''I Stand Accused'' is a 1938 American drama film directed by

John H. Auer John H. Auer (August 3, 1906 in Budapest, Hungary – March 15, 1975 in North Hollywood, Los Angeles) was a Hungarian-born child actor who, on coming to the Americas in 1928, became a movie director and producer, initially in Mexico but, from th ...

and written by

Gordon Kahn Gordon Kahn (1902–1962) was an American writer and screenwriter who was blacklisted during the McCarthy era; he is the father of broadcaster and author Tony Kahn.and physician Jim Kahn. Background Gordon Jacques Kahn was born on May 1 ...

and Alex Gottlieb. The film stars Robert Cummings, Helen Mack, Lyle Talbot, Thomas Beck, Gordon Jones and Robert Paige. The film was released by

Republic Pictures Republic Pictures Corporation (currently held under Melange Pictures, LLC) was an American motion picture production-distribution corporation in operation from 1935 to 1967, that was based in Los Angeles. It had studio facilities in Studio City an ...

Plot

Two boyhood friends, Fred and Paul, become lawyers. Fred goes to work for criminals while Paul remains honest.

Cast

* Robert Cummings as Frederick A. Davis * Helen Mack as Alison Cooper * Lyle Talbot as Charles Eastman * Thomas Beck as Paul V. Reynolds * Gordon Jones as Blackie * Robert Paige as Joe Benson *

Leona Roberts Leona Roberts (born Leona Celinda Doty; July 26, 1879 – January 29, 1954) was an American stage and film actress. Life and career Roberts was born in a small village in Illinois. According to Find A Grave she was born in Monroe Twp, Ashtabu ...

as Mrs. Davis * Robert Middlemass as Norman L. Mitchell *

Thomas E. Jackson Thomas E. Jackson (July 4, 1886 – September 7, 1967) was an American stage and screen actor. His 67-year career spanned eight decades and two centuries, during which time he appeared in over a dozen Broadway plays, produced two others, acted i ...

as Detective Gilroy * John Hamilton as Defense Attorney Brower * Howard Hickman as Gilbert *Harry Stubbs as Mr. Moss *Robert Strange as Francis X. Ryan

Production

it was based on the career of lawyer

Dixie Davis J. Richard Davis (1905 – December 30, 1969), also known as Dixie Davis, was the lawyer for mobster Dutch Schultz. Biography Davis was born in New York City in 1905 and grew up in Tannersville, New York after his father, a tailor named D ...

. Robert Cummings had been dropped by Paramount Studios in September 1938 and found himself in less demand as an actor. "I was poison," he later said. "Not an agent would look at me." But he managed to get cast in the lead of this film. His casting was announced in September 1938.

Reception

Cummings said the film was "a fluke hit. So at least I could get inside the casting agents again."By Frederick C Othman United Press, Hollywood Correspondent. (1939, Mar 29). Prize faker finally lands regular job. ''The Washington Post''

References

External links

* *
I Stand Accused
at BFI 1938 films 1930s English-language films American drama films 1938 drama films Republic Pictures films Films directed by John H. Auer American black-and-white films 1930s American films English-language drama films {{1930s-drama-film-stub