Penthouse (1933)

the audience applauded

Save your money for something good and enjoyable

Fantastic!

Great story, amazing characters, superb action, enthralling cinematography. Yes, this is something I am glad I spent money on.

****SPOILERS*** Gangster flick that has defense shyster-lawyer-Jackson Durant, Warner Baxter, defending his ex-lover Sue Leonard's, Martha Sleeper, fiancée Tom Siddall, Phillips Holmes, for a murder that he's sure that he didn't commit. Despite Sue's objections to Durant's tactics in getting guilty men off the hook she's now more then willing for him to to do the same thing for her lover Siddall. Siddall was alone with his now ex-girlfriend Mimi Montagne, Mea Clarke, on the patio at her former ex-boyfriend racketeer Jim Crelliman's, C. Henry Gordon, upper east side Manhattan pad when Mimi was shot dead from behind! Arrested in Mimi's murder Siddall swears that he didn't, a likely story, do it and to everyone's surprise Durant believes him.The film take on a romantic aspect to it when high paid call girl and the late Mimi's good friend Gertie Wexted, Myrna Loy, hooks up with Durant in helping him find Mimi's killer. It turns out that Gertie lives not that far, on the upper floor, in an apartment overlooking the murder scene! While Durant & Gertie start getting in on Siddall, who by now together with his fiancée Sue is almost forgotten, rots away in jail waiting to be convicted of murder and quickly, within 90 days back in the 1930's, executed.***SPOILERS*** It's when Durant finally got down to business in finding his client, who by then totally disappeared from sight, Siddall innocent he used his mob contact Tony Gazotti, Nat Pendelton, and a few ex-cops, who were drummed out of the department, to get Mimi's killer to confess. That's not after a wild shootout at Crelliman's penthouse apartment where almost the entire cast, including Tony Gazotti, ended up getting shot.

Typical, crude, 1930's gangster fare. One would think that everyone on the planet spoke in that illiterate, Chicago/Branx gutter staccato; this movie offers the same inane and offensive cant.The storyline? The same pap you've heard and seen a hundred times in the '30s and, sadly, in another few hundred 'noir' films of the '40s.Myrnay Loy is her adorable (though ill-fitted here) confident self before the camera, even though she is playing the five dollar floosie; the rest of the C cast are led by an over-the-hill Warner Baxter, a B-movie slug; going back to 1914.Beginning way back then in the infancy of cinema, the Chaldeans despised language skill and the masses sufficiently to pander this garbage to them.But, then again, you deserve it, don't you? It gets well deserved one star.

..... maybe it's her breezy insouciance, her light hearted way with a line or her captivating beauty. Whatever it is, she is the reason to remember this movie. After years of apprenticeship, including a stint as Anna May Wong's greatest rival she was finally coming into her own as a unique player full of charm and individuality. But by 1933 Mae Clarke must have finally realised that stardom was never going to be hers although she continued to give strong note worthy performances - just a little lower down the cast lists.When dazzling lawyer Jackson Durant (Warner Baxter) refuses payment for getting off notorious gangster Tony Gazzoti (Nat Pendleton) saying he did it just for fun, his staid law partners are not amused. Gangsters, chorus girls and boot leggers excite him more than drawing up wills for little old ladies wanting to leave their fortunes to their pets but his partners don't share his views and so he is let go. He is also given the cold shoulder by most of his society friends - all except Tom Siddal (Phillips Holmes), and his fiancée calls off their engagement. This suits Tom as he has been in love with Sue (pretty Martha Sleeper) for years but has to break off with his mistress, Mimi (Mae Clarke who was actually dating Phillips Holmes at the time) first and things don't go smoothly.Next thing, Jackson is visited by Sue who begs him to take up Tom's defence. He has been charged with the murder of Mimi who has been shot on the roof of the penthouse. You can't mistake this movie for any other than a pre-coder - the chemistry between Warner Baxter and the alluring Myrna Loy (well she really tries to make the chemistry happen, even though she spends most of the movie in this awful evening dress with a huge floppy bow in the front!!). She plays Gertie, Mimi's best friend and maybe the key to solving the murder. To pick her brain, Jackson has Gertie stay at his apartment, they even have matching pyjamas but she can't hide her disappointment when he directs her to the spare bedroom!! He says "I'm afraid you'll think I'm taking advantage of you" She says "I'm afraid you won't"!! He also says "I've been very stupid" to which she replies "Of course, you're a man"!!!All roads lead to Levitoff, a shifty pawn broker who seems to have his finger in all types of criminal activities as well as owning the building where Jackson is convinced the gun was fired from.Phillip Holmes was an actor who had had some build up in the very early 1930s but by now was playing very supporting roles of callow youths eg "Beauty for Sale". His role in "Penthouse" was more of the same with just more depth, even though he disappeared from the film quite early.

There is lots of entertainment value in this picture - quality acting, sharp dialog, quick pace - but those who are looking for a story based in realistic circumstances may be disappointed. Despite there being a goodly number of unsavory types among the characters, just about everyone comes across as clean-cut, friendly, ready with a smile, and not the least bit threatening. This takes the sharp edge off a picture with lots of promise in its early development. Nat Pendleton plays a crime boss as if he hasn't a care in the world, more than ready to use his resources to make others happy. The Myrna Loy character is appealing (much as her Nora Charles was), but defies explication: charming, intelligent, well-mannered and well-spoken, but content to serve the paying customers as a hostess/bar girl/prostitute. It just doesn't add up. Mae Clark, as a less refined colleague, is much more believable.[Don't fail to notice the latter, in a fit of anger, ready to throw a perfume bottle against the wall, then noticing the label and substituting a lesser brand; or Loy, keeping her composure as Warner Baxter chooses not to remain in her assigned room for the night, then immediately surveying her looks - right profile, left profile, hair, makeup - in a mirror, wondering if something has been lost.]The picture needs more grit, given its subject matter. Comic relief from Charles Butterworth and Tom Kennedy are just what it doesn't need.