After concealing his mistress in the office closet, corrupt New York "Night Court" Judge Walter Huston (as Andrew J. Moffett) answers a reporter's questions regarding an investigation led by fellow jurist Lewis Stone (as William "Will" Osgood). Denying all irregularities, Mr. Huston carries on his tough sentencing of prostitutes and petty thieves while letting hardened criminals off the hook. Later, Mr. Huston orders mistress Noel Francis (as Lillian "Lil" Baker) to lay low in a poor section of town, to avoid being questioned. She has some incriminating evidence in her purse, which is seen by pretty apartment neighbor Anita Page (as Mary)...The young wife and mother decides to say noting about "Mrs. Moffett's" bank book, but Huston is taking no chances. He has Ms. Page railroaded. When her husband, handsome cab-driver Phillips Holmes (as Mike Thomas), shows up in court wondering what happened to his wife, the dirty judge takes the couple's baby away. The plot thickens with murder as Mr. Holmes endeavors to untangle the mess. This early "talkie" is nicely handled by all. An unusual pacing works to the film's advantage, making a series of shocking events engrossing. Holmes is an appealing "working class hero" and receives an outstanding cast of co-stars.******* Night Court (4/23/32) W.S. Van Dyke ~ Phillips Holmes, Walter Huston, Anita Page, Noel Francis

In 1931 Frankenstein and Dracula were thrilling audiences. But neither is as scary as 1932's Night Court because the events depicted here could really happen to you and me. Philips Holmes and Anita Page do the best work of their careers, first as a loving married couple, and later as desperate persons undone by a corrupt system. Things go from bad to worse and still worse until it seems there is no hope for the couple - torn apart, imprisoned, assaulted. Walter Huston plays the villain wonderfully until his over-the-top mad scene. Holmes' acting at the climax must be seen to be believed - absolutely perfect. There are many instances of horror in films of the period but Night Court maintains this fear from the moment Page opens the envelope. This film is a class act, better than Public Enemy or Scarface in its depiction of corruption. It deserves to be better known.

Shot in 1932, "Night Court" sometimes comes off as a stereotypical mellerdrama of the period. But when Walter Huston is on screen, the movie zooms forward into another era of acting and storytelling. As a night court jurist on the make and the take, Huston's Judge Moffet is a fascinating portrait of malevolence and corruption. Anita Page as the sweet young housewife he frames as a prostitute and Phillips Holmes as her bewildered husband valiantly battle their way through a cornfield of hokey dialogue. Yet in Huston's scenes -- whether he's dispensing justice to assorted thieves, drunks and hookers or confronting Lewis Stone as an anti-crime campaigner -- the writing is sharp, surprisingly realistic. Or maybe, thanks to his performance, it just seems that way.

"Night Court" is a delightful programmer released by MGM and featuring Phillips Holmes, who apparently was somewhat popular during the early talkies Era, mainly as a Paramount contract player. This was the first time I saw him on screen in a full-fledged-starring role (not counting his brief appearance in the all-star "Dinner at Eight", which I almost did not notice) and I must say I was favorably impressed by his performance and screen personae. I had read tidbits about his personal life and his films, and had another idea about him; he's nothing of what I expected. In my opinion, at least in this film, he has a strong screen presence, good acting ability, even when performing in scenes with seasoned pros such as Walter Huston (one of the finest actors of the American Cinema). He really makes his character likable and believable.Holmes impersonates a cab driver who is extremely happily married to Anita Page's character, who plays very well a naive housewife, completely in love with her husband and utterly devoted to their only child (a cute little baby), who's unaware of her unexpected & tangent involvement with a corrupt judge's (played perfectly by the great Walter Huston) shenanigans & shady doings, who uses his unscrupulous lover (Noel Francis) for his evil purposes.I wonder why Mary Carlisle (playing Lewis Stone's (a good Judge who's investigating Huston's corrupt Court) daughter) was billed fourth or fifth in the cast and Noel Francis the last, if the latter has much more time on screen and a meatier role.John Miljan plays a villainous lawyer, skillfully as usual.An interesting, seldom seen and highly entertaining Pre-Code (Check the Huston's Court hearings).I quite don't understand why Maltin gives this film only two stars in his Guide; it at least deserves three and a half!