Society Lawyer (1939)

An attorney (Walter Pidgeon) takes on a case defending the boyfriend (Lee Bowman) of his ex-girlfriend (Frances Mercer), who is accused of murdering a showgirl (Ann Morriss) on the terrace of an exclusive high rise apartments. Based on the novel PENTHOUSE by Arthur Somers Roche and directed by Edwin L. Marin (TALL IN THE SADDLE). Roche's novel had previously been filmed by MGM in 1933 and only six years later, they dusted it off as a B vehicle for Walter Pidgeon. It remains an absorbing murder mystery and at a tight running time of one hour and 17 minutes, director Marin zips through at a galloping pace. A fine example of how well crafted a B movie can be. Audiences liked it enough to that it turned a modest profit. With Virginia Bruce, Leo Carrillo (murdering the English language), Eduardo Ciannelli and Herbert Mundin.