Night Court

Night Court was a slight, but interesting, entry in the pre-code genre of social commentary or expose´ films of the early 1930s…I would say the same group that included the seminal `Public Enemy'. What made this film a joy to watch was not the revelatory peek of criminal machinations pervading the lower levels of the NYC justice system, but the relationship between the cabbie and his wife, unfettered by Production Code standards in effect just a few years later. The scenes of Mike and Mary and their baby in the one bedroom flat they shared were charming, and Anita Page evoked a warmth and naturalism uncommon in those days when the talkie was only 3 years old. No wonder she's still working 70 years later! Walter Huston was downright despicable, and his speeches to his night court denizens about maintaining law and order were rather chilling considering the depth of his criminal manipulations of the justice system. And the setting up of Mary Thomas as a prostitute to discredit her was an eye-opener and quite frank. The film moved along at a good clip, facilitated in no small measure I'm sure by the breezy direction of `One-Take' Woody Van Dyke who had a reputation for bringing a film ahead of schedule and under budget. Perhaps it is for this reason that scenes play out naturalistically, with the actors given what appears to be some latitude with the dialogue and action in order to move things along. Some occasional hammy acting doesn't really detract from the pre-code forthrightness of the picture.

Odd what one sees in these old crime dramas. This one is pretty good, with star Walter Huston in particularly villianous form as a corrupt judge and the long- forgotten Phillips Holmes as the cab driver who brings the hammer of justice down on the jurist. But what sticks in my mind now is the harrowing situation of an innocent young family torn apart by the judge's efforts to elude a special prosecutor, resulting in mom Anita Page framed for prostitution and their baby wailing in an orphanage. Still watchable. We should all look this good at seventy-plus.

You will watch this with increasing horror as the lives of a poor, lovely couple is destroyed by the selfish actions of Walter Huston's corrupt judge. You can literally feel the ground being pulled away from beneath their feet as their world is inexplicably obliterated - they have no idea what is happening to them. You can't believe this is happening - it's terrible and it feels so real.

Walter Huston's character is one of the most despicable people you will ever have seen. He's not evil; he doesn't kill people, he doesn't even carry a gun. Neither is he a vampire or even a psychopath but he is more terrifying than any gangster or Universal monster or even the Devil from THE EXORCIST. He is terrifying because he is just so normal. He's nothing more than a selfish ordinary man who just happens to be in a position of power and is able to ruin people's lives. Why this film is so shocking and scary is because you can believe that what happens to these poor unfortunates who's lives he casually ruins, could happen to you. It's not an easy watch but you cannot look away.

Phillips Holmes who plays one of the simple, naïve victims was never the greatest actor and in this he certainly doesn't disprove that poor reputation. Similarly, Anita Page never really made it to the top rank of actresses and although she's OK in this, it is hardly an Oscar winning performance. It's possibly those unpolished performances however which adds to the realism which is so perfectly conveyed.

This film is so natural, believable and realistic but on paper it shouldn't be. If you think about it, the story has so many Grand Canyon sized holes in it that it should have no credibility whatsoever. You are however so completely pulled in to this shocking story and so completely engrossed when you're watching this, it's the most realistic thing you'll ever see! Walter Huston as usual delivers a totally mesmerising performance but what makes this picture so absolutely riveting besides the story is the energetic direction. Action man, Woody Van Dyke brilliantly builds the energy so that each scene seems to have twice as much tension and emotion as the previous one. Despite his reputation for speed, he certainly doesn't rush this and there is plenty of time for reflection to get to know the characters. It's a remarkably good film.

"Night Court" is a delightful programmer released by MGM and featuring Phillips Holmes, who apparently was somewhat popular during the early talkies Era, mainly as a Paramount contract player. This was the first time I saw him on screen in a full-fledged-starring role (not counting his brief appearance in the all-star "Dinner at Eight", which I almost did not notice) and I must say I was favorably impressed by his performance and screen personae. I had read tidbits about his personal life and his films, and had another idea about him; he's nothing of what I expected. In my opinion, at least in this film, he has a strong screen presence, good acting ability, even when performing in scenes with seasoned pros such as Walter Huston (one of the finest actors of the American Cinema). He really makes his character likable and believable.

Holmes impersonates a cab driver who is extremely happily married to Anita Page's character, who plays very well a naive housewife, completely in love with her husband and utterly devoted to their only child (a cute little baby), who's unaware of her unexpected & tangent involvement with a corrupt judge's (played perfectly by the great Walter Huston) shenanigans & shady doings, who uses his unscrupulous lover (Noel Francis) for his evil purposes.

I wonder why Mary Carlisle (playing Lewis Stone's (a good Judge who's investigating Huston's corrupt Court) daughter) was billed fourth or fifth in the cast and Noel Francis the last, if the latter has much more time on screen and a meatier role.

John Miljan plays a villainous lawyer, skillfully as usual.

An interesting, seldom seen and highly entertaining Pre-Code (Check the Huston's Court hearings).

I quite don't understand why Maltin gives this film only two stars in his Guide; it at least deserves three and a half!

Made 73 years ago, "Night Court" is a very good, gritty precode about corruption in high places. In this case, it's a judge, played by Walter Huston.

When a young woman, Mary (Anita Page) finds a bankbook left behind by a neighbor, she returns it, and finds herself sentenced to the work house for six months. The money belongs to Judge Moffett (Huston), who, to keep his activities quiet, hangs out in his girlfriend's apartment. The Judge believes that Mary looked at the bankbook and knows where he keeps his money. He sets her up and has her arrested as a prostitute. Her baby is put into care, leaving her poor cab-driver husband (Phillips Holmes) with nothing, and thanks to Moffett's girlfriend, he's even doubting his wife's innocence.

However, he knows in his heart that Mary isn't capable of such a thing and sets out to clear her.

The original was written by Mark Hellinger, a reporter, and producer of "Naked City" in 1948. The story is loosely based on a real-life character.

Though some of the acting is melodramatic, as this was the style of the day, it's still compelling. Walter Huston is terrific, mean as dirt, and Holmes and Page are very sympathetic. Anita Page, about 22 here, worked until she died in 2008! Philips Holmes died in 1942 in a plane crash. For some reason, he reminds me of Tony Goldwyn.

Three other cast members of note: Mary Carlisle (who as of this writing is still alive) as an honest judge's daughter, Lewis Stone as the honest judge, and Jean Hersholt as the building janitor.

Very good and absorbing, though it's stylistically of the time.