Public Defender
Brief Synopsis
A bank failure could land one of its executives in jail.
Cast & Crew
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J. Walter Ruben
Director
Richard Dix
Pike Winslow
Shirley Grey
Barbara Gerry
Purnell Pratt
John Kirk
Ruth Weston
Rose Harmer
Edmund Breese
Wells
Film Details
Also Known As
The Million Dollar Swindle, The Reckoner
Genre
Drama
Release Date
Aug
1,
1931
Premiere Information
not available
Production Company
RKO Radio Pictures, Inc.
Distribution Company
RKO Radio Pictures, Inc.
Country
United States
Screenplay Information
Based on the novel The Splendid Crime by George Goodchild (London, 1930).
Technical Specs
Duration
1h 10m
Sound
Mono (RCA Photophone System)
Color
Black and White
Theatrical Aspect Ratio
1.37 : 1
Film Length
8 reels
Synopsis
When the Central Realty Trust Company declares insolvency, Eugene Gerry, its treasurer, is falsely accused by his fellow officers--Thomas Drake, John Kirk, Charles Harmer and Cyrus Pringle--of negligence and is turned over to the authorities for indictment. Soon after, Drake is robbed of his business papers by "The Reckoner," a Robin Hood type of thief who always leaves a "scales of justice" calling card with his victims. At a dinner club, Gerry's daughter Barbara confides to Pike Winslow, a longtime family friend who is also friendly with Gerry's betrayers, her father's predicament. While Pike, who enjoys a reputation as a carefree adventurer, consoles Barbara, Harmer finds one of The Reckoner's cards, which reads "See you next week," under his sandwich. At home, Pike, who is revealed to be The Reckoner, confers with his confederates, "Doctor" and "Professor," about how best to vindicate Gerry and help Barbara. To save Barbara and her disapproving Aunt Matilda financially, Pike arranges to buy secretly much of the Gerry estate at an auction. Pike then plots with Doctor and Professor to steal Harmer's business documents. While Pike, Professor and Doctor hide outside Harmer's well-protected house, Kirk meets with Harmer to discuss the murders. Fearing incrimination, Harmer asks Kirk to take the damning papers from his safe, but Kirk refuses and leaves. Pike and his cohorts then overwhelm Harmer's guards and servants, knock out Harmer and steal the papers. Later, Pringle receives one of The Reckoner's calling cards and rushes to confer with Kirk. When an hysterical Pringle announces that he is going to confess to the police, Kirk first threatens him, then reassures him. Pringle is shot and killed, and The Reckoner is accused of the crime. Although he is advised to stay hidden, Pike insists that he needs more evidence and devises a plan to expose Kirk. From his unsuspecting friend, Inspector Malcolm O'Neil, Pike learns that Pringle's calling card had fingerprints on it. Pike then demands to accompany O'Neil and the police to Kirk's house, where they have been instructed to wait for The Reckoner. Just before The Reckoner's scheduled appearance, the lights go out in Kirk's house, and Pike steals the needed documents. When Kirk later deduces Pike's identity and corners him, Pike overwhelms him with a mild explosive and escapes. The police and Kirk follow Pike to Barbara's apartment, and are about to arrest him when he forces Kirk to put his fingerprints on paper that has been coated with lipstick. After turning Kirk's damning prints and documents over to O'Neil, the banker is arrested. Pike, pardoned by O'Neil, then embraces Barbara.
Director
J. Walter Ruben
Director
Cast
Richard Dix
Pike Winslow
Shirley Grey
Barbara Gerry
Purnell Pratt
John Kirk
Ruth Weston
Rose Harmer
Edmund Breese
Wells
Frank Sheridan
Charles Harmer
Alan Roscoe
Inspector Malcolm O'Neil
Boris Karloff
"Professor"
Nella Walker
Aunt Matilda
Paul Hurst
"Doctor"
Carl Gerard
Cyrus Pringle
Robert E. O'connor
Phillip Smalley
William Halligan
Auctioneer
Rochelle Hudson
Operator
Crew
Edward Adams
Assistant Camera
James Anderson
Assistant Director
Willard Barth
Assistant Camera
Charlie Burke
Assistant Camera
Edward Cronjager
Photography
Bob De Grasse
2nd Camera
Fred Hendrickson
Still Photographer
Jack Landrigan
2nd Camera
William Lebaron
Producer
Archie F. Marshek
Film Editor
Russell Metty
2nd Camera
Max Rée
Costumes
Max Rée
Scenery
Louis Sarecky
Associate Producer
Bernard Schubert
Adapted and dial
John E. Tribby
Recording
Harold Wellman
Assistant Camera
Film Details
Also Known As
The Million Dollar Swindle, The Reckoner
Genre
Drama
Release Date
Aug
1,
1931
Premiere Information
not available
Production Company
RKO Radio Pictures, Inc.
Distribution Company
RKO Radio Pictures, Inc.
Country
United States
Screenplay Information
Based on the novel The Splendid Crime by George Goodchild (London, 1930).
Technical Specs
Duration
1h 10m
Sound
Mono (RCA Photophone System)
Color
Black and White
Theatrical Aspect Ratio
1.37 : 1
Film Length
8 reels
Articles
The Public Defender
A bank failure could land one of its executives in jail.
The Public Defender
A bank failure could land one of its executives in jail.
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
The working titles of this film were The Million Dollar Swindle and The Reckoner. Hollywood Reporter reviewed the picture as The Million Dollar Swindle. RKO borrowed Shirley Grey from Samuel Goldwyn's company for this production. According to a May 3, 1931 Film Daily news item, at the time that the production was to go into rehearsal, Henry Hobart was "supervising" the project. Hobart is not credited on screen, however. Carl Gerard replaced Wilbur Mack in the role of "Cyrus Pringle," according to a Film Daily news item. Another Film Daily news item adds Roberta Gale to the cast, but her participation in the final film has not been confirmed.
