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{{infobox film
{{short description|1932 film}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Infobox film
| name = State's Attorney
| name = State's Attorney
| image = States-attorney film poster.jpg
| image = States-attorney film poster.jpg
| imagesize =
| caption = Theatrical poster
| caption = Theatrical Poster
| director = [[George Archainbaud]]
| director = [[George Archainbaud]]
| producer = [[James Kevin McGuinness]] (associate producer)<br>[[David O. Selznick]] (executive producer)
| producer = [[James Kevin McGuinness]] (associate producer)<br>[[David O. Selznick]] (executive producer)
| writer = Louis Stevens story)<br>[[Gene Fowler]] (script)<br>Rowland Brown (script)
| writer = [[Louis Stevens (writer)|Louis Stevens]] (story)<br>[[Gene Fowler]] (script)<br>Rowland Brown (script)
| starring = [[John Barrymore]]<br>[[Helen Twelvetrees]]
| starring = [[John Barrymore]]<br>[[Helen Twelvetrees]]<br>[[Jill Esmond]]<br>[[William "Stage" Boyd]]<br>[[Mary Duncan]]
| music = [[Max Steiner]]<br>[[Ray Heindorf]]
| music = [[Max Steiner]]<br>[[Ray Heindorf]]
| cinematography = [[Leo Tover]]
| cinematography = [[Leo Tover]]
| editing = [[Charles L. Kimball]]
| editing = [[Charles L. Kimball]]
| distributor = [[RKO]]
| distributor = [[RKO Radio Pictures]]
| released = May 5, 1932(New York)<br>May 20, 1932(nationwide; US)<br>October 16, 1933(Portugal)<br>March 26, 1937(France)
| released = {{Film date|1932|05|05|New York City|1932|05|20|U.S.}}
| runtime = 73 minutes
| runtime = 73 minutes
| country = United States
| country = United States
| language = English
| language = English
| budget =
| gross =
}}
}}


'''''State's Attorney''''' is a 1932 talking drama film made at [[RKO]] and starring [[John Barrymore]]. [[George Archainbaud]] directed and the film could more or less be considered a warm up for Barrymore when he later went to Universal to film the similar ''[[Counsellor at Law]]''. Remade in 1937 and 1951 both titled ''Criminal Lawyer''.<ref>''The American Film Institute Catalog Feature Films: 1931-40'' by The American Film Institute, c.1993</ref> The story was supposedly based on the life of criminal lawyer William J. Fallon, who defended 126 homicide cases without any convictions.<ref>http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/948/State-s-Attorney/trivia.html</ref>
'''''State's Attorney''''' is a 1932 American [[Pre-Code Hollywood|pre-Code]] [[drama film]] made at [[RKO]] and starring [[John Barrymore]]. [[George Archainbaud]] directed and the film could more or less be considered a warm up for Barrymore when he later went to Universal to film the similar ''[[Counsellor at Law]]''. Remade in 1937 and 1951 both titled ''Criminal Lawyer''.<ref>''The American Film Institute Catalog Feature Films: 1931-40'' by The American Film Institute, c.1993</ref> The story was supposedly based on the life of criminal lawyer [[William J. Fallon (attorney)|William J. Fallon]], who defended 126 homicide cases without any convictions.<ref>[http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/948/State-s-Attorney/trivia.html ''State's Attorney'' details], tcm.com; accessed September 29, 2015.</ref>


==Plot summary==
==Plot==
In this pre-[[Production Code]] drama, [[John Barrymore]] plays near-alcoholic defense attorney Tom Cardigan who handles a lot of cases for his childhood friend, gangster Valentine “Vanny” Powers ([[William "Stage" Boyd]] who used his middle name to distinguish him from the better known [[William Boyd]] of Hopalong Cassidy fame).
Tom Cardigan is a near-alcoholic defense attorney who handles a lot of cases for his childhood friend, gangster Valentine "Vanny" Powers.


