William Powell's character, Anton Adam, is a noble lawyer, working to help the poor and oppressed. Then, he's an opportunist, doing what's necessary to advance himself, regardless of morality. Then, he's a would be gangster's would be puppet. Then, his nobility, coupled with his need for revenge, compel him to turn on the gangsters. Then, he becomes a gangster's lawyer again. Then he heads back to his world of being a noble attorney for the poor. Not once do we see a traumatizing reason or driving motivation for these character alterations.
In between, Anton presumably jumps on every attractive female that breathes, while his loyal and doting secretary, who is admittedly in love with him, looks on and accepts. It's not openly stated that he has intimate relationships with the women he encounters but it was a pre-code film and all the implications were there.
The head presumed gangster hates Anton. Then he loves him. Then he hates him again. Then he embraces him. Then he looks the other way while Anton moves on.
The girlfriend of another would be gangster seduces Anton so he can help her get a breach of promise settlement. Then she returns to her boyfriend and helps him set up Anton for a huge fall.
I give the film six stars because of some quick, witty dialogue, because it is essentially enjoyable to watch if you don't examine it too closely and because Joan Blondell was never so adorable and loveable. Of course, Joan's character was also rather inconsistent. While she was sharp, funny, smart, tough and right on top of things, she also sat there and watched the man she loved pursue every other woman that walked in his site. I was going to say every beautiful woman but there weren't any unattractive women in this film, even in the background. I guess every woman in New York looked like a model, in 1932. Too bad hardly a man is now alive who can relish in these sweet memories.
Overall, I'd say watch this film if it's there and you have eighty minutes to kill but don't expect much beyond the superficial. And some funny lines. And Joan Blondell at her sweetest.
In between, Anton presumably jumps on every attractive female that breathes, while his loyal and doting secretary, who is admittedly in love with him, looks on and accepts. It's not openly stated that he has intimate relationships with the women he encounters but it was a pre-code film and all the implications were there.
The head presumed gangster hates Anton. Then he loves him. Then he hates him again. Then he embraces him. Then he looks the other way while Anton moves on.
The girlfriend of another would be gangster seduces Anton so he can help her get a breach of promise settlement. Then she returns to her boyfriend and helps him set up Anton for a huge fall.
I give the film six stars because of some quick, witty dialogue, because it is essentially enjoyable to watch if you don't examine it too closely and because Joan Blondell was never so adorable and loveable. Of course, Joan's character was also rather inconsistent. While she was sharp, funny, smart, tough and right on top of things, she also sat there and watched the man she loved pursue every other woman that walked in his site. I was going to say every beautiful woman but there weren't any unattractive women in this film, even in the background. I guess every woman in New York looked like a model, in 1932. Too bad hardly a man is now alive who can relish in these sweet memories.
Overall, I'd say watch this film if it's there and you have eighty minutes to kill but don't expect much beyond the superficial. And some funny lines. And Joan Blondell at her sweetest.