Criminal Lawyer (1951)

Pat O'Brien is defending Mickey Knox, but the case looks iron clad against him. O'Brien is late in appearing for the session of court. Douglas Fowley, Knox's older brother, finally finds him in a bar. He strong-arms O'Brien, but the lawyer's bodyguard, Mike Mazurki, pulls him off. O'Brien makes it back just in time to cross-examine the key witness and destroy his testimony.

Jayne Wyatt, his personal assistant, cautions him about his heavy drinking binges. After the trial, O'Brien assembles his firm and announces his retirement since his name has been nominated for a Supreme Court slot. Robert Shayne, one of his partners, becomes the new head of the firm. He goes to talk to Fowley to solidify his position with him.

At a restaurant, O'Brien learns that he was not endorsed by the Bar Association because of his flamboyant, unethical methods. So, he goes on another bender with Mazurki keeping watch over him. He returns to find that the son of one of the state board members has been accused of a crime. He angrily turns them down, but Wyatt smooths it over on both sides. The board members agree to resubmit his name.

The judge's son hit a man in a crosswalk and killed him. The boy had alcohol in his blood at the time, but was not drunk. O'Brien has three stooges hired to step up in front of members of the jury the day before the trial to make them sensitive about the fact that it could have happened to them. (Our old friend Chief Gates from Gildersleeve is one of them.)

Shayne signs a contract with Fowley that him his exclusive legal representation for a piece of his business. Fowley assumes that it includes O'Brien, even though he is no longer with the firm. The wife of one the accused murderers O'Brien defended comes to the door intending to kill him, but she breaks down and flees. O'Brien goes after her even though he has dinner guests coming. Wyatt and Mazurki visit while he is absent, and he tells her why he is so devoted to O'Brien. Mazurki pockets a gun and goes to look for O'Brien. Then we learn that Fowley is dead and Mazurki is held for the murder. Wyatt desperately tries to find O'Brien to defend his friend. Finally she finds him. He has been crushed by realization that you can be legally right and morally wrong. Though exhausted and in the throes of a massive hangover, O'Brien begins his defense. It hangs on the fact that a bowling trophy is missing off Fowley's desk.

The guilty party - Shayne, although he claimed self-defense.




Wyatt

Shayne