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Poster for Shadow of the Law

Shadow of the Law

Seen it?

1930 | 69 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery

Monday Morning Maybeearly rating

Why it’s a Monday Morning Maybe

With a box office flop and almost no lasting buzz, this one could be a tough watch. Keep your phone handy.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it
Made for crime-drama fans and anyone who likes to be kept guessing. If you loved The Naked City or Sherlock: The Abominable Bride, start here.
The mood
Tense, dark and gritty.
The pace
Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 9 min.
What might put you off
Made in 1930: an older pace and style.

John Nelson, a well-to-do businessman, is escorting a woman he knows as Ethel Barry to the door of her apartment suite when a man steps out of the shadows and angrily demands to know where she has been. The embarrassed Nelson excuses himself and goes to his rooms in the same hotel. The woman rushes into his apartment followed by the man who met her in the hall. The man threatens her with violence and Nelson comes to her defense. In the ensuing fight, the man is knocked out of the window and falls to his death to the pavement many stories down. He is charged with the killing and his only witness that can prove self-defense for him has disappeared, and can not be found.

How it earned its rating

  • CriticsNot counted

    Not enough reviews on record yet

  • AudiencesNot counted

    Not measured yet: not enough ratings

  • AwardsNot counted

    No major awards or nominations

  • Box office & staying powerWeak

    $50K worldwide

  • Buzz & cultural impactWeak

    About 4K people sought it out in the past year

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Cast & crew

Directed by Louis J. Gasnier

  • William PowellJim Montgomery aka John Nelson
  • Marion ShillingEdith Wentworth
  • Natalie MoorheadEthel Barry aka Ethel George
  • Regis ToomeyTom Owens
  • Paul HurstPete Shore
  • George IrvingColonel Wentworth
  • Frederick BurtDetective Lt. Mike Kearney
  • James DurkinPrison Warden
  • Richard TuckerLew Durkin
  • Walter JamesCaptain of the Guards