In this 1931 pre-Code classic, Stephen Ashe (Lionel Barrymore in his Oscar-winning role), is an upper class alcoholic defense attorney who successfully defends local mobster Ace Wilfong (Clark Gable in his breakout role)  in a murder case.  The attorney’s daughter, Jan Ashe (Norma Shearer)  breaks her engagement to polo player Dwight Winthrop (Leslie Howard)  and starts an affair with Ace Wilfong—but finds, when she wants out, that the liaison is not easily severed. Winthrop earns Miss Ashe’s true affections by killing Wilfong to break his grip on her.  Now the question is, can Jan’s father save Winthrop with an impassioned defense speech to the jury?