For The Defense (1930)

A slick criminal defense attorney (William Powell) refuses to marry his girlfriend (Kay Francis) declaring he's not the marrying kind. When she steps out with another man (Scott Kolk), their late night date ends in a manslaughter charge after his car strikes and kills a pedestrian ..... but it was she that was driving. Directed by John Cromwell (OF HUMAN BONDAGE). A combination of courtroom drama and soap opera, the movie benefits from the star power of Powell and Francis, not quite the major stars they would soon be. Otherwise, it's a routine programmer without any particular attributes that would make it stand out. This was a Paramount film but Powell and Francis would find mega stardom at other studios (Powell at MGM, Francis at Warners). If you're a fan of either actor or the courtroom drama genre, there's every reason to enjoy the film for what it is. With William B. Davidson and John Elliott.