I Am the Law (1938)
As the title suggests, Edward G. Robinson plays a man on the right side of the law this time around. No more gangsters for him! In fact, he’s such a well-respected professor that he gets asked by the district attorney to help scourge out the organized crime of the city. He wants a group of men to testify against the gangsters who sold them protection of their stores, but the men are too frightened of getting killed. Eddie G finds out how serious their fears are, and he’s outraged! Add in the subplot of John Beal as Eddie G’s law student protégé and John’s father Otto Kruger as the head of the evil organization, and you’ve got a ticking time bomb embedded in the story.
By far and away, though, the highlight of the movie is the nightclub scene. While out on the town with Wendy Barrie, they tear up the floor with the “big apple” dance. It’s a sort of jitterbug, and with his huge grin, eyes crinkled in merriment, and finger waving in the air as he wiggles his hips, it’s the cutest scene of his career. I loved seeing Eddie flirt around in this movie, not only with Wendy, but with his wife, Barbara O’Neil. They have separate beds, but she crooks her finger and says, “The shortest distance between two points is a straight line. . .” As Eddie kisses her and buries his head in her bosom (yes, he really does that!) she tells him there’s a present for him in the dresser drawer. He whines and grumbles, not wanting to leave her bed; it’s very funny.
There is a healthy balance of comedy and drama in I Am the Law. Family relationships are tested, policemen plan elaborate schemes, and courage is rewarded in usual ways. Eddie G has tons of energy, and John is great as a “Franchot Tone’s younger brother” type. For more Eddie G in similar types of roles, check out The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse and Five Star Final.
Want to watch it? Click here to see it on ok.ru and thanks "Nadeem Sarwar" for posting!
More Edward G. Robinson movies here!
By far and away, though, the highlight of the movie is the nightclub scene. While out on the town with Wendy Barrie, they tear up the floor with the “big apple” dance. It’s a sort of jitterbug, and with his huge grin, eyes crinkled in merriment, and finger waving in the air as he wiggles his hips, it’s the cutest scene of his career. I loved seeing Eddie flirt around in this movie, not only with Wendy, but with his wife, Barbara O’Neil. They have separate beds, but she crooks her finger and says, “The shortest distance between two points is a straight line. . .” As Eddie kisses her and buries his head in her bosom (yes, he really does that!) she tells him there’s a present for him in the dresser drawer. He whines and grumbles, not wanting to leave her bed; it’s very funny.
There is a healthy balance of comedy and drama in I Am the Law. Family relationships are tested, policemen plan elaborate schemes, and courage is rewarded in usual ways. Eddie G has tons of energy, and John is great as a “Franchot Tone’s younger brother” type. For more Eddie G in similar types of roles, check out The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse and Five Star Final.
Want to watch it? Click here to see it on ok.ru and thanks "Nadeem Sarwar" for posting!
More Edward G. Robinson movies here!