Wolf of New York (1940)

Wolf of New York
Directed by William G. McGann
Written by Gordon Kahn and Lionel Hauser; story by Leslie T. White and Arnold Belgard
1940/USA
Republic Pictures
First viewing/Streaming on Amazon Instant Video

[box] A hundred times have I thought New York is a catastrophe, and fifty times: It is a beautiful catastrophe. — Le Corbusier[/box]

This is an entertaining “B” picture with some “A” list actors.

Chris Faulker (Edmund Lowe) is a clever defense attorney, sometimes known as “The Wolf of New York” for his prowess.  One of his clients is Hiram Rogers (James Stephenson – The Letter), a financier, though it was unclear to me in what context he represented Rogers.  We learn early on that Rogers is behind a series of robberies of financial institutions.  When the Police Inspector gets too close to the case he is murdered and Rogers’ assistant, a young man with a criminal record, gets the blame.  Faulkner defends the assistant but a critical alibi witness is also murdered before he can testify.  The assistant is convicted and Faulkner is so demoralized by the loss that he accepts a job as District Attorney so he can find the real killer.  With William Demerest as Faulkner’s wise-cracking factotum.

This is generally about on the level of a very good episode of Perry Mason.  James Stephenson makes a fascinating villain.  It’s such a shame that his film career ended before it had fairly begun with his death in 1941.

I couldn’t find a bit of media on this movie so readers will have to settle for generic material on 1940s New York.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqLoEdxwo0w

“New York: Vacation City” short circa 1940