Directed by George Archainbaud and executive produced by David O. Selznick for RKO, State's Attorney (1932) stars John Barrymore as Tom Cardigan, an ambitious criminal lawyer who uses his ties to the crooked underworld to further his career. After successfully defending good-hearted prostitute June (Helen Twelvetrees) on solicitation charges as a favor for gangster Valentine "Vanny" Powers (William Boyd), Tom becomes romantically involved with her. June encourages Tom to turn over a new leaf as an honest man while Powers tries to convince him to take a job in the District Attorney's office as an "inside" man for the mob. Torn between his political aspirations and his loyalty to the woman who loves him, Tom must decide on which side of the law he truly stands when Powers eventually goes on trial for murder.

John Barrymore gives a charming performance as the shameless attorney who will pull out every stop in the courtroom if it will help him win a case. 1932 was a top-drawer year for Barrymore films. State's Attorney followed on the heels of his highly praised work in Arsène Lupin, Rasputin and the Empress, George Cukor's A Bill of Divorcement and MGM's Best Picture winner that year, Grand Hotel.

State's Attorney is a fast-paced pre-Code gem that features sharp dialogue, excellent performances and a winning mix of comedy and courtroom melodrama that is sure to please fans of both genres. RKO also released a sanitized remake called Criminal Lawyer in 1937 starring comedian Lee Tracy.

By Andrea Passafiume

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