Powers thinks it would be a good idea for Cardigan to become Attorney General so his friend could do an occasional favor in return for Powers delivering the votes. Cardigan warns him that if Cardigan goes over to "the other side," Powers can expect no favors from him.
Powers thinks it would be a good idea for Cardigan to become Attorney General so his friend could do an occasional favor in return for Powers delivering the votes. Cardigan warns him that if Cardigan goes over to "the other side," Powers can expect no favors from him.


Meanwhile, Cardigan decides to defend a homeless woman, June Perry ([[Helen Twelvetrees]]), accused of “tapping at the window” and, after secretly fitting her with a wedding ring he keeps in his pocket, frees her by noting the presence of said ring (inferring she therefore could not be loitering for prostitution). He takes her home and, in a plot twist the Production Code would not allow, she stays there overnight. And every night thereafter.
Meanwhile, Cardigan decides to defend a homeless woman, June Perry, accused of "tapping at the window" and, after secretly fitting her with a wedding ring he keeps in his pocket, frees her by noting the presence of said ring (inferring she therefore could not be loitering for prostitution). He takes her home and, in a plot twist the Production Code would not allow, June stays there overnight. And every night thereafter.


Cardigan's success as Attorney General makes him a likely candidate for Governor. A political kingmaker thinks it's possible and his daughter, Lillian ([[Jill Esmond]]), begins dating Cardigan. During a drunken spree, they get married and he then goes home to tell June the bad news. During his explanation, he realizes he has made a terrible mistake and that he loves June, not Lillian. Nonetheless, June leaves and Cardigan goes on a honeymoon bender for several days, alone.
Cardigan's success as Attorney General makes him a likely candidate for Governor. A political kingmaker thinks it's possible and his daughter, Lillian, begins dating Cardigan. During a drunken spree, they get married and he then goes home to tell June the bad news. During his explanation, he realizes he has made a terrible mistake and that he loves June, not Lillian. Nonetheless, June leaves and Cardigan goes on a honeymoon bender for several days, alone.


Meanwhile, Helen has returned to her old friends in the Powers mob at a bar. Unfortunately, she walks outside just in time to see Powers murder a man in cold blood. She turns and walks quickly away. Powers catches up with her and threatens to kill her unless June keeps her mouth shut. She agrees but an off-stage policeman overhears her agreement and jails her as a material witness.
Meanwhile, June has returned to her old friends in the Powers mob at a bar. Unfortunately, she walks outside just in time to see Powers murder a man in cold blood. She turns and walks quickly away. Powers catches up with her and threatens to kill her unless June keeps her mouth shut. She agrees but an off-stage policeman overhears her agreement and jails her as a material witness.


An Italian tenor, Mario (Albert Conti), confronts Cardigan as he is sobering up, saying he wants to marry Lillian. Breathing a sigh of relief, Cardigan says he will annul his marriage. Later, Cardigan interviews the material witness and finds it's June (who refuses to return to him, thinking he has betrayed his values so he can become Governor). She adamantly maintains she did not see the murder so he releases her as a witness.
An Italian tenor, Mario, confronts Cardigan as he is sobering up, saying he wants to marry Lillian. Breathing a sigh of relief, Cardigan says he will annul his marriage. Later, Cardigan interviews the material witness and finds it's June (who refuses to return to him, thinking he has betrayed his values so he can become Governor). She adamantly maintains she did not see the murder so he releases her as a witness.


At Powers' trial, the defense springs June as a surprise witness, forcing her to admit that she could see the killer but didn't see the murder and didn't recognize Powers. Shocking his assistants, Cardigan decides not to cross-examine her. Powers laughs heartily, stopping Cardigan in his tracks. The Attorney General then withdraws his waiver, whispering “that laugh is going to cost you your neck” to Powers and promptly badgers and confuses June so that she blurts out an identification of Powers as the killer.
At Powers' trial, the defense springs June as a surprise witness, forcing her to admit that she could see the killer but didn't see the murder and didn't recognize Powers. Shocking his assistants, Cardigan decides not to cross-examine her. Powers laughs heartily, stopping Cardigan in his tracks. The Attorney General then withdraws his waiver, whispering "that laugh is going to cost you your neck" to Powers and promptly badgers and confuses June so that she blurts out an identification of Powers as the killer.

