Movie spotlight
The Woman Accused
Jeffrey and Glenda are two lovers about to embark on a three-day cruise to nowhere. Their plan is to be married on board by the ship's captain. As Glenda is packing to leave, she receives a threatening phone call from her obsessed, former lover Leo. Glenda confronts Leo and tells him that it's over. Leo, a high-powered attorney calls a hit man to have Jeffrey eliminated. Glenda knocks Leo over the head before he can give the hit man a name. Leo is dead. Glenda sneaks back into her apartment, goes off on the cruise with Jeffrey and pretends that all is swell. Leo's partner, Stephen Bessemer, suspects Glenda and follows her to the ship. Bessemer stages a mock trial aboard the ship and cleverly draws a confession from Glenda. Jeffrey, also an attorney, represents Glenda when she is arrested upon arriving on shore. A skeptical district attorney, and the fact that Jeffrey horsewhips the star witness (the hit man), combine to get Glenda completely off the hook.
Insights
Plot Summary
A young woman, Mary Brooks, is on trial for the murder of a wealthy businessman. She claims self-defense, stating he attacked her. The prosecution attempts to paint her as a gold-digger who manipulated the victim. As the trial progresses, inconsistencies and hidden motives begin to surface, suggesting a more complex truth behind the man's death and Mary's involvement.
Critical Reception
Upon its release, 'The Woman Accused' was generally met with mixed to positive reviews, largely due to its suspenseful plot and Nancy Carroll's central performance. Critics often highlighted the film's ability to maintain a sense of mystery and its exploration of the legal system, though some found the resolution to be somewhat predictable. It was considered a solid example of early Hollywood crime dramas.
What Reviewers Say
Praised for its suspenseful courtroom drama and central mystery.
Nancy Carroll's performance as the accused woman was a notable highlight.
Some critics found the plot predictable, but the overall execution was engaging for its time.
Google audience: Information on specific Google user reviews from 1933 is not available.
Fun Fact
The film was produced by Paramount Pictures and was part of a trend of courtroom dramas and crime thrillers popular in early 1930s Hollywood.
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