The cast for "Slightly Honorable" has three top male stars of the Golden Age of Hollywood. It also has some top supporting actors and three top supporting actresses of the day. Pat O'Brien is attorney John Webb and Broderick Crawford is his associate, Russ Sampson. Crawford's role is particularly interesting because, while energetic, it isn't as bombastic as his screen persona became in time. Edward Arnold plays their nemesis here in a somewhat muted role. He's a wealthy crime boss, Vincent Cushing.
The film is billed as a comedy as well as a crime and drama. Eve Arden provides some of the comedy as Miss Ater, secretary to Webb and Sampson. Ruth Terry is a bubbly young singer at Pete Godena's Riviera Club, Ann Seymour ("Puss" to Webb). She takes to Webb, follows him everywhere, and provides some of the comedy. Claire Dodd, Douglas Dumbrille, Ernest Truex and a host of other actors contribute in this mystery mayhem. Before all is through, two dames are knocked off. The culprit is something of a surprise, but it's a bit hokey how Webb figures it out.
The film quality isn't very good. The background music is terrible and very distracting. Fortunately, it only plays during moments of suspense. But, the story is fair and the film has some good action and lots of commotion that contributes to an interesting movie. The film is based on a 1939 crime novel by Frank G. Presnell, "Send Another Coffin."
Here are a couple of my favorite lines. George Taylor (Dumbrille), "Who's conducting this inquiry – the police or this ambulance chaser?"
Russ Sampson, toasting, "For the people!" John Webb, "For the $100,000 retainer fee."
Pete Godena (played by Bernard Nedell), "Let's you and me have a nice little heart-to-heart talk, huh?" Alma Brehmer (Claire Dodd), "What would you use?"
The film is billed as a comedy as well as a crime and drama. Eve Arden provides some of the comedy as Miss Ater, secretary to Webb and Sampson. Ruth Terry is a bubbly young singer at Pete Godena's Riviera Club, Ann Seymour ("Puss" to Webb). She takes to Webb, follows him everywhere, and provides some of the comedy. Claire Dodd, Douglas Dumbrille, Ernest Truex and a host of other actors contribute in this mystery mayhem. Before all is through, two dames are knocked off. The culprit is something of a surprise, but it's a bit hokey how Webb figures it out.
The film quality isn't very good. The background music is terrible and very distracting. Fortunately, it only plays during moments of suspense. But, the story is fair and the film has some good action and lots of commotion that contributes to an interesting movie. The film is based on a 1939 crime novel by Frank G. Presnell, "Send Another Coffin."
Here are a couple of my favorite lines. George Taylor (Dumbrille), "Who's conducting this inquiry – the police or this ambulance chaser?"
Russ Sampson, toasting, "For the people!" John Webb, "For the $100,000 retainer fee."
Pete Godena (played by Bernard Nedell), "Let's you and me have a nice little heart-to-heart talk, huh?" Alma Brehmer (Claire Dodd), "What would you use?"