Guilty Hands (1931): Cast & Plot
Guilty Hands is a 1931 crime drama directed by W.S. Van Dyke, starring Lionel Barrymore as Richard Grant, Alan Mowbray and Madge Evans. It runs 1 hour 9 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 9m (69 min)
- Director
- W.S. Van Dyke
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Guilty Hands About?
The premise of Guilty Hands without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
A relentless mystery unfolds as a district attorney orchestrates the perfect murder, killing his daughter’s womanizing fiancé. He then manipulates evidence to frame the fiancé’s lover, setting off a chilling cat‑and‑mouse game that culminates in an unexpected, unforgettable finale, as the investigation closes in and his meticulously crafted scheme starts to unravel.
Guilty Hands Themes & Keywords
· 34 tags- police boat
- marriage engagement
- playing harp
- jealous mistress
- island
- lawyer
- secret womanizer
- cigarette smoking
- death threat
- proposing a toast
- boyfriend girlfriend relationship
- sexual assault
+22 more Show fewer
- murder made to look like suicide
- murder investigation
- witness confrontation
- accidental gun discharge
- accidental death
- death of male protagonist
- train
- lie
- attempt to prevent marriage
- attempt to frame up
- murder
- playboy
- district attorney
- father daughter relationship
- letter
- alibi
- last will and testament
- mistress
- blackmail
- police
- threat
- death of father
Guilty Hands Cast & Characters
Lionel Barrymore leads the cast as Richard Grant, with Alan Mowbray as Gordon Rich and Madge Evans as Barbara 'Babs' Grant. Directed by W.S. Van Dyke; 15 actors are credited in all.
-
Director W.S. Van Dyke
- Lionel Barrymore as Richard Grant
- Alan Mowbray as Gordon Rich
- Madge Evans as Barbara 'Babs' Grant
- William Bakewell as Tommy Osgood
Also Starring in Guilty Hands
· 11 more- Kay Francis Marjorie West
- C. Aubrey Smith Reverend Hastings
- Edmund Mortimer Party Guest (uncredited)
- Sam McDaniel Jimmy, a Black Servant (uncredited)
- Robert McKenzie Second Man on Train (uncredited)
- Forrester Harvey Spencer Wilson
- Polly Moran Aunt Maggie
- Blue Washington Johnny (uncredited)
- Landers Stevens Chief of Police Bill Mott (uncredited)
- Henry A. Barrows Harvey Scott (as Henry Barrows)
- Charles Crockett H.G. Smith
Guilty Hands Plot Summary
What happens in Guilty Hands from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
On a train trip, Richard Grant, Lionel Barrymore a seasoned lawyer who has spent years prosecuting and defending murder cases, voices a chilling belief: murder can be justified, and a clever man might commit it undetected. He is bound for the isolated estate of his wealthy client and friend Gordon Rich, Alan Mowbray. His daughter, Barbara ‘Babs’ Grant, Madge Evans, surprises him at the station by revealing she has already been at the estate for a week. The contrast between Grant’s forensic pragmatism and Barbara’s ardent stubbornness threads the mood of the journey ahead, setting up a claustrophobic drama of desire, power, and danger.
Full summary
The whole story of Guilty Hands, scene by scene
How Well Do You Know Guilty Hands?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Who is the seasoned lawyer that travels to Gordon Rich's estate?
Guilty Hands Also Known As
3 alternative titles, including “罪恶的双手” and “Manos culpables”.
- Also known as
-
- 罪恶的双手
- Manos culpables
- Mãos Culpadas
Seen Guilty Hands?
Movies Like Guilty Hands
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including The Guilty, Guilty as Sin and Guilty Minds.
Guilty Hands FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of Guilty Hands, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Guilty Hands?
Guilty Hands runs 1 hour 9 minutes (69 minutes).
When was Guilty Hands released?
Guilty Hands was released on August 22, 1931.
Who directed Guilty Hands?
Guilty Hands was directed by W.S. Van Dyke.
More films by W.S. Van Dyke Who is in the cast of Guilty Hands?
Guilty Hands stars Lionel Barrymore as Richard Grant, Alan Mowbray as Gordon Rich and Madge Evans as Barbara 'Babs' Grant, among 15 credited actors.
Does Guilty Hands have a post-credit scene?
No. Guilty Hands has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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