FOR THE DEFENSE

William Powell and Kay Francis

FOR THE DEFENSE (1930). Director: John Cronwell. 

Bill Foster (William Powell of The Thin Man) is a famous defense attorney known for his flamboyancy and for tricks that keep his clients from going to jail. His main squeeze is Irene Manners (Kay Francis of Give Me Your Heart), who is loyal to him but discovers that he has no intention of marrying her -- for him things are perfect as they are. Irene goes out for a drive with love-smitten Jack De Foe (Scott Kolk), who proposes to her just before she accidentally runs over and kills a man in the road (we never learn a damned thing about this unfortunate fellow). Jack doesn't want to get Irene involved so he lets her run off while he takes the rap, which is exacerbated by the fact that he was drinking. Irene importunes Bill to take Jack's case and keep him from going to jail for manslaughter, but the lawyer suspects that there's more to the story -- and more to Irene's relationship with Jack. 

Scott Kolk with Powell

At a mere 63 minutes, For the Defense moves at a brisk pace and wastes precious little time in true character development, although the actors, especially an excellent Powell, do much to bring these rather stock characters to life. There's a funny/scary bit in an early courtroom scene when Powell decides to test a piece of evidence, a bottle supposedly filled with nitroglycerine, by dashing it to the floor, giving everyone in the room conniption fits! With a far less dynamic role, Francis can do little to steal scenes from Powell, but she is quietly effective as a woman who loves not wisely but well; Kolk is also effective. The movie with its interesting situations is entertaining despite the contrived script. Poor Francis is decked out in a series of hats that remind one of a classic I Love Lucy episode when the boys give the gals some phony French fashions! John Cromwell would go on to direct much better pictures including Caged. Two years later Powell and Francis reteamed for Jewel Robbery. 

Verdict: Powell is always exciting to watch. **3/4. 

SECRET AGENT X-9

SECRET AGENT X-9 (12 chapter Columbia serial/1937). Directors: Ford Beebe; Cliff Smith.

This is the first of two serials based on the Secret Agent X-9 comic strip, the latter being released in 1945. This earlier version is much, much better. Agent X-9, also known as Agent Dexter (Scott Kolk), is assigned when the Belgravian crown jewels are stolen and the agent guarding them murdered by a sinister villain known only as "Brenda." Brenda gives orders to his top aide, Blackstone (Henry Brandon), and X-9 can't quite figure whether a pretty woman involved in the case, Shara (Jean Rogers), is on the side of the angels or not. Monte Blue is Belgravia's Baron Karsten, and Lon Chaney Jr. is a hood that works for Brenda. David Oliver is Pidge, a pal of Dexter's who is not an agent but always seems to be around, managing to be both helpful and comical at times. As each chapter begins, the events of the previous installment are presented in comic strip panels. This is an exciting, well-made serial with fairly standard but adept cliffhangers [Dexter's boat nearly smashes into a large obstruction at high speed at the end of chapter one], more than adequate performances, very good chase sequences, and some lively fisticuffs. Kolk makes an appealing, boyish leading man, and the incredibly versatile Brandon (who played everyone from Fu Manchu to Barnaby in Babes in Toyland) nearly steals the show as Blackstone. Jean Rogers was Dale Arden in the Flash Gordon serials and closed out her career in The Second Woman.

Verdict: Far superior to the 1945 version with Lloyd Bridges. ***.