Sinner Take All 1936

Mystery

Runtime

74 mins

Language

English

Directed by

Charles Williams

Made by

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Test your knowledge of Sinner Take All with our quiz!

Sinner Take All Plot Summary

Read the complete plot summary and ending explained for Sinner Take All (1936). From turning points to emotional moments, uncover what really happened and why it matters.

Aaron Lampier Charley Grapewin is a wealthy New York City magnate who receives a chilling death threat mailed to him, prompting a high-stakes search by his family. The task lands on Ernie Hyams Bruce Cabot, a reporter-turned-lawyer, who is sent by his former editor MacKelvey Stanley Ridges to find Lampier’s daughter, Lorraine Margaret Lindsay. Lorraine has little patience for being uprooted from the glittering nightclub and casino run by Frank Penny Joseph Calleia, while her brother Stephen lurks in the shadows of this dangerous puzzle. A separate, ominous note also reaches David Lampier Theodore von Eltz, adding another layer of fear to the family’s already precarious situation. As a result, Ernie is thrust into a case that will force him to probe deep into the Lampier dynasty’s secrets and the night-world surrounding Penny’s establishment.

The Lampier will stipulates that the estate be shared equally among the children, with charities the fallback if any child predeceases the patriarch. Soon after, Stephen becomes the next target. An associate of Penny’s is driving Stephen’s car when police intervene, uncovering Stephen’s corpse slumped inside with six shots to the head. The driver claims ignorance about the stolen vehicle’s grisly contents. Captain Bill Royce [Edward Pawley] of the Homicide Squad arrests Penny, but lacks sufficient evidence to hold him, allowing him to walk free while the investigation continues. In a grim twist, it turns out that David is not dead after all—he has been hiding—and when Ernie and MacKelvey finally locate him, he is found dead from a stabbing, adding another layer of mystery to the case.

The danger intensifies when Aaron Lampier is the next victim: a man slips into his suite, and after a struggle, flings him over the terrace to his death. With Lorraine’s safety in mind, Ernie devises a dramatic trap. He spreads the story that Lorraine plans to flee at midnight and gathers the prime suspects at Penny’s nightclub to witness her departure. Lorraine’s drink is poisoned, but a swift doctor’s intervention saves her life. In the aftermath, Ernie identifies the killer: MacKelvey, who had the opportunity to slip poison into the liquor. The editor confesses that he needed more money to placate his wife Alicia Vivienne Osborne, arguing that with the Lampiers eliminated, he could seize control of one of their lucrative businesses. The revelation exposes a calculating plot rooted in greed and desperation.

In the end, the relationship between Ernie and Lorraine deepens into something lasting, and the couple’s union marks a quiet, hopeful closing note amid a tapestry of ambition, loyalty, and deceit.

Sinner Take All Timeline

Follow the complete movie timeline of Sinner Take All (1936) with every major event in chronological order. Great for understanding complex plots and story progression.

Death threat prompts action

Millionaire Aaron Lampier receives a chilling death threat in the mail. He summons his children to come to him, setting off a chain of events as the family becomes the target. The threat hints at danger closing in on them.

Lampier Estate, New York

Ernie hired to locate Lorraine

Ernie Hyams, a newspaper reporter turned lawyer, is dispatched by MacKelvey to locate Lorraine Lampier. He begins tracing the scattered family and learning about the Lampier fortune. The assignment pulls him into a web of danger as motives emerge.

Lampier Residence

Threats reach Lorraine and Stephen

Lorraine and Stephen receive the same threatening letters. Lorraine resists being dragged away from Frank Penny's nightclub and casino, where she performs. The threats heighten the sense that the family is being hunted.

Frank Penny's nightclub/casino

David's death appears to be a setup

David Lampier dies in a car crash that night. Investigators discover a wire cable stretched across the road, indicating the crash was a setup rather than an accident. Ernie begins to suspect foul play and connects it to the threats.

That night Road near Lampier property

The will concentrates the fortune

Lampier's will leaves everything equally to his children; if they predecease him, the estate goes to charities. The will hints at a motive for future killings and the high stakes of the Lampier fortune. Tension thickens as everyone imagines how the estate could be controlled.

