Criminal Lawyer (1951)

A clever criminal attorney (Pat O'Brien), who has a serious drinking problem, has a reputation for representing scum and other dubious clients. His ethics and courtroom tactics cost him a judicial appointment that he wanted very much. But when his loyal man Friday (Mike Mazurki) is charged with murder, he is determined to redeem himself. This low budget unpretentious "B" has humble aspirations. Clocking in at an hour and 14 minutes, the film plays out like an extended PERRY MASON episode. On that level, it's modestly entertaining. The aging O'Brien was well past his leading man status and as his loyal secretary, Jane Wyatt was already looking motherly (FATHER KNOWS BEST was just three years away). The film does give a nice part to Mazurki who gets a chance at playing a character with more shading than the brawny thugs he usually ended up playing. Directed by Seymour Friedman. With Amanda Blake, Darryl Hickman, Carl Benton Reid, Mary Castle, Douglas Fowley and Marvin Kaplan.