The often hammy film appearances of the great profile, John Barrymore, often overshadowed his greatness. He was at his best on screen in 1933 with at least three classics: "Dinner at Eight", "Topaze", and this version of the Elmer Rice play where he plays a high powered New York attorney who came up the hard way and is beyond determined to remain where he is. He helps the sweet old Jewish ladies who lived where he grew up, often charging them little (if anything) yet raising the rates of the man crazy socialites and gold digging dancing girls. When he discovers scandal concerning wife Doris Kenyon, his own legal expertise might not be enough to prevent his downfall.
Barrymore is surrounded by the most outstanding cast, standouts including Isabel Jewell as his obnoxiously chatty receptionist, future "His Girl Friday" killer John Qualen as one of his former clients turned informer and Bebe Daniels (just coming off of "42nd Street") as a lovelorn assistant.
So much happens in a very short period of time that you might find yourself watching it over and over to pick up the tough, feisty dialog. It is perfectly directed by William Wyler who wasn't as of yet in the top line of movie directors. The screenplay, mixing high comedy, drama, political satire and legal mumbo jumbo, is brilliant.
This is representative to the tea of America in the depression era 1930's with all sorts of references to what was going on at the time deep inside the world of the working class, fighting high society in its efforts to find justice. The fact that Barrymore didn't get an Oscar nomination for this is a great mystery, and had there been supporting nominations at the time, I'd vote for Isabel Jewell to get one as well.
Barrymore is surrounded by the most outstanding cast, standouts including Isabel Jewell as his obnoxiously chatty receptionist, future "His Girl Friday" killer John Qualen as one of his former clients turned informer and Bebe Daniels (just coming off of "42nd Street") as a lovelorn assistant.
So much happens in a very short period of time that you might find yourself watching it over and over to pick up the tough, feisty dialog. It is perfectly directed by William Wyler who wasn't as of yet in the top line of movie directors. The screenplay, mixing high comedy, drama, political satire and legal mumbo jumbo, is brilliant.
This is representative to the tea of America in the depression era 1930's with all sorts of references to what was going on at the time deep inside the world of the working class, fighting high society in its efforts to find justice. The fact that Barrymore didn't get an Oscar nomination for this is a great mystery, and had there been supporting nominations at the time, I'd vote for Isabel Jewell to get one as well.