Lawlessness (film)

In Los Angeles, for the murder of a young woman, police arrest a certain Edward Clary ( DeForest Kelly ), who insists on his innocence. Highly respected district attorney Victor Scott ( Edward G. Robinson ) charges charges against Clary on the basis of evidence gathered by Chief Investigator Ray Borden ( Hugh Marlow ) and his assistant, Ellen Miles ( Nina Foch ), the daughter of the deceased mentor Victor. In court, impressed by Victor's passionate speech, the jury, carefully selected by him, convicts Clary of conviction, and he is sentenced to death. After winning this high-profile case, Victor’s reputation rises to such heights that he thinks about putting forward his candidacy in gubernatorial elections. At this point, the experienced criminal is detained, who, before his death, makes a written confession to the murder charged by Clary. Upon learning of this, Victor rushes to the phone to stop the execution of Clary, but dials to prison too late, and an innocent person dies. Tormented by conscience due to the death of Clary, Victor resigns, stating that “it is better to leave 100 criminals free, than to kill an innocent man,” and begins to drink heavily. Ellen sincerely loves Victor, who after her father's death helped her get an education and took me to work. She is trying to comfort Victor and bring him back to normal life, but Victor advises her to marry Ray, who has repeatedly made an offer to Ellen. Ralph Ford ( Edward Platt ) becomes new district attorney after Victor, and Ellen and Ray begin to work under the guidance of a new chief.

Meanwhile, Victor opens a private law practice, but his former colleagues, seeing how he sank recently, do not want to send clients to him. Once, after the appearance of a newspaper article about the sudden death of Clary's mother, a drunken Victor staged a fight in an eatery with one of the regulars, as a result of which he was arrested for assault. Waiting for his case to be considered in the courtroom, Victor oversees the hearings in the case of a certain Carter ( Jay Edler ), who killed a man, striking him in a lead pipe fight. Miniature Carter claims that he acted out of self-defense, trying to stop a drunken boxer who had beaten him. Then the judge, who knows and treats Victor well, quickly listens to him and sentences him to the minimum penalty, imposing a $ 50 fine. Stepping out into the corridor, Victor hears Carter accusing Taylor ( Henry Kalki ), who was the main witness in his case, for losing consciousness in a fight before his death blow, and therefore could not see Carter hit a boxer. After seeing his chance in this matter, Victor undertakes to defend Carter. At trial, a strong, healthy Taylor testifies that he was conscious throughout the fight and categorically asserted that no one could strike so that he lost consciousness. The moment Taylor leaves the witness chair, Victor unexpectedly hits him in the jaw, sending him a deep knockout . After that, the charge based on Taylor’s testimony falls apart, and Victor wins the case. Leaving the hall, Victor shows Ellen that in his fist he had a handful of coins, which he used during the strike as brass knuckles . Seeing that Victor regained confidence and he no longer needed it, Ellen suddenly announced that she had decided to marry Ray. Learning of this, Victor H.'s loyal secretary, Miss Hinkel ( Ellen Corby ), reproaches him for not having married Ellen at the time.

Victor opens the office again, but due to the lack of clients, he cannot make ends meet. Suddenly, he has a client named Parker ( James McCallion ), who reports that, being a cashier, he stole $ 90,000 from his employer E. A. Smith ( Howard St. John ), some of which he spent on horses and women. Fearing retaliation by the employer, Parker asks Victor to settle the matter, giving him the remaining 60 thousand dollars. Victor invites Smith to himself, offering an alternative - to sue Parker for theft and remain without stolen money, or to drop all charges against Parker in exchange for 50 thousand of the stolen money. Smith agrees to take the money and signs the appropriate paper, after which both Smith and Parker learn that Victor has kept 10 thousand dollars as a fee. Angry Smith turns to the prosecutor Ford about this, but after Victor presented the paper signed by Smith, he declares that he can do nothing. After Smith’s departure, Ford condemns Victor morally, to which he replies that he acted within the law and in the interests of his client, which is the main thing for a lawyer.

