The Law in Her Hands
Brief Synopsis
A lady lawyer for the mob tries to break free of her criminal connections.
Cast & Crew
Read More
William Clemens
Director
Margaret Lindsay
Mary Wentworth
Glenda Farrell
Dorothy Davis
Warren Hull
Robert Mitchell
Lyle Talbot
Frank Gordon
Eddie Acuff
Eddie O'Malley
Film Details
Also Known As
Lawyer Woman
Genre
Crime
Comedy
Drama
Romance
Release Date
May
16,
1936
Premiere Information
not available
Production Company
Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc.
Distribution Company
Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc.
Country
United States
Technical Specs
Duration
58m
Film Length
6 reels
Synopsis
Mary Wentworth and Dorothy Davis, who work as waitresses in New York, pass the bar exam and become lawyers. Their employer, Franz, hires a photographer to take a picture of the two women. By accident, he also photographs gangster Angie Simelli, who is standing in the background, just before he throws a smoke bomb in the restaurant in an effort to make Franz join the protective society run by racketeer Frank Gordon. Franz has Simelli arrested, and the case is prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Robert Mitchell. Gordon finds a number of people to swear that Simelli was not at the restaurant, but Mary and Dot thwart this defense by presenting Mitchell with the photograph taken in the restaurant. Oddly, Gordon is impressed by Mary and offers her a job as his lawyer. She turns him down flat even though she could use the money. She has also impressed Robert who, believing that the law is no profession for a woman, asks her to quit and marry him. She wants to give the law a chance, however, and asks for a year to make a go of her work. Mary loses her first case in court when an unscrupulous lawyer plants a bottle of liquor in a coat she has entered into evidence. Hoping to discourage Mary, Robert suggests that she represent a man who has already signed a confession. Mary decides to use the same kind of trick that defeated her before and beats Robert in court. She then takes on Gordon as a client and acquires a big reputation. When Mary learns that Gordon was responsible for the deaths of seven people, however, she is revolted and refuses to take his case. He forces her into defending him, and in court, she uses a trick to get herself disbarred. No longer his lawyer, Mary accuses Gordon of the murder, allowing Robert to win his case and convict him. She then gives up the law to marry Robert.
Director
William Clemens
Director
Cast
Margaret Lindsay
Mary Wentworth
Glenda Farrell
Dorothy Davis
Warren Hull
Robert Mitchell
Lyle Talbot
Frank Gordon
Eddie Acuff
Eddie O'Malley
Dick Purcell
Marty
Al Shean
Franz
Addison Richards
William McGuire
Joseph Crehan
Thomas Mallon
Matty Fain
Angie Simelli
Milt Kibbee
Herman Sturm
Eddie Shubert
Harry Morton
Mabel Colcord
Fishcake Fanny
Billy Wayne
Mug
Crew
Film Details
Also Known As
Lawyer Woman
Genre
Crime
Comedy
Drama
Romance
Release Date
May
16,
1936
Premiere Information
not available
Production Company
Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc.
Distribution Company
Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc.
Country
United States
Technical Specs
Duration
58m
Film Length
6 reels
Articles
The Law in Her Hands
A lady lawyer for the mob tries to break free of her criminal connections.
The Law in Her Hands
A lady lawyer for the mob tries to break free of her criminal connections.
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
The film's working title was Lawyer Woman. A news item in Film Daily notes that Matty Fain replaced George E. Stone in the role of Angie Simelli when Stone was stricken with pneumonia.
