Lionel Barrymore gave such an unforgettable performance as the alcoholic lawyer in "A Free Soul", that, not only was he given the Academy Award, he was quickly rushed into another "angst ridden" role in "Guilty Hands", filmed only a couple of months later. "Guilty Hands" was one of the better "perfect murder" movies and both the film and Barrymore won widespread acclaim at the time.
In his 10 years as District Attorney, Richard Grant (Lionel Barrymore) has sent more than 50 men to the electric chair - "Now that I've returned to private practise, I've kept a hundred of 'em out of it". He starts to believe that such a brilliant mind as his could commit the perfect murder. When Grant learns that his daughter is planning to marry a notorious womaniser, Gordon Rich (Alan Mowbray), who has hired Grant to draw up his will - Grant decides to put his theory to the test.
Barbara's (Madge Evans) cast off boyfriend, Tommy (William Bakewell) is distraught and tries to make her see what Gordon is really like, as does her father - but she will have none of it. At a dinner to announce their engagement, Richard makes his feelings clear - another guest who also does - with looks alone (but oh what looks!!) is Marjorie West (stunning Kay Francis), one of Gordon's former lovers. Kay Francis' fame was fast rising and she bought an intensity to her part that was becoming a characteristic of all her roles. From the time she entered "Guilty Hands" both she and Barrymore had no trouble in upstaging all the other players.
Later, that night, Gordon is found dead from a "self inflicted" gun shot wound to the head (or so it looks) - only Marjorie is convinced it is murder. After a dramatic showdown between her and Richard, she steals to his room and finds evidence. She finds a cut out figure fastened to a slowed down gramophone (his defence was that he had been pacing his room for most of the night). When Marjorie confronts him Richard launches into a speech "Have you ever seen a murder trial...Well, sit down and I'll show you yours!!!". Richard plans to frame Marjorie if she persists in saying that Gordon's death was foul play. Barrymore is magnificent and it is almost as spellbinding as his speech in "A Free Soul". Although the ending seems improbable, it is logically explained in the movie. "Guilty Hands" was director W.S. Van Dyke's first venture into the mystery genre, although it definitely wasn't his last - "Penthouse" (1933), "The Thin Man" (1934), "Manhattan Melodrama" (1934) and "Hideout" (1934) proved he would become a master of the genre.
Highly, Highly Recommended.
In his 10 years as District Attorney, Richard Grant (Lionel Barrymore) has sent more than 50 men to the electric chair - "Now that I've returned to private practise, I've kept a hundred of 'em out of it". He starts to believe that such a brilliant mind as his could commit the perfect murder. When Grant learns that his daughter is planning to marry a notorious womaniser, Gordon Rich (Alan Mowbray), who has hired Grant to draw up his will - Grant decides to put his theory to the test.
Barbara's (Madge Evans) cast off boyfriend, Tommy (William Bakewell) is distraught and tries to make her see what Gordon is really like, as does her father - but she will have none of it. At a dinner to announce their engagement, Richard makes his feelings clear - another guest who also does - with looks alone (but oh what looks!!) is Marjorie West (stunning Kay Francis), one of Gordon's former lovers. Kay Francis' fame was fast rising and she bought an intensity to her part that was becoming a characteristic of all her roles. From the time she entered "Guilty Hands" both she and Barrymore had no trouble in upstaging all the other players.
Later, that night, Gordon is found dead from a "self inflicted" gun shot wound to the head (or so it looks) - only Marjorie is convinced it is murder. After a dramatic showdown between her and Richard, she steals to his room and finds evidence. She finds a cut out figure fastened to a slowed down gramophone (his defence was that he had been pacing his room for most of the night). When Marjorie confronts him Richard launches into a speech "Have you ever seen a murder trial...Well, sit down and I'll show you yours!!!". Richard plans to frame Marjorie if she persists in saying that Gordon's death was foul play. Barrymore is magnificent and it is almost as spellbinding as his speech in "A Free Soul". Although the ending seems improbable, it is logically explained in the movie. "Guilty Hands" was director W.S. Van Dyke's first venture into the mystery genre, although it definitely wasn't his last - "Penthouse" (1933), "The Thin Man" (1934), "Manhattan Melodrama" (1934) and "Hideout" (1934) proved he would become a master of the genre.
Highly, Highly Recommended.