Some time later, killer Andy Garth ( Jan Merlin ), who works for the big mafia boss Frank Garland ( Albert Decker ), threatening with a weapon, forces Victor to go along with him to Garland. At this moment, Ray is in Garland's office, who unnoticeably leaves Victor through the service exit. After that, Garland invites the lawyer to her, showing him his magnificent collection of paintings by French Impressionists to the music that an aspiring actress, sexy blonde Angel O'Hara ( Jane Mansfield ) plays on the piano. Then Garland sends Angel away, privately explaining to Victor that Smith’s company is one of his important legal businesses. Although initially Garland wanted to demand a return of 10 thousand dollars from Victor, he then revised his opinion and decided to offer Victor a highly paid position in his syndicate. Victor, however, refuses this offer, stating that he does not want to "belong" to anyone. Soon Garth kills Parker at the bus stop when he is about to leave for another city. Some time later, Victor defends another businessman, Al Carol ( Lawrence Dobkin ), subordinate to Garland, who is accused of poisoning his partner. The main evidence on the process is a bottle of poison, which was poisoned victim. During his speech, Victor opens the bottle and drinks its contents, arguing that there was no poison there, after which the judge closes the case. Having won the process, Victor promptly leaves the hall and, passing through a crowd of admiring fans and journalists, enters the next building, where the waiting doctor immediately makes him wash. Having received before the process information that the expert report did not say that the poison takes effect only after 45 minutes, Victor used this fact to destroy the charge. Victor is invited to the celebration of the successful completion of the case, where Garland gives the lawyer a check for 15 thousand dollars.

As Victor’s reputation as a successful attorney strengthens, Ford and his office staff, including Ellen, begin to suspect that Victor has begun working for the mafia. Ellen, on her own initiative, visits Victor, reproaching him for winning cases with the help of corruption, bribery and dishonest receptions, and also warns him that the prosecutor knows that the office information from his office somehow goes to Garland. As it turns out, Ford, suspecting Ellen that she was transmitting information to Garland through Victor, established her secret surveillance. Soon, Ford gathers his key employees, informing them that he plans to arrest one of Garland's henchmen, Harry Divine, hoping in this way to kill two birds with one stone - to reopen the case against the released criminal, and also to reveal the source of the information leakage from his department. To prevent this arrest, Ray immediately after the meeting, tries to inform Garland about it, but the appearance of Ellen disrupts his plans. Together they come home, from where Ray, sending Helen to the store, again tries to call Garland, but cannot contact him, leaving Angel's message, which by then had become Garland's girlfriend. When Ellen returns, she accidentally hears Ray's conversation, realizing that her husband is working for Garland. Ray notices this, and then first tries to convince her that she is acting in the interests of their family, but Helen does not agree with his words. Then Ray decides to kill his wife by pushing her out of the window, but Ellen manages to wriggle out to grab a gun and shoot her husband.

