For the Defense (1930): cast, story & where to watch
1930 · Film · ★ 5.1
Released in 1930, For the Defense is a drama, crime and romance film directed by John Cromwell, running about 65 minutes. “Too CLEVER to be STRAIGHT” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. William Foster is a slick attorney who stays within the law, but specializes in representing crooks and shady characters. He's adept at keeping them out of jail, winning acquittals, and having decisions reversed, thus springing criminals out of prison. He is romantically involved with dancer Irene Manners, who is two-timing him, although she wants to marry him. She kills a man driving while out with her other man, Jack Defoe, who takes the blame. Unfortunately, a ring Foster had just given Irene is found at the crime scene. Foster ends up defending Jack, but when the ring is found, he thinks he is protecting Irene, so pleads guilty to jury tampering.
Who’s in it. For the Defense stars William Powell as William Foster, Kay Francis as Irene Manners, Scott Kolk as Jack Defoe and William B. Davidson as Dist. Atty. Stone, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 5.1/10, For the Defense has proved divisive with audiences.
Where to watch. In US you can rent or buy it from Amazon Video. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch For the Defense page.
If you liked it. Fans of For the Defense tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch For the Defense (1930)?
- In US, For the Defense is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is For the Defense worth watching?
- For the Defense holds an audience score of 5.1 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 For the Defense?
- For the Defense stars William Powell, Kay Francis, Scott Kolk, William B. Davidson and John Elliott.
- When was For the Defense released?
- For the Defense was released in 1930, with a runtime of about 65 minutes.