K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • William Wyler
  • Writer
    • Elmer Rice(play "Counsellor-at-Law")
  • Stars
    • John Barrymore
    • Bebe Daniels
    • Doris Kenyon
Top credits
  • Director
    • William Wyler
  • Writer
    • Elmer Rice(play "Counsellor-at-Law")
  • Stars
    • John Barrymore
    • Bebe Daniels
    • Doris Kenyon
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 31User reviews
    • 13Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos32

    John Barrymore in Counsellor at Law (1933)
    John Barrymore and Bebe Daniels in Counsellor at Law (1933)
    Malka Kornstein and Vincent Sherman in Counsellor at Law (1933)
    John Hammond Dailey in Counsellor at Law (1933)
    T.H. Manning in Counsellor at Law (1933)
    Barbara Perry and Richard Quine in Counsellor at Law (1933)
    Clara Langsner in Counsellor at Law (1933)
    Isabel Jewell in Counsellor at Law (1933)
    Isabel Jewell in Counsellor at Law (1933)
    Mayo Methot in Counsellor at Law (1933)
    John Barrymore and John Qualen in Counsellor at Law (1933)
    Thelma Todd in Counsellor at Law (1933)

    Top cast

    Edit
    John Barrymore
    John Barrymore
    • George Simonas George Simon
    Bebe Daniels
    Bebe Daniels
    • Regina 'Rexy' Gordonas Regina 'Rexy' Gordon
    Doris Kenyon
    Doris Kenyon
    • Cora Simonas Cora Simon
    Isabel Jewell
    Isabel Jewell
    • Bessie Greenas Bessie Green
    Melvyn Douglas
    Melvyn Douglas
    • Roy Darwinas Roy Darwin
    Onslow Stevens
    Onslow Stevens
    • John P. Tedescoas John P. Tedesco
    Thelma Todd
    Thelma Todd
    • Lillian La Rueas Lillian La Rue
    Clara Langsner
    • Lena Simonas Lena Simon
    John Hammond Dailey
    • Charlie McFaddenas Charlie McFadden
    • (as J. Hammond Dailey)
    Mayo Methot
    Mayo Methot
    • Zedorah Chapmanas Zedorah Chapman
    Robert Gordon
    • Henry Susskindas Henry Susskind
    • (as Bobby Gordon)
    Malka Kornstein
    • Sarah Beckeras Sarah Becker
    Vincent Sherman
    Vincent Sherman
    • Harry Beckeras Harry Becker
    Marvin Kline
    • Herbert Howard Weinbergas Herbert Howard Weinberg
    T.H. Manning
    T.H. Manning
    • Peter J. Maloneas Peter J. Malone
    John Qualen
    John Qualen
    • Johan Breitsteinas Johan Breitstein
    Angela Jacobs
    • Goldie Rindskopfas Goldie Rindskopf
    Richard Quine
    Richard Quine
    • Richard Dwight Jr.as Richard Dwight Jr.
    • Director
      • William Wyler
    • Writer
      • Elmer Rice(play "Counsellor-at-Law") (screenplay)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

    More like this

    The Good Fairy
    7.5
    The Good Fairy
    The Maltese Falcon
    6.8
    The Maltese Falcon
    Jewel Robbery
    7.2
    Jewel Robbery
    Midnight
    7.9
    Midnight
    Mandalay
    6.7
    Mandalay
    The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer
    7.2
    The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer
    The Lost Patrol
    6.8
    The Lost Patrol
    Twentieth Century
    7.3
    Twentieth Century
    Confession
    7.3
    Confession
    Blackboard Jungle
    7.4
    Blackboard Jungle
    Dinner at Eight
    7.5
    Dinner at Eight
    Hell's Heroes
    7.2
    Hell's Heroes

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Although this film is frank about some matters, the Production Code of the Hays Office - i.e., censorship - was still in effect. In one 16mm print there is a curious moment of dead air at the end of Lillian Larue's parting speech to George Simon. She says (approximately), "Well, for God's sake, what do they expect for ten thousand dollars?" John Barrymore keeps looking at Larue (Thelma Todd) as if she is still speaking, and she must be, but there is no sound. Her last words in the text of the play are, "A virgin?"
    • Quotes

      Bessie Green: Who's calling, please? Mr. McKey? K as in kitty?

    • Connections
      Featured in American Masters: Directed by William Wyler (1986)

    User reviews31

    Review
    Top review
    9/10
    a wonderful "lost" film
    While not technically lost, I call it this because very very few people have heard of it and it is not usually mentioned in discussions of John Barrymore's work. I only sought out the video after I saw it listed in the front of my Leonard Maltin guide in his list of 50 seldom-seen but great films. While his list is too heavily influenced by modern movies (more than half the list are movies just made within the last few years), this one one of the few older films listed. And, since I have adore older Hollywood films, I ran out to find a copy ASAP.

    What did I like about the film? Well, first I have always loved John Barrymore films (apart from a few turkeys he made just before he died) and he is as good as you'll ever see him. Second, I really liked the film's moral compass. While Barrymore is the hero of the story, he is far from perfect and offers a more 3-dimensional sort of leading man. While he does so much of his work to help the poor and down-trodden, he is not averse to lying, insider stock trading or making a fast buck. Third, the supporting cast was very strong and full of unusual characters (aside from what I felt was an annoyingly written character, the receptionist). My favorite old films always feature a good ensemble cast for support. Fourth, it dares to be different. This lawyer is NOT Perry Mason (Warren Williams' series was very popular at the time this film was made) or like any one I have seen on film. Fifth, while the film COULD have been stagy given that all the action takes place in the building where the law firm is, its brisk pace keeps it from falling flat.

    While I loved the pacing, this also brings me to about the only negative in the film. While the action is brisk, sometimes the dialog is a little TOO BRISK. Occasionally I found myself struggling to keep up with the rapid-fire dialog at the beginning of the film! Be sure to turn on your television's Closed Captioning!
    helpful•11
    1
    • planktonrules
    • Dec 28, 2005

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 25, 1933 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Italian
      • Yiddish
    • Also known as
      • Der Staranwalt von Manhattan
    • Filming locations
      • Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Universal Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 22 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    John Barrymore in Counsellor at Law (1933)
    Top Gap
    By what name was Counsellor at Law (1933) officially released in Canada in English?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    View list
    List
    The 10 Most Anticipated Marvel and DC Movies
    See the full list
    Image caption not available
    2:14
    The Most Anticipated Movies and Shows to Watch in May
    Watch the video

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Interest-Based Ads

    © 1990-2022 by IMDb.com, Inc.