Lampier Study

Stephen murdered

Stephen is the next victim. An associate of Penny's is driving Stephen's car when he is stopped by the police. They find Stephen's body inside with six shots to the head, and the driver claims he did not know it was there.

Soon after City road

Penny arrested and released

Captain Bill Royce of the Homicide Squad arrests Penny, but has to release him for lack of evidence. The arrest fuels suspicion around Penny and his circle. Ernie and MacKelvey realize the case is more tangled than a single suspect can explain.

Homicide Division / Penny's nightclub

David is found dead in hiding

David is still alive in hiding, but when Ernie and MacKelvey track him down, they discover he has been stabbed to death. The pursuit of the truth closes in on the family, removing yet another potential ally for the killers. The thwarted search underlines the killer's reach.

Hidden safehouse

Aaron Lampier is killed

Aaron Lampier is killed; a man climbs down to his suite and, after a struggle, flings him over the terrace to his death. The murder adds another layer of danger and confirms that the threats are deadly real. The killer seems to be moving with impunity through the Lampier circle.

Lampier's suite/terrace

Ernie's trap and midnight plan

To protect Lorraine, Ernie spreads the word that she is flying away at midnight, then gathers all the prime suspects at Penny's nightclub to see her off. Lorraine's drink is poisoned, but a doctor is standing by and she is saved. The trap begins to expose the killer's identity as the night unfolds.

Midnight Penny's nightclub

MacKelvey unmasked as the killer

Ernie identifies the killer as MacKelvey. He had the opportunity to slip poison and advance his ambitions. The editor confesses that he needed more money to keep his wife Alicia happy and to gain control of Lampier businesses.

After midnight Penny's nightclub

Wedding and conclusion

Ernie and Lorraine marry, tying their futures together as the case closes. The truth is exposed and the murderer is caught, allowing the couple to start a new life.

Lampier/Ernie's city residence

Sinner Take All Characters

Explore all characters from Sinner Take All (1936). Get detailed profiles with their roles, arcs, and key relationships explained.

Ernie Hyams (Bruce Cabot)

A newspaper reporter turned lawyer hired to locate Lampier's daughter Lorraine. He is relentless, analytical, and morally persistent, using legal savvy and journalistic instinct to pierce a web of crime. His attraction to Lorraine grows as he uncovers the truth behind the murders and motives driving the case.

🧭 Investigator 🗞️ Journalist 💼 Lawyer

Lorraine Lampier (Margaret Lindsay)

Lampier's daughter thrust into danger, torn between family wealth and the threats that trail her. She is resilient, perceptive, and wary of those who claim to protect her. Her relationship with Ernie evolves as the case edges toward its deadly revelations.

👑 Heiress 🕯️ Socialite

Stephen Lampier (George Lynn)

Lorraine's perpetually drunk brother, whose reckless lifestyle and disturbances pull him deeper into the web of murder and intrigue. His fate escalates the urgency of uncovering the truth and protecting the family.

🍷 Drifter 🧩 Catalyst

David Lampier (Theodore von Eltz)

Lampier son who appears dead after a car crash but is later found alive, embedding a sense of misdirection and danger within the family. His true status and loyalties remain central to the investigation.

🏷️ Mystery 🧭 Twist

Aaron Lampier

The wealthy, influential patriarch whose death precipitates the central conflict and the race for control of the estate. His fortune casts a long shadow over every action in the story.

💼 Patron 🗝️ Power

Frank Penny

Owner of the nightclub where much of the city's nightlife collides with crime. His establishment serves as a key arena for manipulation and deceit among the characters.

🎩 Gangster 🕺 Nightlife

MacKelvey (Stanley Ridges)

Former editor turned schemer who orchestrates the plan to secure the Lampier estate. His greed and calculated moves drive the plot toward a fatal climax.

🕯️ Manipulator 🗺️ Motive

Alicia MacKelvey (Vivienne Osborne)

MacKelvey's wife, whose interest in financial security and social standing motivates her involvement in the escalating plot. Her actions reveal the personal costs of wealth-driven scheming.