⚫
Begging the court's indulgence, Cardigan abruptly announces that his assistants will handle the rest of the case. He then confesses that he had been sent to reform school – with Powers – for burglary and will therefore not run for governor, returning to his defense attorney status immediately. (Powers had threatened to blackmail him if Cardigan prosecuted him.) Outside, Helen congratulates him for his courage and for choosing his values over his ambition. They embrace and leave hand in hand.


⚫
Begging the court's indulgence, Cardigan abruptly announces that his assistants will handle the rest of the case. He then confesses that he had been sent to reform school—with Powers—for burglary and will therefore not run for governor, returning to his defense attorney status immediately. (Powers had threatened to blackmail him if Cardigan prosecuted him.) Outside, June congratulates him for his courage and for choosing his values over his ambition. They embrace and leave hand in hand.


==Cast==
==Cast==
Line 45: Line 47:
* [[Mary Duncan]] as Nora Dean
* [[Mary Duncan]] as Nora Dean
* [[Ralph Ince]] as Second Trial Defense Attorney
* [[Ralph Ince]] as Second Trial Defense Attorney
* Albert Conti as Mario
* [[Albert Conti]] as Mario
* [[Frederick Burton (actor)|Frederick Burton]] as Second Trial Judge
* [[Frederick Burton (actor)|Frederick Burton]] as Second Trial Judge
* [[C. Henry Gordon]] as Attorney Graves
* [[C. Henry Gordon]] as Attorney Graves
Line 51: Line 53:
* [[Oscar Apfel]] as Mr. Ulrich
* [[Oscar Apfel]] as Mr. Ulrich
* [[Leon Ames]] as First Trial Prosecutor
* [[Leon Ames]] as First Trial Prosecutor
* [[Frank Mills (American actor)|Frank Mills]] as Courtroom Reporter/Speakeasy Patron<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmovie.com/artist/frank-mills-an27592/filmography|title=Frank Mills|work=[[AllMovie]]|access-date=July 20, 2024}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
Line 56: Line 59:


==External links==
==External links==
* {{IMDb title|0023507}}
* [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0023507/ ''State's Attorney'' at IMDb.com]
* {{TCMDb title|948}}
* [http://www.allrovi.com/search/movies/state%27s+attorney ''State's Attorney''; allrovi.com/ synopsis]
* {{tcmdb title|id=948}}
* {{AFI film|5204}}

* {{AFI film|id=5204|title=State's Attorney}}
{{George Archainbaud}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:State's Attorney}}
[[Category:1932 films]]
[[Category:1932 films]]
[[Category:American drama films]]
[[Category:1932 crime drama films]]
⚫
[[Category:American black-and-white films]]
⚫
[[Category:American courtroom films]]
⚫
[[Category:American crime drama films]]
[[Category:Films about lawyers]]
[[Category:Films directed by George Archainbaud]]
[[Category:RKO Pictures films]]
[[Category:RKO Pictures films]]
[[Category:Films made before the MPAA Production Code]]
[[Category:1930s English-language films]]
[[Category:Films directed by George Archainbaud]]
[[Category:1930s American films]]
[[Category:1930s drama films]]
[[Category:English-language crime drama films]]
⚫
[[Category:Black-and-white films]]
⚫
[[Category:English-language films]]
⚫
[[Category:American crime drama films]]

