Lawyer Man (Warner Bros.) (1932)

FOR SAT. OR SUN. SECTIONS Advance Feature Over 20 Million Dollars Paid Yearly in Blackmail Investigator Finds Shyster Lawyers Play Large Part in Making Compromised Victims Come Across O VER twenty million dollars was paid out in blackmail in the United States last year. That is the estimate made by the Committee on Crime of the American League of Confidential Investigators, an organ ization of leading private detectives. Dennis Kennelly is presi dent. It is, of course, merely an estimate: no precise figure ean ever be definitely arrived at owing to the very nature of the case. For blackmail payments are made secretly; and it is on the basis of the cases handled confidentially by the members of the A.L.C.1I., and their knowledge and experience of crime conditions generally throughout the country, that the sum of twenty million dollars is named. Furthermore, according to Mr. Kennelly, an important factor in the blackmail situation, as it exists today, particularly in our great cities, is the shyster lawyer. “The legal profession can be either one of the noblest of all callings or one of the cheapest and crookedest,” said Mr. Kennelly recently, when discussing the sensational new motion picture, “Lawyer Man,” in which Warner Bros. present William Powell, as a poor but brilliant lawyer driven to shyster tactics by an un scrupulous “Ring” of politicians.. The film was specially previewed for members of the Crime Committec of the A.L.C.I. at a meeting in New York, and is coming to the Theatre next Blackmail Rife “Opportunities for blackmail were more plentiful than in our life,” said Mr. never have those never twentieth Kennelly, opportunities been seized more unscrupulously. Blackmail is of an infinite variety, ranging from the traditional badger game from compromising love affairs to subtle deais century “and in high finance which are swung because somebody important is aware that somebody else important knows something that can’t be allowed to come to light. “And in every one of those innumerable branches of blackmail, lawyers often hand. The good, decent lawyers have to fight the crooked ones, and the battle goes on year after year. Of course most of the cases of blackmail never get into court and in fact are never heard of, even by the immediate families of the victims. A man who may be perfectly innocent but who is a victim of circumstances, will often be willing to pay heavily for a protracted period to avoid the agony of publicity and all that it means in shame and humiliation to have a the victim and to those nearest and dearest to him. “One of the most interesting things about this picture ‘Lawyer Man’ is the insight it affords into both sides of the profession of law as it is practiced today,” continued Mr. Kennelly. “What should an innocent man or woman do who is confronted with a demand for blackmail?” the detective was asked. ‘‘Publish and Be Damned’’ “Well,” replied Mr. Kennelly, “that necessarily depends on the nature of the case. The Duke of Wellington, when a lady threatened to publish certain indiscreet letters that he had written her, answered: ‘Publish and damned!’ That, perhaps, is the ideal way to handle such a situation. be Besides William Powell, the cast of “Lawyer Man” ineludes Joan Blondel, Helen Vinson, Claire Dodd, Current Feature William Powell Gradually Shedding Name As Villain’ Shows He Has Flair for the Comic as Well as Dramatic As He Gets Away from Unsympathetic Roles Maybe not, but the W ILL this turn out, eventually, to be a villainless world? fact remains that few actors, particularly stars, like to play motion picture villains any more. Especially the old time villains. Actors have discovered that the public gets to thinking the player is like the role in which same type of player continuously. And no one wants that, if it is a particularly villainous role. Not that he has been a criminal type of actor, but William Powell, starring in the Warner Bros. picture, “Lawyer Man,” which is now playing at the Theatre, has discovered that an actor can be thoroughly unsympathetic in several ways. His own particular bete noir is the role of a perpetual ladies’ man. Suave, superior — the type that looks ’em in the eye and they swoon. Powell began about a year ago to make himself over, after five years of this kind of screen villainy, ‘nto something radically divorced “rom the type. he appears, if he is cast for the helped some. I have more or less catholic taste, and my choice varied. But still there was the chance of stereotyping a role. Only time and the results of what I have already done at Warner Bros. can tell how successful I’ve been in avoiding thats” New Pictures Successful might think, if the results of some as a criterion. His first picture for his new studio was “The Road to Singapore,” in which he played a role similar to some of his old It was no | more and less successful than ones. no IN “LAWYER MAN” — Helen Vinson and William Powell who appear to be enjoying their conversation and Joan Blondell who appears to be slightly jealous, in a scene from the Strand’s new Sheila Terry, Harold Huber, Alan Dinehart, Allen Jenkins and other well known motion picture players. The picture is coming to the “The profession of the lawyer and that of the private detective are public services,’ said Mr. Kennelly in conclusion. “We can’t do without them in their legitimate spheres. And that is why all the reputable members of both professions are joining forces to drive the shyster lawyer and the shyster sleuth out of business, and if possible to put them behind the bars where they belong.” ; to find things I myself liked. ep ID ae at ae eee thrilling drama. Cut No.5 Cut 45c Mat 1s5c With more experience behind him than most screen actors ever achieve, he analyzed the thing and came to about the following