Movie Cosmos - The Defense Rests

Description:

A sleazy lawyer's female assistant sets out to end his cheating ways.

Top Cast >

Jack Holt

As Matthew Mitchell

Jean Arthur

As Joan Hayes

Nat Pendleton

As Rocky

Arthur Hohl

As James Randolph

Raymond Walburn

As Austin

Harold Huber

As Castro

Robert Gleckler

As Lou Gentry

Sarah Padden

As Mrs. Evans

Shirley Grey

As Mabel Wilson

Donald Meek

As Fogg

Raymond Hatton

As Louie

Ward Bond

As Hood

John Wray

As Michael Cooney

Vivien Oakland

As Mrs. Monte Ballou

Selmer Jackson

As Duffy

J. Carrol Naish

As Monte Ballou

Samuel S. Hinds

As Dean Adams

Arthur Belasco

As Gun Store Owner

Brooks Benedict

As Charlie

Charles Brinley

As Bartender

Don Brodie

As Reporter

Allan Cavan

As Court Clerk

Edward Cecil

As Minor Role

Stephen Colt

As Bailiff

Nick Copeland

As Minor Role

Lynn Cowan

As Reporter

Kernan Cripps

As Policeman

Carrie Daumery

As Dowager on Gambling Ship

Milla Davenport

As Neighbor

Joan Dix

As Minor Role

Oliver Eckhardt

As Jury Foreman

Ray Ellis

As Second Jury Foreman (uncredited)

Bess Flowers

As Receptionist

Mary Gordon

As Scrub Woman

Galen Gough

As Gangster

Arnold Gray

As Minor Role

Harrison Greene

As Moe - Reporter

Sam Hayes

As Radio Announcer

A.R. Haysel

As Bill - Turnkey

Arthur Hickman

As Minor Role

Howard Hickman

As Judge

Harry Hume

As Father

Charles King

As Reporter

Lydia Knott

As Hospital Patient

Sam Lufkin

As Masseur / Trainer

John Mack

As Reporter

Stanley Mack

As Henchman

Joe Smith Marba

As Court Clerk

Tony Martelli

As Waiter

Charles McAvoy

As Guard

Frank Mills

As Henchman

Geneva Mitchell

As Mitchell's Receptionist

Bert Moorhouse

As Minor Role

Wilfrid North

As Silent Judge

Frank O'Connor

As Minor Role

Hal Price

As Tim

Bruce Randall

As Chauffeur

Bobbie Sheehan

As Minor Role

Reginald Simpson

As Minor Role

Bess Stafford

As Jail Matron

Jerome Storm

As Reporter

Hal Taggart

As Minor Role

Billy West

As Reporter

Maston Williams

As Diver

Eleanor Wood

As Poor Wife

Ernest F. Young

As Speakeasy Proprietor

Top Crew >

Lambert Hillyer

Director

Jo Swerling

Screenplay, Story

Dave Ragin

Camera Operator

Reviews:

CinemaSerf (6/10)

"Joan Hayes" (Jean Arthur) is employed by hotshot criminal lawyer "Mitchell" (Jack Holt) just as he heads to court for what we are sure will be his 38th straight victory. Following a kidnapping, though, "Mrs Evans" (Sarah Padden) comes to visit and as her boss is busy, she is seen by the new and keen "Joan" who begins to piece two and two together and conclude that her butter-wouldn't-melt employer is maybe not quite the shining light he purports to be. Armed with some damning evidence, she confronts him - but events elsewhere overtake their stand-off and soon the fate of a man facing the chair is front and centre of the story. That story is a bit more substantial than many of these standard afternoon features with a rather beefier part for Arthur and a decent chemistry between the two as things get messy and dangerous. Add a couple of mob heavies and maybe just a hint of integrity and this makes for quite an enjoyable seventy minutes of crime-noir.

2024-01-08