{{1930s-drama-film-stub}}

Latest revision as of 22:20, 1 January 2025

State's Attorney
Theatrical poster
Directed byGeorge Archainbaud
Written byLouis Stevens (story)
Gene Fowler (script)
Rowland Brown (script)
Produced byJames Kevin McGuinness (associate producer)
David O. Selznick (executive producer)
StarringJohn Barrymore
Helen Twelvetrees
Jill Esmond
William "Stage" Boyd
Mary Duncan
CinematographyLeo Tover
Edited byCharles L. Kimball
Music byMax Steiner
Ray Heindorf
Distributed byRKO Radio Pictures
Release dates
  • May 5, 1932 (1932-05-05) (New York City)
  • May 20, 1932 (1932-05-20) (U.S.)
Running time
73 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

State's Attorney is a 1932 American pre-Code drama film made at RKO and starring John Barrymore. George Archainbaud directed and the film could more or less be considered a warm up for Barrymore when he later went to Universal to film the similar Counsellor at Law. Remade in 1937 and 1951 both titled Criminal Lawyer.[1] The story was supposedly based on the life of criminal lawyer William J. Fallon, who defended 126 homicide cases without any convictions.[2]

Plot

[edit]

Tom Cardigan is a near-alcoholic defense attorney who handles a lot of cases for his childhood friend, gangster Valentine "Vanny" Powers.

Powers thinks it would be a good idea for Cardigan to become Attorney General so his friend could do an occasional favor in return for Powers delivering the votes. Cardigan warns him that if Cardigan goes over to "the other side," Powers can expect no favors from him.

Meanwhile, Cardigan decides to defend a homeless woman, June Perry, accused of "tapping at the window" and, after secretly fitting her with a wedding ring he keeps in his pocket, frees her by noting the presence of said ring (inferring she therefore could not be loitering for prostitution). He takes her home and, in a plot twist the Production Code would not allow, June stays there overnight. And every night thereafter.

Cardigan's success as Attorney General makes him a likely candidate for Governor. A political kingmaker thinks it's possible and his daughter, Lillian, begins dating Cardigan. During a drunken spree, they get married and he then goes home to tell June the bad news. During his explanation, he realizes he has made a terrible mistake and that he loves June, not Lillian. Nonetheless, June leaves and Cardigan goes on a honeymoon bender for several days, alone.

Meanwhile, June has returned to her old friends in the Powers mob at a bar. Unfortunately, she walks outside just in time to see Powers murder a man in cold blood. She turns and walks quickly away. Powers catches up with her and threatens to kill her unless June keeps her mouth shut. She agrees but an off-stage policeman overhears her agreement and jails her as a material witness.

An Italian tenor, Mario, confronts Cardigan as he is sobering up, saying he wants to marry Lillian. Breathing a sigh of relief, Cardigan says he will annul his marriage. Later, Cardigan interviews the material witness and finds it's June (who refuses to return to him, thinking he has betrayed his values so he can become Governor). She adamantly maintains she did not see the murder so he releases her as a witness.

At Powers' trial, the defense springs June as a surprise witness, forcing her to admit that she could see the killer but didn't see the murder and didn't recognize Powers. Shocking his assistants, Cardigan decides not to cross-examine her. Powers laughs heartily, stopping Cardigan in his tracks. The Attorney General then withdraws his waiver, whispering "that laugh is going to cost you your neck" to Powers and promptly badgers and confuses June so that she blurts out an identification of Powers as the killer.

Begging the court's indulgence, Cardigan abruptly announces that his assistants will handle the rest of the case. He then confesses that he had been sent to reform school—with Powers—for burglary and will therefore not run for governor, returning to his defense attorney status immediately. (Powers had threatened to blackmail him if Cardigan prosecuted him.) Outside, June congratulates him for his courage and for choosing his values over his ambition. They embrace and leave hand in hand.

Cast

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ The American Film Institute Catalog Feature Films: 1931-40 by The American Film Institute, c.1993
  2. ^ State's Attorney details, tcm.com; accessed September 29, 2015.
  3. ^ "Frank Mills". AllMovie. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
[edit]
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