Ford concludes that Ellen killed Ray because he revealed her connection to Garland, and charges her with first-degree murder. He also establishes the constant surveillance of Victor, who undertakes to protect Ellen. Garth, threatening with weapons, delivers Victor to Garland, who objects to Victor being involved in this matter. However, Victor convinces him that since the interests of the syndicate may be affected, it will be better to control the situation if he is the one who is to conduct the case, and not a third-party lawyer. After the process begins, Victor hides his compromising materials on Garland, preparing to use them if Garland tries to kill him. Then he meets with Garland, who demands to lose the case as soon as possible so that the syndicate is not drawn into him. However, Victor responds that he will not be able to avoid this, and therefore suggests that Garland instruct Garth to “confess” that he served as a transmission link between the prosecutor’s office and the syndicate and point out Ray as the source of information leakage. Victor says that by sacrificing Garth, who will receive a maximum of three years, Garland will save himself. The lawyer said that he became aware that Angel had received a call from Ray at Garland’s apartment, and this is a direct information leakage channel that leads directly to Garland. Victor further states that if the prosecutor's office finds out about this call, then the case will turn against Garland, after which he decides to sacrifice Garth. However, Garland fears that Garth may extradite him and, as a result, does not agree with Victor’s proposal, demanding that the lawyer lose the case as soon as possible, otherwise threatening to kill him. To this, Victor replies that if something happens to him, then all the incriminating documents he has on Garland will be in the prosecutor’s office. After Victor leaves, Garland, who believes that Victor is bluffing, instructs Garth to remove his lawyer. Leaving Garland’s office, Victor drives his car to court. Garth, who followed him, shoots him near the courthouse, but the detectives who followed them kill the killer. Seriously wounded, Victor enters the courtroom, where he calls for testimony to Angel, who confirms that Ray called Garland on the night of his death and that he regularly met with the mafia leader, which means that he works for a syndicate. After these words, Victor loses consciousness and falls right in the hall. Ford clears all charges against Ellen and is preparing to press charges against Garland, and the judge says that she also hopes to see Victor in court again, but in a less dramatic style. Ellen thanks Victor for telling her: “The next time I tell you to marry someone, don't listen to me,” and then closes her eyes.

British director Lewis Allen achieved recognition in Hollywood by the production of the psychological horror film “The Uninvited ” (1944), after which he created a series of good paintings in the noir genre, among them “ Desert Rage ” (1947), “ So Evil, My Love ” (1948), "The Chicago Limit " (1949), " Date with Danger " (1951) and " Sudden " (1951) ^[1] .

Actor Edward G. Robinson was born in Romania to a Jewish family and at the age of 10, he and his parents moved to America. In the 1930s, he became known for his roles as gangsters and tough guys in such criminal films as Little Caesar (1931), Five Star Final (1931), Smart Money (1931), Two Seconds (1932 ), “ Tiger Shark ” (1932) and “ Bullets or Voices ” (1936), and in the 1940s it became one of the biggest stars of the film noir genre, playing in such films as “ Double Insurance ” (1944), “ Woman in the window ”(1944),“ Sin Street ”(1945),“ Stranger ”(1946),“ Largo Reef ”(1948) and“ House of Strangers ”(1949) ^[2] . However, according to film historian Jeremy Arnold, during the anti-communist witch-hunt in 1950–52, Robinson was summoned to testify to the Committee on the Investigation of Anti-American Activities . “ McCarthy ’s hysteria led to accusations of communist relations, and although Robinson didn’t get blacklisted , the offers of first-class roles evaporated and he was forced to take on smaller films such as Iniquity.” The mid-1950s became for Robinson a period of routine films of category B ” ^[3] . As Robinson later wrote: “I was doomed to die slowly, both because of my age and because of past political affiliation.” However, in the end, director Cécile B. De Mille came to the rescue of Robinson by shooting him in the movie “The Ten Commandments ” (1956), for which the actor was eternally grateful to him: “Cécile De Mille returned me to the movies and restored my respect for to myself " ^[3] .

Born in Holland, Nina Foch is known as one of the most notable actresses of the genre of the film noir thanks to such tapes as “ My name is Julia Ross ” (1945), “ Johnny O'Klok ” (1947), “ Dark past ” (1948), “ Detective ”(1949) and“ Johnny Allegro ”(1949) ^[4] . As for Jane Mansfield , then, as Arnold notes, "contrary to popular belief," Lawlessness "was not her debut film." Prior to that, she appeared on the screen in a cameo role in the criminal drama “ Blues Pita Kelly ” (1955) and played a small role in the film Noir “ Women's Jungle ”, which was filmed in 1954, but was only released in 1956. However, "in the" Lawlessness "it played its first significant role." This film was followed by the musical comedies of Frank Tashlin “ This Girl Cannot Be Other ” (1956) and “ Will Rock Hunter spoil the success? "(1957), which" have become one of the best films in her career " ^[3] .

