Lawyer Man

This film moves too fast for introspective angst or art design to be an issue, so if you want that go watch an MGM or Paramount film of the period. Instead the film focuses on rapid fire dialog and keeping the plot moving. What makes this one a cut above most films of the early 30's are the players, in particular the dapper and charming William Powell as East Side lawyer Tony Adam and brassy Joan Blondell as Olga, his secretary who wants things to be more than they are between herself and Tony. Sparks do fly from time to time, and when they do it just doesn't quite work on the romantic level - rather like picturing James Cagney and Myrna Loy as romantic leads in a film.

When the film opens Tony is a lawyer with a hole in the wall office on the East Side of New York City. He's defending neighborhood hoods and ripped off struggling businessmen, but he wants more - he wants to be a big shot. He gets what he wants and then some and the film shows his trek through the ups and downs of an uptown practice, his run-ins with the corrupt political boss of the city that can't decide if he wants to hire Tony or rub him out, and the high society ladies who use him and lose him along the way.

The final speech by Tony as he makes a crucial career decision will have you going huh?? where did that come from?? as there has been no indication that Tony is learning anything from any of this up to the last two minutes. Still it's enjoyable to see darts flying from Joan Blondell's eyes and William Powell unruffled in the the face of bullets, ballots, or blackmail. I'd recommend this one to anyone who enjoys the precodes, and in particular the fast moving WB precodes.

Just an average pre-Code film, this one about corruption in New York politics and the legal system, but elevated because of William Powell (the streetwise lawyer who isn't afraid to take on the system) and Joan Blondell (his plucky secretary who isn't afraid to chastise him for his various indiscretions). Part of the amusement is Powell's wandering eyes; he ogles women walking by, unwittingly leers at Blondell's legs while she's getting her shoes shined, and even seems to admire the backside of a small statue of Lady Justice after turning her around on his desk. While admiring the svelte form of a beautiful actress sitting in front of him with her plunging neckline (Claire Dodd), he slowly tilts his cigar upwards in his mouth in a mock erection, which for 1932 cracked me up. Blondell is adorable, showing her frustration and devotion to Powell and tossing out lines like "I smelled trouble the minute that long blonde started throwing those bedroom eyes on you," but she isn't given enough to do. The setup to the film was decent enough, but it meanders around while trying to pit Powell against the corrupt local boss (David Landau), a character who isn't strong enough considering his position. There isn't enough edge in the plot relative to the depiction of corruption, and not enough clarity to make it a strong drama or romance. It's mildly entertaining though, and of special interest because it was the only time Powell and Blondell worked together, two actors I'm fond of.

A Pre-Code movie that would be G-rated by today's standards, "Lawyer Man" is entertaining and good fun but should be billed as a drama/comedy, if you can imagine such. It moves very quickly as its star, William Powell, goes from honest, hard-working lawyer to shyster and back in 72 easy minutes. The problem is that, apart from Powell, all the other characters are two-dimensional, and are seemingly there for Powell to bounce lines off. David Landau, especially, was criminally wasted (no pun intended) as the 'big boss' and king-maker. Despite his role, he was likable while enduring endless insults from Powell. Most men in his position probably would have had Powell 'rubbed out' early on.

That said, there is a lot to like in this picture. First off, there is Powell himself, elegant and dapper while miscast as a lower East Side lawyer representing lower class shlubs. There is also Joan Blondell, in her customary role as the torch-bearing secretary overlooked by Powell. There is Alan Dinehart, an excellent 30's character actor with a part that was too small for his talent. Despite the seriousness of the plot, much of it is played for laughs. In one amusing scene, two hit men turn soft in a goofy confrontation with Powell. Throw in some laughs via Blondell wise cracks, and you have a basically good-natured movie which I would rate a seven.

P.S. Do you like old standards? This picture has some of the best you can hear nowadays on the soundtrack, played in the background by a 30's band.

William Powell plays an ambitious bush league lawyer who goes to work for a high-class law firm, taking along his trusted secretary Joan Blondell. It isn't long before Powell's clashing with a corrupt political boss and getting involved with the wrong women. When things come crashing down for him, Powell vows to become successful no matter what tactics he has to use.

Enjoyable Pre-Coder from Warner Bros with nice work from Powell and the always dynamite Joan Blondell. She's great here, throwing in one snappy rejoinder after another. Kinda hard to believe anybody would look twice at another woman if they had sexy young Blondell as an option, but perhaps that's more my personal taste. The supporting cast is nice. The script is fun, though nothing groundbreaking. It's all pretty simple and familiar stuff but well-done and entertaining.

Lawyer Man casts William Powell as an attorney with a storefront practice on the Lower East Side of New York where he makes a living of sorts defending indigent or close to indigent clients for meager fees. But he's got talent and white shoe lawyer Alan Dinehart invites him into his firm even though Powell has gotten on the wrong side of political boss David Landau. Helen Vinson who is Dinehart's sister also takes a shine to Powell.

But Powell also has actress Claire Dodd doing a number as well on him with a phony breach of promise suit that lands Powell in one big jackpot. Only faithful secretary Joan Blondell stands by him.

This to me was obviously a film that was meant for James Cagney and Cagney probably turned it down. Powell was a guy who did belong on the Upper East Side with the white shoe firm, Cagney would have been perfect casting as the fish out of water.

Joan Blondell is always good and there's a nice performance by Allen Jenkins as a hood who Powell defends and who later comes through for him in an hour of need.

Despite miscasting Lawyer Man is still a decent film though it will never be on the top ten list of films of William Powell.