Manslaughter

1930, Movie, NR, 85 mins

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A remake of the 1922 version that starred Leatrice Joy and Thomas Meighan, producer-writer-director Abbott did some considerable adaptation on this story and brought it up to date as well as removing much of the cloying sentiment. Colbert is an heiress with little regard for people or property. When she accidentally kills a motorcycle cop with her car, March, the zealous district attorney, is determined that there not be one law for the rich and one for the poor, so he pounds that home to the jury and Colbert is sent to jail. Once inside, she begins to learn about the other classes and is shocked to find her one-time maid also in prison, a woman whose first name she never knew. Colbert spends two years inside the gray walls and comes out a better woman for it. She was supposed to be there much longer but strings were pulled and old favors were called in by her family. March has fallen in love with her and regrets what he did, but his feeling for the law outstrips his affection for Colbert. He comes back to a private practice and wants to have a relationship with Colbert, but she will have nothing to do with him at first, even going so far as to plan revenge. In the end, she will probably join March in marriage, if we can believe the final scene in which she chases him down a street with affection, not anger, in her eyes. The best scenes are in the courtroom and at the prison where Colbert is first shunned and then accepted by the other inmates as an equal. In a small role, note Louise Beavers as one of the inmates. Abbott was in his forties when he worked on this film, and, while other creators were thinking about retiring, he was just beginning--he continued working well into his late nineties. leave a comment
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Manslaughter
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