The Mouthpiece

The Mouthpiece

Year: 1932

Runtime: 86 mins

Language: English

Directors: Elliott Nugent, James Flood

Drama

After making a pact with criminals and sacrificing his honor, a prosecutor quits his job. When he learns that a man he helped convict and who was executed was actually innocent, he becomes a defense attorney, seeking to uncover the truth and restore his integrity.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – The Mouthpiece (1932)

Explore the full timeline and setting of The Mouthpiece (1932). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

City

The story unfolds in a bustling urban center that houses the legal system and nightlife. Office towers and courtrooms create a backdrop for Day's rise and fall as he navigates prosecutions and defenses. The city's pace and anonymity enable high-stakes courtroom drama and backroom deals.

🏙️ City

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 19:05

Main Characters – The Mouthpiece (1932)

Meet the key characters of The Mouthpiece (1932), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Vincent Day (Warren William)

A prosecutor on a fast track who abandons the system after realizing an innocent man was executed. He pivots to defending gangsters, embracing aggressive tactics and manipulating evidence to win cases. His charm masks a ruthless pragmatism, and his secrets threaten to topple him when exposed.

⚖️ Legal drama 🕵️‍♂️ Moral ambiguity 🧪 Tactics

Celia Farraday (Sidney Fox)

A young secretary from Kentucky who becomes the moral center of the story. Loyal to her fiancé Johnny, she resists Day’s advances and prompts a reconsideration of his criminal defense methods. Her choices drive Day toward a potential redemption.

💖 Love 🧭 Loyalty 🗺️ Small-town origins

Johnny Morris (William Janney)

Celia’s fiancé who becomes a target of Day’s tainted defense when his client frames him for a crime. His innocence and loyalty contrast with Day’s slippery ethics, sharpening the drama of the courtroom and the couple’s resolve.

💍 Fiancé ⚖️ Framed

Miss Hickey, Day's Secretary (Aline MacMahon)

Day’s practical secretary who anchors his operations and contains the secrets that fuel his power. She observes the underbelly of the legal world and remains loyal, even as Day’s methods threaten to unravel.

👩‍💼 Secretary 🗝️ Secrets

Bartender (Guy Kibbee)

The friendly bartender who becomes a catalyst for Day’s career switch by offering advice and a wry perspective on the world of law and crime.

🍸 Catalyst 🗣️ Informant

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 19:05

Major Themes – The Mouthpiece (1932)

Explore the central themes of The Mouthpiece (1932), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

⚖️ Justice

The film centers on the tension between upholding the letter of the law and the pursuit of outcomes through any means. Day's transition from prosecutor to defense attorney reveals how justice can be shaped by strategy, power, and personal ambition. The plot probes how truth and conviction can be manipulated within a flawed system.

💘 Love

Celia's loyalty to her fiancé Johnny contrasts with Day's attraction to her, driving the plot toward a moral reckoning. Romantic affection becomes a catalyst for Day's reconsideration of his criminal-defense tactics. The relationship tests personal integrity against professional ambition.

🔥 Risk

Day resorts to extreme methods, including using poison-like evidence tricks, to guarantee acquittals. The story emphasizes risk-taking as a double-edged blade—success in court comes at the cost of ethics and personal safety. The tension culminates in a violent shooting that leaves the future uncertain.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 19:05

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The Mouthpiece Summary

Read a complete plot summary of The Mouthpiece, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

The Mouthpiece Summary

The Mouthpiece Timeline

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The Mouthpiece Timeline

More About The Mouthpiece

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More About The Mouthpiece

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