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The Defense Rests

  • 1934
  • Approved
  • 1h 10m
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
215
YOUR RATING
Jean Arthur and Jack Holt in The Defense Rests (1934)
Drama

The assistant (Arthur) of a sleazy lawyer (Holt) is determined to end his cheating ways.The assistant (Arthur) of a sleazy lawyer (Holt) is determined to end his cheating ways.The assistant (Arthur) of a sleazy lawyer (Holt) is determined to end his cheating ways.

  • Director
    • Lambert Hillyer
  • Writer
    • Jo Swerling
  • Stars
    • Jack Holt
    • Jean Arthur
    • Nat Pendleton
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.5/10
    215
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Lambert Hillyer
    • Writer
      • Jo Swerling
    • Stars
      • Jack Holt
      • Jean Arthur
      • Nat Pendleton
    • 6User reviews
    • 2Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos4

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    Top cast66

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    Jack Holt
    Jack Holt
    • Matthew Mitchell
    Jean Arthur
    Jean Arthur
    • Joan Hayes
    Nat Pendleton
    Nat Pendleton
    • Rocky
    Arthur Hohl
    Arthur Hohl
    • James Randolph
    Raymond Walburn
    Raymond Walburn
    • Austin
    Harold Huber
    Harold Huber
    • Castro
    Robert Gleckler
    Robert Gleckler
    • Lou Gentry
    Sarah Padden
    Sarah Padden
    • Mrs. Evans
    Shirley Grey
    Shirley Grey
    • Mabel Wilson
    Donald Meek
    Donald Meek
    • Fogg
    Raymond Hatton
    Raymond Hatton
    • Louie
    Ward Bond
    Ward Bond
    • Hood
    John Wray
    John Wray
    • Michael Cooney
    Vivien Oakland
    Vivien Oakland
    • Mrs. Monte Ballou
    • (as Vivian Oakland)
    Selmer Jackson
    Selmer Jackson
    • Duffy
    J. Carrol Naish
    J. Carrol Naish
    • Monte Ballou
    Samuel S. Hinds
    Samuel S. Hinds
    • Dean Adams
    Arthur Belasco
    • Gun Store Owner
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Lambert Hillyer
    • Writer
      • Jo Swerling
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • Trivia
      "The Defense Rests" was included in the four-disc Jean Arthur Drama Collection along with "Whirlpool," "Most Precious Thing in Life," and "Party Wire," released by Turner Classics in November 2014. The quality of the transfers in this set is very clear, both video and audio.

    User reviews6

    Featured review
    6/10

    The Defense Rests

    "Joan Hayes" (Jean Arthur) is employed by hotshot criminal lawyer "Mitchell" (Jack Holt) just as he heads to court for what we are sure will be his 38th straight victory. Following a kidnapping, though, "Mrs Evans" (Sarah Padden) comes to visit and as her boss is busy, she is seen by the new and keen "Joan" who begins to piece two and two together and conclude that her butter-wouldn't-melt employer is maybe not quite the shining light he purports to be. Armed with some damning evidence, she confronts him - but events elsewhere overtake their stand-off and soon the fate of a man facing the chair is front and centre of the story. That story is a bit more substantial than many of these standard afternoon features with a rather beefier part for Arthur and a decent chemistry between the two as things get messy and dangerous. Add a couple of mob heavies and maybe just a hint of integrity and this makes for quite an enjoyable seventy minutes of crime-noir.
    • CinemaSerf
    • Jan 7, 2024
    • Permalink

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    Details

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    • Release date
      • July 15, 1934 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Take the Witness
    • Production company
      • Columbia Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 10 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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