Mr. District Attorney

Dennis O'Keefe is "Bennett" and aspiring lawyer who joins the team of District Attorney "Warren" (Adolphe Menjou). Initially he is prepared to put in the graft, and his boss is impressed - but when he begins to fall for the enigmatic "Marcia" (Marguerite Chapman) his focus starts to wander and he and his boss part company. Now on the other side of the fence, "Bennett" finds himself working for "Randolph" (George Coulouris) and embroiled in a complex property scam that could involve his new love. It's not a bad effort at a crime noir, this, but there is far too much dialogue and little on-screen chemistry between O'Keefe and his not-so-smouldering femme-fatale Chapman. It is probably about fifteen minutes too long, with a little too much preamble that could have been reinvested in the grittier end of the proceedings that are all rather conveniently - and hastily - pulled together. It's pretty procedural and I can't think you'll remember watching it afterwards, but it passes the time ok.

Dennis O'Keefe can't stomach defending men he knows to be guilty, so he joins D. A. Adolphe Menjou's office. His boss is pleased with his work until he loses a case. Menjou thinks his mind isn't on his business, so he investigates and discovers O'Keefe is in live with Marguerite Chapman. She was tried for murder in Kansas City, but beat the rap. Menjou thinks she did it, and sends O'Keefe to Italy to get a witness. While he's gone, Miss Chapman marries her boss and the local mob's, George Coulouris. O'Keefe returns, finds out what happened, and quits.

It all runs back to Phillips Lord's radio series of the same name, and with an involved and noirish plot, this runs along pretty well. A good part of that can be attributed to the cast, which includes Michael O'Shea, Jeff Donnell, Steve Geray, and Ralph Morgan. Although as a mystery it's no great shakes, the fast pace keeps things interesting.

This film version of the popular radio and later television series stars Adolph Menjou in the title role as the incorruptible District Attorney of an unnamed city. Menjou's famous waxed mustache proved handy in the role as it suggested that other mustached DA who ran for president, Thomas E. Dewey.

The plot finds Menjou hiring Dennis O'Keefe after he overhears him quitting a case where he found the evidence bogus. That kind of integrity impresses Menjou and he puts him to work.

But O'Keefe has a weakness and it's for Marguerite Chapman one cold hearted minx if there ever was one. She skirted on a murder accomplice charge already and she's in the pay of construction tycoon George Coulouris. When O'Keefe begins investigating Coulouris, she's right there to tip him to every move.

Menjou busts them up, but O'Keefe takes it the wrong way and goes over to the dark side. It's only then we see just how evil Chapman is and she's one of the most evil women ever seen on the big screen this side of Jane Greer in Out Of The Past.

Michael O'Shea as Menjou's investigator and Jeff Donnell as the DA's secretary/receptionist also contribute some noteworthy characterizations as does Steven Geray who was a regular in these Columbia noir type films.

The image of Menjou as Dewey is reinforced in the film by the fact that he tells O'Keefe to be ready to work long and desultory hours in obtaining convictions. That is exactly what Dewey did to his staff, he drove himself just as hard. Curiously enough though the DA's name on the radio series is unmentioned, here his last name is Warren and another guy who was at one time the District Attorney of Alameda County which is Oakland in California was Governor of California when Mr. District Attorney came out. He would run with Dewey for Vice President in 1948 and later became one of our greatest Chief Justices, meaning of course Earl Warren.

Though Menjou and O'Keefe are fine, this film belongs to Marguerite Chapman in what was her career role in her screen career. Not much in the way of production, but a solid plot and characterization make Mr. District Attorney a good noir feature.

Marguerite Chapman is a dream of beauty here, she is loved by too many, Dennis O'Keefe is one of them, employed by Adolphe Menjou as the District Attorney, who drives him hard, but this whole intricate business would have been a total bore, in spite of constant crossfire conversation with bullets flying around everywhere, if Michael O'Shea wasn't there to humour it up. But for him the show would have been as dreary as Anna Karenina. Because of his sugar and spice the cocktail becomes tasty, and at least you won't fall asleep. There is a mystery as well, there are too many murders crowding in upon each other, some of them anonymous, but the final murder attempt closes the case with a vengeance, as there are no more crooks left to murder.

When the story begins, DA Craig Warren (Adolph Menjou) approaches a young lawyer he just observed in court. Warren is impressed with Steve Bennett (Dennis O'Keefe) and offers him a job. For a while, Bennet is a very valuable asset to his boss...so valuable that Warren does something truly awful. When he learns that Bennett is dating Marcia Whiting (Marguerite Chapman), however, he takes it upon himself to talk to Marcia....to tell her to break off her relationship with him! Why? Because she has a past and Warren is worried it will harm Bennett's chances of one day becoming the District Attorney. She agrees and, not surprisingly, when Bennett finds out about this he is furious. But by now the damage has been done...and she's married some mobster. Bennett, naturally, quits his job.

Soon Bennett is offered a chance to defend his ex-girlfriend...and when he does it, the mob thinks they have a lawyer who will do their bidding...and they're right. Is there any hope for Bennett? And what's next?

The first half of the film is excellent...and hooked me. The second half, while not terrible, is REALLY tough to believe. Neat...but tough to believe. Overall, a very good time-passer.