Smart Woman 1948 DVD - Brian Aherne / Constance Bennett

When a grand jury grows dissatisfied with District Attorney Bradley Wayne (Otto Kruger), it calls for a special prosecutor, Robert Larrimore (Brian Aherne). Secretly in league with crime boss Frank McCoy (Barry Sullivan), Wayne assigns Larrimore the challenging Johnson case. McCoy coerces top defense attorney Paula Rogers (Constance Bennett) into defending Johnson, but a crucial witness surfaces, forcing McCoy to instruct Rogers to plead her client guilty. After the case, Larrimore and Rogers begin dating, making headlines alongside Larrimore's courtroom victories against the syndicate. Larrimore's pursuit leads him to Dr. Jasper, the only man able to identify the syndicate's mysterious leader. When Jasper goes into hiding, McCoy pressures Rogers to spy on Larrimore. She finds a revealing telegram, but withholds it from the gangsters. Larrimore confronts Wayne, demanding he betray his criminal partner or face indictment within 24 hours. As an attempt on Larrimore’s life fails, Wayne tries to bribe and then threaten McCoy. A struggle ensues, Wayne is killed, and Mrs. Wayne (Selena Royle), overhearing the altercation, faints. McCoy is arrested for murder. Rogers, reluctantly defending McCoy—knowing he's not a murderer—struggles through a difficult trial. Mrs. Wayne lies on the witness stand to protect her family's name, implicating McCoy. Desperate, Rogers testifies as a character witness and reveals her secret past marriage to McCoy. Larrimore realizes Mrs. Wayne couldn’t have seen the crime without her glasses, secures a statement from her, and clears McCoy. Ultimately, Larrimore reassures Rogers, and the couple reconciles. Cast: Brian Aherne as Robert Larrimore Constance Bennett as Paula Rogers Barry Sullivan as Frank McCoy Michael O'Shea as Johnny Simons James Gleason as Sam Corkle Otto Kruger as District Attorney Bradley Wayne Isobel Elsom as Mrs. Rogers Richard Lyon as Rusty Rogers Selena Royle as Mrs. Wayne Taylor Holmes as Dr. Jasper John Litel as Clark Nita Hunter as Patty Wayne Runtime: 93 minutes