Watch Lawyer Man For Free

You won't be disappointed!

The Worst Film Ever

Great movie! If you want to be entertained and have a few good laughs, see this movie. The music is also very good,

Funny, strange, confrontational and subversive, this is one of the most interesting experiences you'll have at the cinema this year.

It's a Powell showcase as he transitions from obscure gentlemanly lawyer to high-powered legal-eagle. Corruption is rife in Adam's (Powell) big city. After crossing head racketeer Gilmurry (Landau), Adam loses his standing in a respectable legal firm. So he decides to play the game their crooked way, and does so with maximo success, using people for his own ends. Only his intensely loyal and lovelorn secretary (Blondell) sticks with his ruthless climb.There's not much patented Powell charm here. Instead, he moves abruptly from quiet reserve to ruthless assertion, becoming a not very likable character in the process. Surprisingly for Warner Bros. and a gangster theme, there's no machine gun splatter or snarling thugs. Instead of city streets, criminal conduct here is more civilized, taking place in office suites and judicial chambers. Still, the shenanigans can't be taken too seriously since comedy relief pops in and out. The movie's real suspense lies in wondering how Adam's turnaround will end. In short, what sort of reckoning will there be. Can't say I was happy with the resolution that unfortunately retreats from 30's pre-Code toughness. It's like the Code is already in effect. All in all, the movie's not very memorable despite presence of two of the studio's leading performers—maybe because they're playing somewhat outside their strong suits.

I have mixed feelings about this film.On the negative side, it seems to wander around for a very long time before we get any idea of where it's heading.On the positive side -- William Powell. There are a few actors (Jack Nicholson and Clark Gable are examples) who are interesting to watch...even in bad movies...although this is not a bad movie (it's not great, but better than the typical film in 1932). William Powell is another of those actors. Someone truly special. And it's interesting to watch him here. Another thing interesting here are the scenes of New York City...real scenes...not staged.One thing to watch for, sort of early in the film, is what he does with his cigar when he meets a lovely lady. Definitely pre-code! However, there is also a sense that in today's standards, Powell's character would be considered uncouth in the way he looks at women.Another thing notable about this film -- particularly if you are familiar with traditional pop -- is the score. Quite a few familiar tunes throughout the film.Joan Blondell is quite good as Powell's sdcretary...who is clearly also in love with him...and wins him in the end. David Landau is fine as one of the crooked bosses, albeit one with a heart.The question really is -- does this film truly make sense. The ways things go back and forth between good and evil and Landau being sorta good and sorta bad...well, I'm not quite sure it all makes sense...but it is fun!

Tony (William Powell) is a lawyer of the people with an eye for the ladies. Olga (Joan Blondell) is his secretary and conscience. Granville Bentley (Allan Dinehart), a corporation lawyer, sees him in action and offers him a partnership. Babs (Helen Vinson) Granville's sister is also interested. Gilmurry the D.A. (David Landau) wants Tony to come into his organization as well.Ginny (Claire Dodd) needs help - "that's what happens when a smart lawyer gets mixed up with a dumb blonde" - she has love letters from a certain doctor - she wants to bring a breach of promise suit against him or at least sue him for thousands of dollars or does she???? Of course she calls on Tony and plays him for a sap. Bentley, meanwhile urges him to leave it alone and dissolves the partnership, Babs refuses to see him and Gilmurry thinks he's a "washout". He is determined to prove them wrong - he is going to play "dirty" - no job will be too demeaning. "a small time mouse planning to be a big time rat"!!!An elderly man comes to see him - he has a case against Gilmurry but no lawyer will take it. Tony does and wins a settlement out of court. Gilmurry is impressed and makes him Assistant District Attorney. Tony then gets some information on the doctor - he has been defrauding the city. The end of the movie sees Tony going back to where he started - to the little people that need his help.Helen Vinson was on hand as Babs Bentley, the sister of corporation lawyer Granville Bentley. She was always at her best in brittle, society "bad girl" roles - occasionally she would play a warm hearted "good girl" like Helen in "I Was a Fugitive From a Chain Gang" and proved she could handle these roles easily as well.Claire Dodd, in my opinion, was the most memorable bad girl of the 30s. She started out as a showgirl in films such as "Our Blushing Brides" (1930) and "Whoopee" (1930). For me her two stand out films are "Footlight Parade" (1933) where she plays Joan Blondell's old "friend" and "Roberta" (1934) as Randolph Scott's snooty fiancée. Both films have some classic one liners. In "Lawyer Man" she plays Ginny. Sterling Holloway also has a small scene as Olga's bar buddy who tells her exactly how things are. Allen Jenkins and Jack La Rue play two of Gilmurry's henchman who can be bribed with cream cake!!!!The music is nice too, including hits of the day - "Say It Isn't So", "I Guess I'll Have to Change My Plans", "If I Could Be With You" and "You've Got That Thing".Recommended.

Despite two very winning star players, this picture is all surface: a trite story with no depth of characterization whatsoever, constructed of an unusually large number of very brief scenes which move the plot along but are not sufficiently developed to generate any feeling for the characters. The potential "meat" of the story concerns a presumed crisis of conscience for William Powell as a very capable but too ambitious attorney, along with his relationship with radiant Joan Blondell as the secretary/Girl Friday he takes for granted. Lots of potential here, all of it sacrificed to keep the plot moving.