The film is based on a play by theater actor and playwright Frank J. Collins “The Lawyer,” which was written in 1929. In 1932, this play was put on the same film with William Warren in the title role. In 1940, this play was staged another film "The Man Who Talked Too Much " with George Brent in the lead role ^{[5] [6] [7]} .

As Arnold writes, for the third adaptation of the play by Frank J. Collins, Warner Bros. took on the main role of Edward G. Robinson ^[3] . This was Robinson's first role on Warner Bros. “After a 12-year absence” ^[6] . Arnold notes that “Robinson’s character, as well as William and Brent’s characters in previous films, was composed of several real-life lawyers. Most of all, however, it is based on colorful William J. Fallon , assistant district attorney for Westchester County , who actually resigned from his post in the 1910s after accusing an innocent person of a crime. Later, he became a lawyer and represented in court the interests of drug dealers, embezzlers, pimps and various criminal characters, such as Arnold Rothstein , whom he successfully defended in court in 1919 ” ^[3] . Dennis Schwartz also notes that “Robinson’s character is remotely based on Bill“ The Great Talker ”of Fallon, one of the foremost criminal lawyers of the 1920s, who successfully defended the owner of the gambling business Arnold Rothstein in 1919 ^[8] . As Arnold further points out, “Fallon was an intelligent and charming man, but also immoral and narcissistic, getting the best on-screen incarnation, probably in the game of Warren William” ^[3] .

According to the American Film Institute , street scenes were shot on location in downtown Los Angeles ^[7] . The site also noted that “the paintings in the office of Frank Garland were originals owned by Edward G. Robinson, who was known as an art collector. According to Warner Bros. , Robinson leased the studio six paintings, the total cost of which amounted to 213 thousand dollars. Two paintings - “The Dancers Rest“ by Edgar Degas and the Flowers of Tahiti by Paul Gauguin - are constantly visible in scenes in the Garland office. At some point, Robinson’s character notices that he could never afford the originals. Two other paintings - “The Court in the Country“ by Georges Rouault and the “Beautiful Model” by Andre Derain - are shown later in Scott's office. Warner Bros. It is also noted that the two original pictures of the actress Gladys Lloyd, who at the time was Robinson's wife, were also used in the film, but their exact location in the story was not determined ” ^[7] .

According to Warner Bros. , Jane Mansfield was supposed to sing two songs in scenes at a nightclub, but these episodes were not included in the final version of the film ^[7] .

Overall film score

According to Arnold, after the film was released, the critics didn’t like the movie too much. In particular, Variety Magazine called it “an unremarkable picture that cannot determine whether it should be played as a usual melodrama or as a comedy with cheap effects” ^[3] . The New York Times reviewer Bosley Crowther, in turn, considered that "the people who wrote and did Lawlessness kept Asphalt Jungle in mind, having done everything possible to imitate that film, no matter how hard it was." According to Crowther, “this legal crime melodrama has absolutely clear moments of similarity with that thriller of 1950, it’s just not so good” ^[9] . In particular, as the moments of similarity of two paintings, he highlights, firstly, the identity of a cunning lawyer who leads a double game. Secondly, even more similarity is seen in the fact that Jane Mansfield is trying to copy the image of Marilyn Monroe from that film. However, "Miss Mansfield, although she is beautiful, is only a weak imitation of Miss Monroe." The third common point was the participation of William R. Burnett in the work on the scenarios of both films, and, according to the critic, “Mansfield coped with her imitation better than Burnett did with her” ^[9] .

