La loi ordonne

John Barrymore's character, Tom Cardigan, bounces from bad to good, bad to good throughout "State's Attorney." The RKO story is good, but the film has remnants of production qualities from the silent era. All of the cast are OK, but none much better than that. Barrymore's Cardigan mirrors his own life of heavy drinking. He had been a heavy drinker since his teen years, and by age 50 for this film, he was an alcoholic.

Still able to perform, he would go on to make many more films before dying 10 years later of cirrhosis of the liver and pneumonia. Only a few of those would be top performances.

The life of a real lawyer, William J. Fallon, may have been the inspiration for this story. Fallon was known as the "Great Mouthpice."He was a prominent criminal lawyer who defended many homicide cases that resulted in no convictions. He befriended organized crime boss Arnold Rothstein who was implicated in the Black Sox Scandal. Fallon's lifestyle involved heavy drinking. He was just 41 years old when he died – probably from alcohol and other effects.

The reissue title seems deliberately prophetic, as hot-shot lawyer Barrymore's perpetual drunkenness is obvious throughout this late star vehicle for Barrymore, who throughout usually has his left profile to the camera while his perpetually moving eyes and eyebrows reveal that he's not taking his outrageous antics in Court entirely seriously.

As usual the law is portrayed cynically, and along with the opulent bachelor pad he shares with Helen Twelvetress heightens the pre-Code amorality of the piece.

Some HUGE film stars from the early (precode) days of talkies. It seems the first couple of films by helen twelvetwees were lost or destroyed. The older john barrymore gets top billing, as he had been around since the early days of the silent films. Some familiar faces in the supporting cast; ralph ince and his brother would both make it big as directors. Leon ames and oscar apfel were in so many films in the 1930s and 1940s. Cardigan is an attorney, who lets himself be manipulatd for money and power. But what happens when his own, close friends get involved in crimes? The trivia section tells us about the actual court case on which this is based. What will happen to his career and his friends? Directed by george archainbaud for rko radio pictures. Had worked at all the major studios. Story by louis stevens. Twelvetrees died young at 49 by overdose. More information on ruth snyder's court case in wikipedia dot org. It's quite good! And a good chance to see john barrymore at his hollywood prime. Also see dinner at eight, even better!

Made when the Studios were Mostly, well, Studio Bound and Early Talkies were, well, a lot of Talk, this one had the Pleasure of an Actor who could Really Talk. John Barrymore had been doing it ever since Pictures Moved.

Coupled with a Heavy Stage Experience, He became one of the most Respected Actors of His Era. Although Surprisingly never Nominated for an Academy Award (He famously said they were afraid I would show up drunk and embarrass them and myself).

This Film also had the Advantage of a Pre-Code Freedom to Exercise some later to be Forbidden Behavior like Premarital Sex, and other Innuendos. But it is Barrymore's Charisma and Naturalism that Endears this Courtroom and Political Drama, also Helped by a Strong Supporting Cast.

It is Less Ham than usual for 'The Profile" and the Movie has a lot of Long Dialog Scenes that are Fascinating to Watch. This makes for a somewhat Stilted but Compelling Drama that is an Actor's Showcase and Barrymore Effortlessly Delivers.

... from RKO and director George Archainbaud in which John Barrymore stars as high-powered attorney Tom Cardigan. When he grows weary of defending hoods like his chief client Valentine Powers (William "Stage" Boyd), he accepts an offer to become a state prosecutor.

Barrymore's drinking problems off-screen seem to be bleeding on-screen, as his character spends at least half the film somewhat soused. He's still very good, though, and very sharp in the climactic courtroom scenes. Jill Esmond, best known today for being Laurence Olivier's first wife, doesn't impress much as a flighty lover. Helen Twelvetrees comes across much better as a former streetwalker getting her life straight thanks to Barrymore. I'm not usually too fond of Boyd, but he's better here, or at least his inherent unlikeability comes in handy playing a heel.