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6.4/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 6.4/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. The Public Defender remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
You should probably watch The Public Defender if you’re the kind of person who likes watching old movies where the actors move like they’re afraid they’ll break the floor. It’s great for a lazy Sunday when you want to see a rich guy in a tuxedo act like he’s Batman but without the cool car.
If you need fast-paced action or things actually blowing up, you’re going to hate this one. It’s mostly men in very high-waisted pants talking in rooms about bank ledgers.
Richard Dix plays our hero, Pike Winslow. He has this very intense way of looking at people, like he’s trying to remember if he left the oven on back at his mansion.
When he hears that Barbara Gerry’s dad is getting blamed for a bank scandal, he doesn't just write a check. He decides to become 'The Reckoner.'
It’s a pretty funny name for a guy who basically just breaks into offices to look at paperwork. He leaves these little cards with a skull and crossbones or something on them to scare the bad guys. 💀
The whole thing feels very much like a play that someone decided to film at the last minute. The cameras don't move much, so you get a lot of time to look at the backgrounds.
I noticed the furniture in Pike’s apartment looks incredibly uncomfortable. Everything is very sharp and Art Deco, which I guess was the vibe back then.
Pike has two sidekicks who are honestly more interesting than he is. There’s 'The Professor' and 'Doc.'
The Professor is supposed to be the brainy one, and Doc is the muscle. They just sort of hang around waiting for Pike to tell them what to do, like very loyal dogs in suits.
There’s this one scene where they are planning a break-in and the music gets all dramatic for no reason. It’s just three guys standing around a table, but the score makes it sound like the world is ending.
I really liked the lighting in the office scenes. It has that early noir feel where the shadows are super long and everyone looks a bit suspicious just by standing still.
It reminded me a little bit of Inside the Lines because Richard Dix just has that 'I have a secret' face down to a science. He doesn't even have to try.
Oh, and keep an eye out for Boris Karloff. This was right before he became super famous for playing monsters.
He plays a guy named Jessup. He doesn't have a huge role, but you can tell he’s got that screen presence even when he’s just standing there.
It’s kind of funny to see him as just a regular guy after seeing him as Frankenstein’s monster a million times. He looks so young here!
The plot about the bank embezzlement is... well, it’s a bit dry. I’m not sure I fully understood how the frame-up worked, but the movie doesn't really care if you do either.
It just wants you to root for Pike because he’s a 'Public Defender' of justice or whatever. He’s basically a vigilante who specializes in white-collar crime. 🏦
The lady in the movie, Barbara, doesn't get much to do besides look worried. She spends a lot of time leaning against doorways and looking like she’s about to faint.
There is a moment where Pike is trying to be romantic and it feels so awkward. Like, the two actors are standing about five feet apart while saying they love each other.
The dialogue is very 'stagy.' People don't talk like this in real life, but it’s fun to hear them try.
One guy says something like 'The game is up!' and I actually cheered a little bit. It’s so classic.
The movie is pretty short, which is a plus. It gets in, does the mystery thing, and gets out before you get bored of the bank talk.
I did notice a weird shadow on the wall during one of the big reveals that looked like a boom mic. Or maybe it was just a very oddly shaped lamp. 🎙️
Either way, it didn't ruin the scene. It just made it feel more real, like they were rushing to get the shot before the sun went down.
The ending is very abrupt. Pike basically solves everything and then the movie just... stops.
I guess they figured we knew how it would end, so why waste time showing the trial? It’s a very efficient way to make a movie, I suppose.
It’s not as polished as something like The Flying Fleet, but it has its own weird charm. It’s a scrappy little crime movie.
If you like seeing how movies were made right after sound came in, this is a cool artifact. It has all those weird pauses where you can hear the background noise of the set.
Overall, it’s a solid 70 minutes of guys in suits being very serious about things that don't seem that serious. I enjoyed it way more than I thought I would.
Just don't expect a superhero movie. Expect a guy who really, really likes justice and stationery.
IMDb —
1916
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