THE CASE AGAINST MRS AMES
US, 1936, 85 minutes, Black-and-white.
Madeleine Carroll, George Brent, Arthur Treacher, Alan Baxter, Beulah Bondi, Alan Mowbray, Brenda Fowler, Esther Dale, Edward Brophy, Scotty Beckett.
Directed by William A.Seiter.
British Madeleine Carroll was one of the highest-paid actresses in the mid 1930s. She had appeared in Hitchcock’s The 39 Steps as well as films in the UK. She also went to Hollywood. This film came immediately after The 39 Steps.
This is a court case, crime thriller set in the wealthy families of San Francisco. Mrs Ames has been charged with the murder of her husband, the verdict in the case seeming to go against her. The prosecutor has withdrawn and a brash substitute steps in, played by George Brent. He is outspoken and mocking but allows Hope Ames to speak to the jury. She does so movingly, is acquitted, the prosecutor making a show of protest and finishing up in jail with a large fine.
Hope Ames finds herself in a difficult position, her mother-in-law, a severe Beulah Bondi, turning her little son, Scotty Beckett, against her. On the grandmother demands adoption rights.
The development of the film is Hope Ames paying the fine, employing the prosecutor to investigate the murder even though he still is convinced she is guilty. Even her own defence counsel, played by Alan Mowbray, tells her that he believes she is guilty.
Arthur Treacher does and enjoyably familiar turn as the very British Butler.
The investigation leads in many directions, ultimately showing the bad reputation of the murdered husband, the links with the investigating lawyer, more court scenes, test me the full boy against his mother, some club hostesses giving testimony against the murdered man, the outrage from his mother.
Along with the serious drama there are many comedy sequences, especially featuring Edward Brophy as a photographer, always trying to get the right photo, his journalist sidekick, who she is always get stuck on the chewing gum spat out by the photographer! There is a raid by the prosecutor on the office of the defending counsel and an expose – and happy ending.
An example of easy popular entertainment from Paramount in the 1930s.
