Nearly a perfect frame
John Barrymore’s career was in decline at this point. He was relegated to supporting roles in ‘A’ films or the occasional lead role in a ‘B’ film. NIGHT CLUB SCANDAL, a ‘B’ remake of Paramount’s earlier ‘A’ picture GUILTY AS HELL, gives Barrymore top billing. However, his character is off screen for portions of the narrative while all the heavy work is done by costars Lynne Overman and Charles Bickford.
In the original precode, the parts played by Overman (an annoying newspaper reporter in the Lee Tracy mode) and Bickford (a hard-nosed cop) were the central characters. Barrymore is cast as a respected doctor who kills his wife, and to get away with homicide, he pins the deed on the wife’s lover (Harvey Stephens). It’s nearly a perfect frame. When Stephens’ alibi doesn’t hold up, because he had gone to see the wife, only after she’d been murdered, he becomes the prime suspect.
Soon Stephens is headed to the electric chair, and Overman’s character who’s sweet on Stephens’ sister (Louise Campbell) works to prove the man’s innocence. There are some amusing scenes where Overman tries to demonstrate his theory about what really happened, though he is not yet aware Barrymore’s the culprit, only that Stephens didn’t do it.
A subplot involves a side scam that Barrymore is running with a racketeer (J. Carrol Naish) who owns the titular nightclub. Barrymore has used Naish’s help to plant an incriminating piece of evidence at the scene that sews up Stephens’ conviction. Yes, Barrymore has considered all the angles, except there is a loose end when Naish attempts to blackmail him. So Barrymore has to commit a second killing, getting rid of Naish during a tricky operating procedure.
Barrymore is not particularly great in this film; he seems to be going through the motions to collect a paycheck and keep his movie career from stalling. It’s Bickford who gives the film’s best performance, in a no-nonsense copper role that had been done in the original film by Victor McLaglen, and on the Broadway stage by Thomas Mitchell.
The Broadway play was called Riddle Me This, written by Daniel Rubin, and it had two successful runs– in 1932 and again in 1933 after the release of the first film. This is a good programmer worth a look thanks to decent writing and what Bickford brings to the screen.
Of or Involving Motion Pictures 
I enjoyed reading about this feature — I’m curious about Lynne Overman (who I’ve never heard of!) and I’m always up for a Charles Bickford performance. I’d like to check this one out, as well as the original — thank you for introducing these to me!
Also, on a completely different subject, if you’re interested, I’d love to invite you to check out the Classic Movie Blog Association — it’s a great group of old movie lovers like you! http://clamba.blogspot.com/p/a.html
— Karen
Thanks Karen for the feedback. I think this may have been the first Lynne Overman performance that caught my attention. Now I am eager to view more of his film work. I will take a look at the movie blog association you mentioned! – Jarrod