Review of Crime Without Passion (1934) by Richard D — 22 Apr 2018

Claude Rains is a slimy defense attorney known for his ability to get seemingly guilty clients off with outrageous tactics. He's dating nightclub performer Margo, who he wants to dump for his socialite girlfriend Whitney Bourne, who he truly loves.

He sets up a meeting between Margo and her ex Stanley Ridges, and then uses it to accuse her on unfaithfulness. She confronts him, and he accidentally kills her. He uses his legal talents, manifested by a ghostly image of himself who he converses with, to construct an elaborate alibi for himself.

This film was the directorial debut of writing team Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur, although cinematographer Lee Garmes claimed he did most of the practical work of directing it. That's a plausible story since this is an a visually complex flick that opens with a really bravura sequence depicting the furies causing people to murder and suffer the consequences.

Rains seems to really enjoy playing an unrepentant slime ball.