Penthouse

Quite decent crime mystery starring Warner Baxter as Jack Durant, a society lawyer who gets dumped by his law firm as well as his snooty girlfriend who doesn't want to marry a "gangster lawyer" (as she calls him) because he likes to defend criminal types such as gangsters, racketeers, bootleggers, and the like (doesn't fit in with her tennis, yacht dances, and lawn party lifestyle, I guess). Anyway, this gal immediately becomes engaged to a young "Park Avenue" man who soon gets arrested for murder - and Durant sets out to prove this young man was framed, along with the help of a gangster pal named Tony and Durant's newest female interest, a woman (played by Myrna Loy) who was best friends with the "night club hostess" who was murdered.

This is an entertaining film with engaging story that held my interest. The story is somewhat predictable, but very interesting to watch with well done performances by all. I enjoyed Myrna Loy in this (though she is resigned to wearing the same big-front-bowed evening gown just about the entire film). Warner Baxter is handsome and smooth here - there is some amusing bedroom talk between him and Loy where she seems to want to spend the night with him, he wants to hold back and play the "gentleman". Nat Pendleton is fun here as Tony, the gangster with a good sense of humor. Quite good.

There is lots of entertainment value in this picture - quality acting, sharp dialog, quick pace - but those who are looking for a story based in realistic circumstances may be disappointed. Despite there being a goodly number of unsavory types among the characters, just about everyone comes across as clean-cut, friendly, ready with a smile, and not the least bit threatening. This takes the sharp edge off a picture with lots of promise in its early development. Nat Pendleton plays a crime boss as if he hasn't a care in the world, more than ready to use his resources to make others happy. The Myrna Loy character is appealing (much as her Nora Charles was), but defies explication: charming, intelligent, well-mannered and well-spoken, but content to serve the paying customers as a hostess/bar girl/prostitute. It just doesn't add up. Mae Clark, as a less refined colleague, is much more believable.

[Don't fail to notice the latter, in a fit of anger, ready to throw a perfume bottle against the wall, then noticing the label and substituting a lesser brand; or Loy, keeping her composure as Warner Baxter chooses not to remain in her assigned room for the night, then immediately surveying her looks - right profile, left profile, hair, makeup - in a mirror, wondering if something has been lost.]

The picture needs more grit, given its subject matter. Comic relief from Charles Butterworth and Tom Kennedy are just what it doesn't need.

Chic, stylish gangster romantic fun - MGM style. As you'd expect from this writing-directing team, you get likeable heroes, villainous villains, damsels in distress, femme fatales - in fact every familiar stereotype you could possibly want all expertly blended together then hurled at your face like a grapefruit.

For an early thirties picture, the cast is unusually large with an unusually multi-layered story. Despite this, because of its skilful and focused writing, the story is told with beautiful simplicity. As a murder mystery, it's perhaps a little too simple - the police division investigating here must have been the special needs department.... but that doesn't really matter. What matters are the relationships, the witty banter, the genuine tension, the fast moving action..... and which girl will Warner Baxter end up with?

This was Woody Van Dyke's next project after the fabulous NIGHT COURT (a really fabulous film) so it had a lot to live up to but there was no need to worry. Virtually everything he made from now on such as THE THIN MAN was pure gold. In this he benefits from having a great lead - Clark Gable's dad or maybe older brother - Warner Baxter. The characters are the ultimate cliches but so what - that just gives it a comfy warm sense of familiarity. Myrna Loy plays the archetypal tart-with-a-heart and although I've always found her strangely sinister like one of Satan's demons in drag, I have to admit that she's actually not too bad in this. Warner Baxter however just oozes charm and sincerity - it's definitely his picture...... along with Nat Pendleton who plays the loveable not as bad as the nasty gangster, gangster.

It's formulaic of course but it still has its own individual style and isn't a cheap imitation of a Warner Brothers gangster film. It's pure, classy MGM entertainment.

"Penthouse" is a first-rate example of "they don't make 'em like that anymore." The tale of a society lawyer turned criminal defense attorney -- out to prove the innocence of the accused murderer who waltzed off with his fiancée -- zips along. The dialog of the fabled Hackett-Goodrich team is sassy and clever. The relationship between lawyer Warner Baxter and Nat Pendleton as the racketeer who's his guardian angel perks up the plot. But it's Myrna Loy as the call girl who joins forces with Baxter to nail the real killer who shines. There are certain people the camera finds irresistible. And here, as the most lovable fallen woman of the pre-code era, Loy demonstrates the impish allure that would light up the screen for years to come.

Had no idea just what this 1933 film was all about and if I would even be interested and was greatly surprised at how great it really was way back when. Warner Baxter,(Jack Durant) played the role of a crooked Lawyer who was being brought up on criminal charges. Myrna Loy,(Gertie Waxted) plays the role of a hostess, prostitute and all around well experienced girl who has been around the block many many times. Mae Clarke,(Mimi Montagne) gave an outstanding performance in this story that has many interesting twists and turns that will keep you guessing just how this picture will end. Myrna Loy did an outstanding performance and made this a very different kind of film which is not very well known.