Slightly Honorable (1940)

63% of users liked it
(44 ratings)

The successful producer-director combination of Walter Wanger and Tay Garnett served up another winner with Slightly Honorable. Adapted from F. G. Presnell's novel Send Another Coffin, the story concerns the efforts made by corrupt politician Cushing (Edward Arnold) to frame honest attorney John… More The successful producer-director combination of Walter Wanger and Tay Garnett served up another winner with Slightly Honorable. Adapted from F. G. Presnell's novel Send Another Coffin, the story concerns the efforts made by corrupt politician Cushing (Edward Arnold) to frame honest attorney John Webb (Pat O'Brien) for the murder of Alma Brehmer (Claire Dodd). In concert with his diligent and apparently slow-witted assistant Rus Sampson (Broderick Crawford), Webb hopes to squelch Cushing's plan by locating the real murderer-who turns out to be a lot closer to Webb than he'd ever imagined. Ruth Terry has one of her best screen roles as a birdbrained nightclub hoofer who helps Webb clear himself. Like many Walter Wanger productions of the period, Slightly Honorable is currently available on the public-domain video market. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 15 min.
Directed By: Tay Garnett
Written By: John Hunter Lay, Ken Englund
Genres: Action & Adventure, Mystery & Suspense, Classics, Comedy

In Theaters: Jan 22, 1940 Wide
On DVD: Mar 15, 2005

Critic Reviews

Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
A zany mystery/comedy featuring Pat O'Brien and Broderick Crawford ...

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

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Cast

            Pat O'Brien as John Webb

            Edward Arnold as Vincent Cushing

            Broderick Crawford as Russell Sampson

            Ruth Terry as Ann Seymour

            Claire Dodd as Alma Brehmer

            Alan Dinehart as Commissioner Joyce

            Janet Beecher as Mrs. Cushing

            Phyllis Brooks as Serilla Cushing

            Douglas Dumbrille as George Taylor

            Bernard Nedell as Pete Catina

            Eve Arden as Miss Alter

            Evelyn Keyes as Miss Vlissenger

            Addison Richards as Commissioner Fromm

            Douglas Fowley as Charles Madder

            John Sheehan as Mike Deley

            Howard Hickman as Senator Scott

            Willie Best as Art the Elevator Operator

            Robert Middlemass as Sen. Barry

            Ernest Truex as P. Hemingway Collins

            Cliff Clark as Capt. Graves

            Eddy Chandler as O'Leary the Cop

            John Deering as Radio Announcer

            Jack Greene as Detective

            Dick Rush as Detective

            Art Baker as Radio Announcers

            Wheaton Chambers as Guest

            Frank Dae as President of Senate

            Charles K. French as Pallbearer

            Bud Jamison as Humboldt the Cop

            Marjorie "Babe" Kane as Switchboard Operator

            George Magrill
            
            Victor Potel as Proprietor

            Zack Williams as Black Preacher

            Taylor Garnett as Reporter

            Douglass Dumbrille
            
See full cast

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