The Spellbinder 1939_PARENTE

Criminal trial lawyer Jed Marlowe successfully uses theatrics and hyperbole in court to defend his clients. While he outwardly states that he never defends someone he knows is guilty, the statement is more for the benefit of those who want to hear such, most specifically his daughter, finishing school student Janet Marlowe. One of those misleading situations is Jed's relationship with one of his wealthy clients on retainer, Tom Dixon, who has been charged with the murder of his auditor J.J. Henkins and who earlier told Jed he was going to deal with Henkins in such a manner. After those theatrics and hyperbole work again in he getting Tom acquitted of the murder, with the intended side consequence of being imprisoned himself for contempt for thirty days, Jed has to figure out how to get himself out of the hole he dug for himself when Janet ends up marrying Tom, who, in turn, arguably did so only for the protection of being under Jed's family umbrella.