Take the Stand (1934)
A radio columnist is threatened by gangsters and later murdered during a broadcast. A detective sets out to find the killers.
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if their story seems completely bonkers, almost like a feverish work of fiction, you ain't heard nothing yet.
The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful
One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.
An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.
The goings on of a depression era scandal sheet leads its star reporter (Jack La Rue) to notoriety, collecting many enemies. This leads to his pleading for his life behind locked doors, followed by a sudden gunshot. The killer gets away, and the evidence points to one of the victim's biggest subjects, socialite Gail Patrick, whose father (Berton Churchill) ends up on trial. With sexy Thelma Todd as La Rue's secretary, knowing all but saying little, leading to suspicions and accusations.Having the potential of being a thrilling who done it, this just ends up being a very convoluted and messy mystery. There are plenty of angles explored, but what ultimately comes out in court is so outlandish and absurd that it goes down as one of the most bizarre conclusions of a murder mystery. At least this has a huge cast of character actor favorites. It also gives Gail Patrick a rare sympathetic role on which she adds much charm and grace. Todd is lovely, but after the murder takes place, she gets very little to do until the conclusion.