The Crusader (1932)

Fascinating little pre-Coder about the law and hypocrisy as seen by the crusader, a district attorney (H.B. Warner) who is hard as nails where the law is concerned.

The story opens with the execution of the woman who killed a man while "defending her honor." The DA points points out that the woman was a tramp but in any case murder is murder. But a nosy reporter (Ned Sparks) digs up some info on the DA's wife (Evelyn Brent) and her past as a speakeasy hostess in New York.

Into the mix comes the DA's sister (Marceline Day) who is dating a stranger. But both Brent and Sparks recognize him as a gangster from New York. At a local club run by Lew Cody (a former boyfriend of Brent's) the gangster brings the naive sister and attacks her in a private dining room. The irony here is that the sister kills a man while defending her honor. Both Brent and Cody try to claim responsibility for the murder, but Warner isn't as dumb as everyone thinks.

Solid early talkie with good performances by all involved. Warner, Brent, and Sparks are standouts.