The Spellbinder (1939): cast, story & where to watch
1939 · Film · ★ 6
Released in 1939, The Spellbinder is a drama, crime and romance film directed by Jack Hively, running about 69 minutes. “Trapped - Between the Daughter he Loved and the Law He Defied!” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. Jed Marlowe is a brilliant, scheming, unscrupulous criminal lawyer whose specialty is defending criminal he knows is guilty but gets them off through loop-holes or bribery. Then his daughter, misled by her father’s courtroom performance, but unaware of his back-room tactics, marries the killer her father has just unjustly save from the electric chair. What’s a poor father to do?
Who’s in it. The Spellbinder stars Lee Tracy as Jed Marlowe, Barbara Read as Janet Marlowe, Patric Knowles as Tom Dixon and Allan Lane as Steve Kendall, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.0/10, The Spellbinder has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Spellbinder page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Spellbinder tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Spellbinder (1939)?
- Streaming, rental and purchase options for The Spellbinder change frequently. Check our where-to-watch page for the latest availability in your country.
- Is The Spellbinder worth watching?
- The Spellbinder holds an audience score of 6.0 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama, crime and romance. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in The Spellbinder?
- The Spellbinder stars Lee Tracy, Barbara Read, Patric Knowles, Allan Lane and Linda Hayes.
- When was The Spellbinder released?
- The Spellbinder was released in 1939, with a runtime of about 69 minutes.