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“I’m not looking at your legs, madam,” says D.A. Tom Cardigan to the glamorous accused killer on the witness stand. “I’m looking at your soul!” In State’s Attorney, John Barrymore dazzles courtroom audiences and movie audiences alike as Cardigan, a mob-mouthpiece-turned-principled prosecutor. Although he’s tangled up with booze, shady characters, a bad girl who’s good for him (Helen Twelvetrees) and a good girl who’s bad for him (Jill Esmond, at the time Mrs. Laurence Olivier), Tom makes a success of his new career and appears headed for the governor’s mansion. Then the cops nab Tom’s former boss on a murder rap, and Tom prosecutes, knowing the mobster may spill a secret that will destroy Tom’s future. David O. Selznick is executive producer of this fast-paced thriller highlighted by sharp dialogue, courtroom pyrotechnics and Barrymore’s transfixing talent.
Original Release
05/05/1932
US Release
05/05/1932
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Cast
Name | Character |
---|
John Barrymore | Tom Cardigan |
Helen Twelvetrees | June Perry |
Jill Esmond | Lillian Ulrich |
William 'Stage' Boyd | Valentine 'Vanny' Powers (as William Boyd) / Valentine 'Vanny' Powers |
Mary Duncan | Nora Dean |
C. Henry Gordon | Attorney Grey / Attorney Graves |
Oscar Apfel | Mr. Ulrich |
Ralph Ince | Defense Attorney / Second Trial Defense Attorney |
Albert Conti | Mario |
Frederick Burton | The Judge / Second Trial Judge |
Directors
Writers
Louis Stevens, Gene Fowler, Rowland Brown
Cast
Name | Character |
---|
John Barrymore | Tom Cardigan |
Helen Twelvetrees | June Perry |
Jill Esmond | Lillian Ulrich |
William 'Stage' Boyd | Valentine 'Vanny' Powers (as William Boyd) / Valentine 'Vanny' Powers |
Mary Duncan | Nora Dean |
C. Henry Gordon | Attorney Grey / Attorney Graves |
Oscar Apfel | Mr. Ulrich |
Ralph Ince | Defense Attorney / Second Trial Defense Attorney |
Albert Conti | Mario |
Frederick Burton | The Judge / Second Trial Judge |
Paul Hurst | Captain Morgan / Police Captain Morgan |
Leon Ames | First Trial Prosecutor |
Sam Ash | First Trial Court Recorder |
Hooper Atchley | Cardigan's Assistant |
Reginald Barlow | Last Trial Judge |
Lucy Beaumont | Member of the Jury |
Wilson Benge | Cardigan's Butler |
Stanley Blystone | Assistant District Attorney |
Jack Byron | Party Guest |
Allan Cavan | Court Recorder |
Producers
Name | Role |
---|
David O. Selznick | Executive Producer |
James Kevin McGuinness | Producer |