Modern critics also rated the picture very restrained. In particular, Hans J. Vollenstein, following Variety, noted that the film “cannot decide whether it is a criminal thriller or a rogue comedy,” and, according to the critic, “if you take into account the demonstration of incredible legal antics, rather, this is the last " ^[6] . Spencer Selby called the picture a “noir remake of Advocate ” (1932), where “the former district attorney becomes a lawyer, deeply involved in the difficult murder case” ^[10] . Arthur Lyons noted that this picture, like “many other films of noir, reflected corruption in American public institutions, including such as the legal profession” ^[11] . Glenn Erickson concluded that if “Lawlessness” did not show the activities of a powerful mafia structure, which is headed by the character of Albert Decker , then it would not be “especially noir film”. The hero of Robinson, who "concludes a strange semi-moral pact with the forces of the criminal world, also generates only a hint of a noir atmosphere." At the same time, the critic drew attention to the excessively "melodramatic plot moves and bloating of characters, the apotheosis of which is the hero of Edward G. Robinson, who uses flashy court tricks that went out of fashion many years ago, for example, when he drinks real poison" ^{[5 ]} .

Evaluation of the work of the director and creative team

Schwartz thinks that “ William R. Burnett , who was the author of the scenario of a similar noir“ Asphalt jungle, ”and here gives a live script.” The critic also appreciates the work of director Lewis Allen , who “makes this category B melodrama rush forward and seeks powerful play from Edward G. Robinson , who in the 1950s could not get roles in films of category A, after the Investigation Commission anti-American activities were pursued by a popular actor and art connoisseur for his liberal convictions. ” ^[8] Glenn Erickson notes that “with a budget not much larger than a category B film,” Allen “demonstrates several directorial finds” ^[5] .

Actor Assessment

Critics praised Edward G. Robinson's play in this film. In particular, Crowther noted that “Robinson plays the role of a hardened lawyer in his former sarcastic spirit” ^[9] , and, according to Wollstein, “Robinson, as always, reliably plays the district attorney who becomes a mafia lawyer” ^[6] . Jeremy Arnold notes that "Robinson is still good, not alone allowing this film to turn into another memorable urban melodrama." According to the critic, “Robinson gives a very relaxed game, demonstrating impressive professionalism and enjoying his cool speeches and insidious deeds. It is natural when one blow knocks a witness in court (to prove his point of view), or drinks poison in order to convince the jury that in fact it is not poison - but breaks during the break in order to wash the stomach. Both episodes, by the way, are based on real cases ” ^[3] . Erickson also believes that “Robinson holds the entire film in his hands almost alone” ^[5] , and Michael Keene notes that “this fast film is interesting largely due to Robinson’s cool game of political ambition with a political mafia a lawyer " ^[12] .

The play of the rest of the cast in the lead roles was also rated positively. So Arnold especially singled out “ Nina Foch , who exudes warmth and sympathy, 35-year-old DeForesta Kelly as a convicted person, and the voluptuous 22-year-old Jane Mansfield as a gangster girlfriend.” According to him, "Mansfield exudes tremendous sexual attractiveness, while giving out quite a decent game" ^[3] . Noting "the faithful Nina Foch and the unprincipled Hugh Marlowe, " Erickson further wrote that "it is amusing to see Deforest Kelly in the role of an unjustly convicted person, dear Ellen Corby as the faithful secretary of Robinson who pronounces words as if she does not know what they mean ” ^[5] . Keeney drew attention to Jan Merlin in the role of "dirty Decker's apprentice ," Corby, who "takes a step above his usual roles as maids, playing Robinson's faithful secretary," as well as Mansfield "in the small role of a sexual pianist" ^[12] .

• Spencer Selby. Dark City: The Film Noir . - Jeffeson, NC: McFarland & Co Inc, 1997. - ISBN 978-0-7864-0478-0 .
• Michael F. Keaney. Film Noir Guide: 745 Films of the Classic Era, 1940–1959 . - Jefferson, North Carolina, and London: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers, 2003. - ISBN 978-0-7864-1547-2 .
• Arthur Lyons. Death of the Lost B Movies of Film Noir . - Boston, MA: Da Capo Press, 2000. - ISBN 978-0-3068-0996-5 .

• Lawlessness on the site IMDb  
• Lawlessness on the site Allmovie  
• Lawlessness on the website of the American Film Institute
• Lawlessness on Turner Classic Movies