''I Stand Accused'' is a 1938 American

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super ...

directed by John H. Auer and written by Gordon Kahn and Alex Gottlieb. The film stars

Robert Cummings Charles Clarence Robert Orville Cummings (June 9, 1910 – December 2, 1990) was an American film and television actor who appeared in roles in comedy films such as '' The Devil and Miss Jones'' (1941) and ''Princess O'Rourke'' (1943), and in ...

Helen Mack Helen Mack (born Helen McDougall; November 13, 1913 – August 13, 1986) was an American actress. She started her career as a child actress in silent films, moving to Broadway plays and touring one of the vaudeville circuits. Her greater succ ...

Lyle Talbot Lyle Florenz Talbot (born Lisle Henderson, also credited Lysle Talbot; February 8, 1902 – March 2, 1996) was an American stage, screen and television actor. His career in films spanned three decades, from 1931 to 1960, and he performed on ...

, Thomas Beck, Gordon Jones and

Robert Paige Robert Paige (born John Arthur Paige, December 2, 1911 – December 21, 1987) was an actor and a TV newscaster and political correspondent and Universal Pictures leading man who made 65 films in his lifetime: he was the only actor ever allowed t ...

. The film was released by Republic Pictures.

Plot

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

Cast

as Frederick A. Davis *

as Alison Cooper *

as Charles Eastman * Thomas Beck as Paul V. Reynolds * Gordon Jones as Blackie *

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 Robert Middlemass (September 3, 1883 – September 10, 1949) was an American playwright and stage actor, and later character actor with over 100 film appearances, usually playing detectives or policemen.(13 Feb 1937)Mrs. Susan C. Middlemass ...

as Norman L. Mitchell * Thomas E. Jackson as Detective Gilroy * John Hamilton as Defense Attorney Brower *

Howard Hickman Howard Charles Hickman (February 9, 1880 – December 31, 1949) was an American actor, director and writer. He was an accomplished stage leading man, who entered films through the auspices of producer Thomas H. Ince. Career In 1900, 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 Dav ...

. 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