The Man Who Talked Too Much (1940) is the first remake of the 1932 courtroom drama The Mouthpiece, based on the controversial 'attorney to the underworld' William J. Fallon. The Fallon character was played by the iconic Warren William in the original, while a second remake Illegal (1955) became a late-career vehicle for Edward G. Robinson. Normally associated with straight-arrow nice guys, George Brent stars as D.A. Stephen Forbes, who inadvertently sends an innocent man to the chair. Unable to put his idealistic little brother Johnny (William Lundigan) through school, Stephen goes crooked, using courtroom tricks to benefit gangster Roscoe (Richard Barthelmess, in one of his last roles). For one of his courtroom gimmicks, Forbes drops a professional boxer with one punch, but is secretly using brass knuckles. The idealistic younger brother Johnny is a new addition to the story, serving as a moral spokesman and to spur Forbes' guilty conscience. When Roscoe frames Johnny for murder, the desperate Forbes must use his legal talent in a case that really means something to him. Reviewers thought that Richard Barthelmess's mob chieftain was far too soft-spoken, and noted that actresses Virginia Bruce and Brenda Marshall had little to do. But all mentioned the good direction of Vincent Sherman and reserved special praise for George Tobias, whose comic relief henchman Slug McNutt steals every scene he's in.

By Glenn Erickson