Shadow of the Law (1930)

Sadly Over-hyped

I am only giving this movie a 1 for the great cast, though I can't imagine what any of them were thinking. This movie was horrible

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

The movie really just wants to entertain people.

I have some issues with the set-up of this movie. William Powell is convicted of murdering a man by shoving him out a window; it was self-defense, when the man's lover, played by Natalie Moorhead, rushed into Powell's apartment, followed by the man, who attacked her. Powell defends her and, in the struggle, the man goes out the window. The woman flees. However, the woman's apartment is in the same building; the elevator operator had seen the man in her apartment; people had heard them fighting for some time before they wound up in Powell's apartment. Anyway, Powell winds up in prison, escapes, makes his way down south and reestablishes himself under a different name, and the story continues on its melodramatic way, lent some sense by Powell's typically intelligent air. It's not great, despite a script co-written by by John Farrow.It's directed by Louis Gasnier. Gasnier may be remembered only for the hideous REEFER MADNESS, but he had a long and fine career, entering films alongside Max Linder and directing the landmark serial THE PERILS OF PAULINE. If this mediocre melodrama points to why his career was on the downslide, perhaps it reflects more a change in taste and attendant carefulness in production than failure on his part.

Sweet Marion Shilling's training in stock as a child did not seem to bode well for the movies but she began at the top in MGM's "Wise Girls" (1929)- her next one, however, bought her undone. It was "Lord Byron of Broadway" - MGM had hopes it was going to be their musical of the year but maybe because of the unlikeability of the main star (he played an ego driven song smith who deserts his real friends on his way to the top) it was a huge flop and as a result Shilling soon found herself on an express to poverty row. Her option was picked up by Paramount for a few films and even though for all her top female billing in this one she only made her appearance around the 39 minute mark, she still had a cute and winning personality!!It was up to exotic Natalie Moorehead, she of the vamp supreme, to grab the juiciest female part. She plays Ethel George who after a night on the town with debonair James Montgomery (William Powell) returns to her apartment and into the flying fists of her "sugar daddy"!! Appropriately attired in black underwear!!! she flies to the gentlemanly Montgomery who after intervening between the sparing pair accidentally causes the man's death!! Ethel flees and James faces the law alone with no-one to confirm it was self defence. This movie is all story with more twists than a winding road. It's nice to see Paul Hurst in a sympathetic role, he plays Pete Shore, Jame's prison buddy whose friendship is cemented when James is asked by authorities to turn "stoolie" on his mate but refuses. Next comes "I Am a Fugitive From a Chain Gang" deja vu (maybe that illustrious film copied this more lowly one) - James has escaped and two years later he is working as a factory manager down South under a new name. He is eager to find Ethel so she can go to the authorities and corroborate his innocence, he has a new girl, sweet Ethel and wants to clear his name so he can hold his head high. And while Ethel sounds contrite with "I've gone through hell, knowing I've let James down", her only thought is to shake him down to the tune of $50,000!!! Regis Toomey who after his break through role the year before in "Alibi" must have wondered where his career was heading - he has just a walk on role as a man Ethel picks up on the train bound for South Carolina!!This is one early talkie that could not be accused of being static. Powell as usual gives a dependable performance and shows why he was going to be around for many years to come!!

Jim Montgomery (William Powell) has an evening out with a lovely neighbor (Agnes Moorehead as Ethel) and he is hoping for a nightcap and maybe a little more than that when they arrive back at her front door, she seems nervous about letting him in and should be - an angry jealous man awaits her inside. Jim excuses himself not knowing if the man is a husband or a gangster or both. Later the neighbors can hear the man yelling and slapping Ethel around. Dressed in her nightclothes, Ethel runs into Jim's apartment and begs for his protection, but the angry man is right behind her and intends to continue the beating. Jim intervenes and tries to contain the man, and in the process the unknown man loses his balance and falls from Jim's apartment window to his death. Ethel mentions something about how she cannot have a scandal, and runs away - as in packing her things and vacating the apartment before the police even get there.Without anyone to back up his story, Jim faces murder charges and gets life. He spends three years in prison before the warden makes him head con at the machine shop. He uses this opportunity of trust to escape by packing himself into one of the crates slated for shipment. Two years after that Jim's old cellmate, Pete, finishes his sentence and comes to where Jim is at Jim's request, a textile plant in North Carolina where Jim is now known as John Nelson. He is supervisor of the plant and practically engaged to the daughter of the plant's owner. Nobody there knows who he really is . Jim says that he's tired of hiding and wants to live out in the open but can't do so unless the mysterious Ethel agrees to an affidavit saying Jim is really innocent. He's hired private detectives who have found her but he needs Pete to go to her and convince her to speak up. He can't go himself for fear of risking arrest. Plus there is a police detective that is still looking for Jim after all these years since Jim is the only escaped con he ever trailed that he could not find. Jim gives Pete five thousand dollars to sweeten the pot for Ethel to tell the truth. Pete is an ex-con - will he take the money and run? If he doesn't can he convince Ethel to return with him? And what was so special about her identity that she wouldn't come forward in the first place? Watch and find out.I honestly don't know why this one has such a low rating. William Powell plays his familiar dapper self although it is a bit of a shock seeing him minus his trademark moustache and in prison garb for about 15 or 20 minutes of the movie. Natalie Moorehead plays the mysterious femme fatale so well as she does in so many of these early talking films. The only bad thing I could say about it is the final showdown of the film - if you watch it you'll know what I'm talking about - is just talked about by a third party. You never see it happen, and that makes the ending somewhat unsatisfactory. Also, besides Powell and Moorehead and a cameo appearance by Regis Toomey all of the other actors in the film were pretty much unknowns. I'd say this is definitely worth your time if you like William Powell.