Pacionsbo Absolutely Fantastic

Afouotos Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

RipDelight This is a tender, generous movie that likes its characters and presents them as real people, full of flaws and strengths.

Deanna There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.

Ishallwearpurple Guilty Hands (1931) Kay Frances, Lionel Barrymore, Madge Evans, Alan Mowbray. Babs(Evans) is wooed and won away from her young sweetheart by older cad, Gordan Rich(Mowbray). Her father, Barrymore(Richard Grant) vows to kill him and get away with it if he won't stop seeing Babs. Marjorie(Kay Francis) loves Gordan and sees what happens. . She threatens to unmask the real killer. It would take a few more years to have films made from the camera point-of-view This is melodrama 1931 style. Most actors came from the stage; lots of scripts were reworking Plays; directors also had mainly stage training. So, if we today criticize, using todays standards, it is very unfair. This is a fairly interesting plot, with mostly pros in the title roles. The star in Barrymore and he is good. Kay Francis has lovely fashions to wear, and holds her own. And because it is pre-code, a surprising ending. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0021933/

bruno-32 Caught this last night on a boring night of TV, and was mildly amused by the concept. Some reviewers here say that Barrymore's performance was hammy, and I have to agree a bit, that it was, but being a primarily stage actor turning to films, is understandable. The real ham acting in my opinion was Miss Kay Francis. Her role was interesting, but her reactions to Barrymore's insinuations were not believable. I thought it an amateurish performance, albeit, she had masterly improved in latter years. The ending was a shocker in a way, but again so amateurishly performed..but hey, this was 1933. Also, the daughters character was out of whack. Most of the movie she was this innocent, fragile child seeking love, and then becomes this wanton creature.

blanche-2 Lionel Barrymore has "Guilty Hands" in this 1931 film also starring Kay Francis, Madge Evans, and C. Aubrey Smith. When attorney Richard Grant (Barrymore) finds out that his daughter Barbara (Evans) is about to marry a playboy, Richard threatens his life. Richard has long believed it's possible to commit the perfect crime; now, in order to save his daughter from a disastrous marriage, he has his chance and takes it at a dinner party. It's all for naught - Barbara has realized that she's in love with someone else and decided not to marry Gordon. Too late.Richard then goes along with an investigation of the murder. Kay Francis plays Richard's old girlfriend who also becomes a suspect.This is very much an early talkie, complete with the big, dramatic acting, especially by Barrymore, that came from stage actors who appeared in films back then. It was the style, and while it seems hammy today, in 1931, it wasn't. Kay Francis as usual is lovely and does a fine job in her role.The ending is very interesting. It's hard to judge these films when seen today. By 1931 standards, though, this is a good movie.

MartinHafer The premise is one I have thought about on several occasions--is it okay to kill a person since that person is essentially selfish and evil? And, if you say yes, can it be done in a way where you can get away with it and live with yourself? Well, the movie examines these questions though at the very end the film seems to back-peddle a bit and supplies a very contrived ending.Lionel Barrymore is in top form in this film. Always an exceptional actor, he's younger and more vigorous here and so you see him doing more and being more action-oriented than usual. His daughter is planning on marrying a thorough cad (played by the perfect cad, Alan Mowbray). Despite Barrymore pleading with her and the awful fiancé, they are determined to marry. So, Barrymore tells Mowbray that if Mowbray doesn't change his plans, that he will murder him! You'd think this would be enough to convince the evil husband-to-be to change his plans but he doesn't. Considering just how perverted and selfish Mowbray is, you really are cheering Barrymore on when he commits the seemingly perfect murder. However, as Hollywood was loathe to condone murder (even when the guy is scum through and through), they create a neat but ultimately unsatisfying ending that never actually answers the question about the justification for murder. The acting and idea are excellent--the wimpy ending isn't and tends to blunt the entire experience.