💍 Socialite 🧩 Bystander-to-Crime

Captain Bill Royce (Edward Pawley)

Homicide captain who leads the investigation into the string of deaths tied to the Lampier family. His presence anchors the procedural aspects of the noir drama.

🛡️ Authority 🕵️‍♂️ Investigator

Dr. Harrison (Jonathan Hale)

Medical professional involved in the early stages of the investigation, providing expert input that helps verify events and motives behind the death and poisoning elements.

⚕️ Doctor 🧠 Expert

Sinner Take All Settings

Learn where and when Sinner Take All (1936) takes place. Explore the film’s settings, era, and how they shape the narrative.

Location

New York City, Lampier Mansion, Frank Penny's Nightclub

The story unfolds across a glamorous yet perilous New York setting, centering on the Lampier family mansion and the seedy energy of Frank Penny's nightclub. The city acts as a stage where opulence, crime, and media intersect, shaping the motives of every character. These locations highlight the tension between wealth, power, and the danger lurking behind closed doors.

🗽 New York City 🕵️ Noir 💰 Wealth and corruption

Sinner Take All Themes

Discover the main themes in Sinner Take All (1936). Analyze the deeper meanings, emotional layers, and social commentary behind the film.

🕵️

Investigation

Ernie Hyams's pursuit of the truth drives the plot as clues are chased through a web of motives and lies. The story treats crime as a battle between revelation and cover-up, where every alibi hides another trap. The tension rests on who can be trusted and who benefits from silence.

💰

Wealth and Corruption

Wealth governs the actions of the Lampier family and those around them, from the will that disperses the estate to the schemes of MacKelvey. Luxury provides cover for murder and manipulation, showing how money can corrupt loyalties. The pursuit of assets drives many key decisions and reveals moral decay.

🤐

Betrayal

Relationships are tested by secrets and deceit, with characters plotting to exploit each other for gain. The plot coils as confidences are broken and alliances shift in the glare of suspicion. The climax reframes loyalty as something earned through risk and reckoning.

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Mobile App

From blockbusters to hidden gems — dive into movie stories anytime, anywhere. Save your favorites, discover plots faster, and never miss a twist again.

Explore the mobile app

Sinner Take All Spoiler-Free Summary

Discover the spoiler-free summary of Sinner Take All (1936). Get a concise overview without any spoilers.

In the glittering yet shadow‑laden world of 1930s New York, a powerful publishing dynasty dominates the city’s cultural pulse. Their opulent mansions, bustling nightclubs, and high‑stakes business dealings create a backdrop where wealth and ambition clash with whispered rumors. The atmosphere is a sleek blend of high society elegance and noir‑filled intrigue, a place where a single misplaced phone call or a cryptic note can send ripples through the lives of the elite.

Enter the determined young attorney Ernie Hyham, a reporter‑turned‑lawyer whose sharp mind and relentless curiosity set him apart. Summoned by his former editor, the seasoned MacKelvey, Ernie is tasked with unraveling a series of unsettling threats that have begun to unsettle the Lampier family. His mission weaves together legal acumen, street‑wise instincts, and a personal drive to safeguard those caught in the family’s sprawling influence.

At the heart of the drama are the Lampiers themselves. Patriarch Aaron Lampier commands respect and reverence, while his daughter Lorraine moves between glittering nightclubs and the expectations of her lineage. Her brother Stephen shadows the family’s fortunes, hinting at deeper complexities beneath the surface. Adding another layer of atmospheric tension is the charismatic club owner Frank Penny, whose establishment serves as both a refuge and a crossroads for the city’s most influential figures. As Ernie steps deeper into this maze of privilege and peril, the stakes rise, and the line between loyalty and danger becomes ever more blurred.

Can’t find your movie? Request a summary here.

Movies with Similar Twists and Themes

Uncover films that echo the narrative beats, emotional arcs, or dramatic twists of the one you're exploring. These recommendations are handpicked based on story depth, thematic resonance, and spoiler-worthy moments — perfect for fans who crave more of the same intrigue.