conclusions. People don’t like villains, so he would cease to be a villain. But what to be? There was only one logical answer and that was— to be himself. “But that’s not as easy to be as you might think,” he said, explaining his transition. “It had to come as the result of trying several things, and the only way to choose was by a process of elimination. I got back to first principles and tried That most of his former pictures had been. His second picture was “High Pressure,’ in which he played a more or less boisterous and compelling super-salesman, not a ladykiller at all; in fact he has a hard time keeping the one lady who likes him; and only slightly villainous. It was an unprecedented success. His fan mail inereased. His reviews, which had always been good, became glowing. “The Jewel Robbery,” and “One Way Passage” saw him again in more elegant roles, and both were successful — so successful that there of his recent pictures may be taken|— to do what he liked best. Special Newspaper Art A PEN-PORTRAIT of William Pow ell, the blonde-chasing, smooth talking “Lawyer Man” in _ the Strand’s current feature of that name. was some doubt about changing him again to anything which de He’s been more successful than he|Parted too far from their stamp. But he had set himself a standard In his latest Warner Bros. picture, “Lawyer Man,” which comes to the a Bore See rete res Theatre= on: 7.465 .; he takes the role of a New York East Side lawyer terribly fond’ of the ladies who crashes into the big money. It is. not what is termed a heroic’ role exactly. The character is entirely too human. He makes mis takes like any one else. He has his share of human passions, and not entirely governed. He goes ‘hrough the period of bitterness, and strikes with a ruthless hand for revenge. But eventually he throws aside all opportunities of a brilliant ca-. reer because he can’t stomach the’ ‘rookedness behind political life,: and goes back to help his own poor. mn the East Side. The role calls for some powerful emotional aeting; the scenes are: strongly dramatic. But, as an East Side lawyer, he is called upon to do some capers quite in contrast to his former dignified roles. Powell Likes Comedy And here, when making the picture, his director, William Dieterle, was afraid of the particular scenes. “Are you sure you can do these, Bill?” he asked. “Try and keep me from them,” said Powell. “I liked the thing, didn’t I. There must have been something of me in it, or I wouldn’t have thought I could do it. Lead on, Mac Duff. I was a comedian long before I thought of being a heavy.” It was a confident speech. But the scenes were made and the result was a series of congratulations on his comedy talent. And so a new William Powell appears in “Lawyer Man,” a William Powell who can handle the light comedy action as well as the strong dramatic scenes in the picture. But in the meantime, who’s going to play the villains and the heavy ladies’ men? No one seems to want to volunteer. William Powell is supported in “Lawyer Man” by Joan Blondell, Helen Vinson, Alan Dinehart, Allen Jenkins, David Landau and Sheila Terry. The play was adapted by James Seymour and Rian James. Current Feature Joan Blondell Equally At Home Opposite Cagney and Powell Playing leading lady for two such sereen stars as James Cagney and William Powell is something of an accomplishment for any girl and indicates amazing versatility on the part of the girl—especially when one considers that Powell and Cagney are such distinctive types. A little more than two years ago a sunny little girl with large blue eyes and taffy-colored hair bounced onto the Warner Bros. lot and made herself at home. Her name was and is Joan Blondell, Beeause she was a_ bouncing, laughing, slangy type, they put her in bouncing, laughing, slangy pictures. She advanced rapidly in popularity and became a favorite of the fans. They gave her for a leading man an actor whose wisecracks matched her own and whose fist connected more than once with her jaw — in the picture, of course. His name was James Cagney. But Cagney went away for a while and Joan had to be given new leading men. She made a picture with George Brent, and one with Erie Linden. Then one with Wallace Ford. Now she’s playing opposite Wil comedy-dramarrat thee a. a2. s58 Theatre. Powell calls her one of the most amazingly versatile actresses he’s ever played with. In “Lawyer Man” she plays much the same sort of wise-cracking role she played in her liam Powell in “Lawyer Man,” a | earlier pictures — after a period of melodramatic and dramatic roles — but she finds it a little different than playing the same roles oppo| site Cagney. “Not that 1 ut Jimmy second to any actor I’ve ever played with,” she explains, “but even the name William Powell was enough to make me nervous. He’s such a big star — and Jimmy always seemed like .one of the kids from school or something.” But chiefly, it’s the opportunity to get back into her own type of role that she welcomes. The little secretary of the busy lawyer in “Lawyer Man” is, to use her own words, “right down her alley.” Powell is saying the same thing about the picture from his own standpoint, so the casting of Joan with Powell resulted in one of those happy hits that comes from giving actors and actresses exactly the sort of roles which suit them. The story, which was taken from the novel by Max Trell, gives the spectator an inside glimpse of the machinations of politicians. The theme treats of an East Side lawyer who has worked his way to the top of his profession by sheer brilliancy, only to discover that justice was honeyeombed with political intrigue. There is an excellent supporting east which includes Helen Vinson, Sheila Terry, Claire Dodd and Alan Dinehart. The screen play is by James Seymour and Rian James. It was directed by William Dieterle. Page Seven