Before it implodes with incredulity in its last ten minutes Night Court is an audience enraging piece of filmmaking as corruption runs amok in the justice system. Up until the story goes from the crime to the ridiculous you may find your blood boiling at the blatant abuse of power by a cabal of judicial miscreants.
In order to supplement a lavish life style and keep his amour in classy digs Judge Moffett (Walter Huston) dispenses injustice in his night court for a price. When a squeaky clean judge (Lewis Stone) initiates an investigation into his criminal practice Moffett goes into defensive mode by hiding the squeeze and his bankbook out in a marginal neighborhood. The woman befriends a neighbor who finds out too much as far as the judge is concerned so he has some charges trumped up to get the woman tossed in prison for six months as well as remove her child from the home. Her taxi driver husband vows to clear her name and expose Moffett so the judge sends some associates over to convince him to take a trip to South America.
Night Court's nightmarish scenario is filled with Kafkaesque undertone as the execrable and efficient Moffett exploits the system with his well oiled machine of muscle and money to deal with problems. Huston gives an excellent turn as the venal and arrogant judge who twists the system to his advantage exuding a condescending superiority even as the noose tightens around his neck and his criminal empire is rounded up. Phillips Holmes as the taxi driver and Anita Page as his wife also give notable performances as victim's of Moffett's handiwork.
Director Woody "One Take" VanDyke puts his appellation on display and to the picture's detriment as he attempts to tie everything together with a sloppy climax but not before he and Huston in pulpish fashion make a statement about a form of corruption that still flourishes eighty years later .
In order to supplement a lavish life style and keep his amour in classy digs Judge Moffett (Walter Huston) dispenses injustice in his night court for a price. When a squeaky clean judge (Lewis Stone) initiates an investigation into his criminal practice Moffett goes into defensive mode by hiding the squeeze and his bankbook out in a marginal neighborhood. The woman befriends a neighbor who finds out too much as far as the judge is concerned so he has some charges trumped up to get the woman tossed in prison for six months as well as remove her child from the home. Her taxi driver husband vows to clear her name and expose Moffett so the judge sends some associates over to convince him to take a trip to South America.
Night Court's nightmarish scenario is filled with Kafkaesque undertone as the execrable and efficient Moffett exploits the system with his well oiled machine of muscle and money to deal with problems. Huston gives an excellent turn as the venal and arrogant judge who twists the system to his advantage exuding a condescending superiority even as the noose tightens around his neck and his criminal empire is rounded up. Phillips Holmes as the taxi driver and Anita Page as his wife also give notable performances as victim's of Moffett's handiwork.
Director Woody "One Take" VanDyke puts his appellation on display and to the picture's detriment as he attempts to tie everything together with a sloppy climax but not before he and Huston in pulpish fashion make a statement about a form of corruption that still flourishes eighty years later .