Directed: Clarence Brown

Year: 1931

Nominated: Best Director – Clarence Brown, Best Actor – Lionel Barrymore, Best Actress – Norma Shearer

Won: Best Actor – Lionel Barrymore

Plot in 25 Words: An alcoholic lawyer defends a mobster for murder, then has to defend HIS murderer after he abuses his daughter. Truly terrible romance decisions are made.

In My Opinion: I watched this film only a week ago and it’s not a good sign that I needed to consult two different websites to try and recall the plot of this film.

Apparently the gist was girl loves boy, father defends criminal, girl falls for criminal, criminal is mean to girl (shockingly!), boy kills criminal, father defends boy, girls loves boy.

Oh it’s a tale as old as time!

Along the way there was alcoholism and hiking but nothing really of note.

I really enjoy watching Norma Shearer’s work but her characters are all starting to merge into the same person.

One fun part for me was my first sighting of Clark Gable. I’m really looking forward to Gone With The Wind and I’ve obviously seen the iconic poster. The mental image I hold of that did NOT match the Clark Gable of this film!

Star Performer: Lionel Barrymore as Stephen Ashe. His descent into total alcoholism was sad but his courtroom speech was heartbreaking.

Overall: Lionel Barrymore aside there was not too much to remember about this film!