"THE CASE AGAINST MRS. AMES" (1936)

[rmichaelpyle]

I watched a really good little drama last night that I'm surprised I've never seen before, "The Case Against Mrs. Ames" (1936), with Madeleine Carroll, George Brent, Beulah Bondi, Arthur Treacher, Alan Baxter, Alan Mowbray, Esther Dale, Ed Brophy, and a creepy Mayo Methot. The plot opens with Mrs. Ames on trial for murder of her husband. Madeleine Carroll, playing Mrs. Ames, is acquitted. George Brent, the lawyer who was proceeding against her, then goes into a rage against the jury, is fined and put in jail, and the story goes on from there. It is a romance as well as a drama, but it is really pretty good as far as plot is concerned. The final resolution is well concealed. Good little drama, with Brent actually giving a living performance!! Carroll is someone one either warms to or not. I favor her, having loved her in Hitchcock the year before ("39 Steps") and the same year ("Secret Agent"), but some find her cool, if not icy. She was a Brit with more of an American way about her, but the two moods sometimes made for a cool customer at the movies. This film is very typical fodder of the 30's, but it's well done and can be recommended with a smile. 3 stars out of 4 at least...