Hat, Coat, and Glove

Hat, Coat and Glove (1934)

** (out of 4)

Mildly entertaining drama about lawyer Robert Mitchell (Ricardo Cortez) who is trying to get back with his ex-wife (Barbara Robbins) but she's seeing a man named Jerry Hutchins (John Beal). One night Robert goes over to Jerry's house to confront him but Jerry's ex is there trying to kill herself. Robert accidentally kills her, while she's trying to kill herself that is, and then Jerry is charged with the crime. Robert agrees to defend him when his ex-wife asks him to. Did you get all of that? I watch every single crime picture that turns up on Turner Classic Movies but I honestly can't remember one with such a dumb story. I mean, there are so many things that happen here that are just downright crazy and it really seems like this story was written by someone who lost a bet and had to turn something crazy in only then someone gave it the green light. The entire court sequence just contains so many dumb moments that you can't help but be slightly entertained by them. The entire structure of events that have to happen in order for this crime to take place is just so silly that you can never believe it. Still, the performances are somewhat interesting especially seeing Cortez playing a role like this. This type of character isn't something we often saw from the actor so his fans might be interested in this. Beal and Robbins are both good in their parts as is Paul Harvey and Margaret Hamilton. Just wait to you see Hamilton's turn in the witness chair. HAT, COAT AND GLOVE isn't a very good movie and it would be wise for most to just avoid it unless you're the type, like myself, who tries to watch all of these movies when they show up.

This is an interesting film, somewhat of a departure for Ricardo Cortez from the dapper ladies man he generally portrayed in films of this period. He is a dreamer, a man who has been in love, is divorced, but is still in love with his wife. He also has to endure the reality of his 'ex' and a younger man who are now doing 'light housekeeping'. The script's OK, not great, but economical and to the point. Cortez is a lawyer who must defend his ex-wife's present lover on a murder rap, and does so against his better wishes. But he knows a lot more about the murder charge than he lets on. This flick came on late at night in the city, and the station cut the tail end of the flick so I couldn't comment on the end...because I ain't seen it. They gave the film short shrift, which is a drag. However, knowing the Hayes code of the period, I am almost certain that I could write the ending without having seen it, and it wouldn't be too terribly far removed from the ending that I did not see, thanks to the neglect of the local TV station. Be that as it may, the part I saw was slightly above average for 'B' film fare of the period.

This film is extremely weak in all categories, particularly acting and screenplay. As a courtroom drama, it is downright pitiful. An attorney is involved in a murder; it was an accidental shooting but the attorney could well have been a suspect. He agrees to represent the defendant in the case without disclosing his own involvement. Moreover, the defendant has to agree to forego his alibi because he was with the lawyer's wife (from whom the lawyer was then separated) at the time of the killing. The trial itself is absurd with such nonsense as the prosecutor calling the defendant as a witness and expert witnesses popping up in the courtroom and volunteering to testify. Although there is a glove scene which is amusingly like the O.J. Simpson case (in this case, the glove fits both the defendant and the defendant's lawyer), there is nothing else amusing or worthwhile about this film. Originally a B movie, it rates a D minus.

Ricardo Cortez had been around for YEARS in the silent films... here he co-stars with Barbara Robbins, as husband and wife, Robert and Dorothea. When HE finds out that SHE's seeing other men ( we ARE still pre-code, so its ok to show this for another year or so...), then the poop hits the fan! Cortez is very happy, relaxed, ethereal. almost ghostly throughout. doesn't seem that upset over anything that happens. the wife is seeing the younger Jerry (John Beal), who is also seeing another girl of his own. keep an eye out for Margaret Hamilton in the courtroom, WAAAYYY before Wizard of OZ! the story moves pretty slowly. Cortez had been a pretty big name in the late 1920s and the 1930s, but he has a pretty cardboard performance in this one. very average for the time. When someone turns up dead, attorney Robert must figure out exactly what's going on. Directed by Worth Miner, one of the first things he had directed. and he only directed nine films. It's entertaining... very typical courtroom case from the 1930s. Very soon, the film code would come rushing in, and everything would be hot cocoa and marshmallows. Hamilton is the most exciting part of this one. ends on a strange note.. a bit anti-climactic.

Hat, Coat, And Glove finds criminal lawyer Ricardo Cortez and artist John Beal having a lot in common including the women they see. Which includes the very unstable Dorothy Burgess who commits suicide while in Cortez's company.

But it's Beal that is arrested for her murder and put on trial. Barbara Robbins exacts a promise from Cortez to not get her involved and he agrees to defend Beal.

Every actor loves a courtroom film and this one gives Cortez a chance to shine. He gives a smooth polished performance as a smooth polished lawyer. In fact as per the title wardrobe plays a great part in the outcome of the trial.

Margaret Hamilton who is a milliner and just happens to be in court when an expert on lady's hats is needed gives a really great performance when Cortez questions here. She really stands out in this film.

One of Ricardo Cortez's best talkie films without a doubt.