Cinema Revisited: The Law in Her Hands (1936)
“The Law in Her Hands”
Directed by William Clemens. Cast: Margaret Lindsay, Glenda Farrell, Warren Hull, Lyle Talbot, Dick Purcell, Eddie Acuff, Al Shean, Addison Richards, Joseph Crehan, Matty Fain, Milt Kibbee, Eddie Shubert. Released May 16, 1936. Warner Brothers/First National. 58 minutes.
You have to hand it to Warner Brothers during the 1930s, even once the code was being enforced. For all their classics, the studio could also churn out great second-feature B movies that barreled through in under an hour and featured some top level players on the studio roster.
“The Law in Her Hands” presents Margaret Lindsay as Mary and Glenda Farrell as Dot, two fast-talking, smart-cookie, cool dame stereotypes of the period. The ladies are sworn in as lawyers at the outset of the movie and open their own practice. They witness an attempt at a shakedown by racketeers attempting to force a restaurant owner to pay for protection, then testify in court against the gangster's violent actions, getting him locked up. Rather than seek revenge, the head racketeer is impressed. He wants to hire the women to work for him, stating “I could throw a lot of things your way.”
Despite their struggling in finding cases to try, Dot and Mary refuse to work for a criminal. Meanwhile, a district attorney has fallen for Mary, and wants her to quit her law practice and settle down to be his wife. He even gets confessions from her clients before the case can go to trial. Desperate, Mary and Dot finally throw in the towel and agree to work for the racketeer. The result is a series of successful defense trials, success for the women, and chagrin from the DA boyfriend. Mary likes the retainer fee she is receiving, and Dot is happy to instruct witnesses how to act on the stand (when to cry, when to speak up) to help win cases. Of course it finally gets to the point where Mary refuses to defend the gangster when the crimes include murder.
It is commendable to see a 1930s-era drama featuring women presented in leading roles as lawyers with their own practice. While Glenda Farrell is great in her role, Margaret Lindsay comes off as a bit too refined to be believable as a fast-talking tough type (Joan Blondell might have been a better choice for the role). Still, Lindsay holds her own, and is supported by the likes of Warren Hull as the DA and Lyle Talbot as the head racketeer. Eddie Acuff is fun in a running gag as a process server who comes to see Dot while wearing any number of bandages from scuffles he had endured on the job.
Clocking in at just under an hour, “The Law in Her Hands” is typical of the Warner Brothers B unit during the 1930s – a quick pace, a compelling narrative, action, suspense, and great performances. Director William Clemens, helming only his second film, frames each scene nicely, effectively cutting away to close ups to enhance the dramatics (the shot of a court stenographer to break up the camera’s hold on the DA’s opening statement is just the type of seconds-long edit to enhance the rhythm of the narrative). Clemens would go on to direct B productions in the The Dead End Kids, Nancy Drew, Torchy Blane and Philo Vance series.
"The Law in Her Hands" is available on DVD in a special three-film package of Glenda Farrell movies, along with "Here Comes Carter" and "Dance Charlie Dance." That DVD is available here: Farrell films