| The Washington Masquerade | |
| Director: | Charles Brabin |
| Screenplay: | John Meehan Samuel Blythe |
| Starring: | Lionel Barrymore Karen MorleyNils Asther Reginald Barlow |
| Music: | William Axt |
| Cinematography: | Gregg Toland |
| Editing: | Ben Lewis |
| Studio: | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
| Distributor: | Loew's Inc. |
| Runtime: | 88 minutes |
| Country: | United States |
| Language: | English |
The Washington Masquerade is a 1932 American Pre-Code drama film directed by Charles Brabin and written by John Meehan and Samuel Blythe. The film stars Lionel Barrymore, Karen Morley, Nils Asther and Reginald Barlow. The film was released on July 9, 1932, by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.[1] [2] It was based on 1906 French play by Henri Bernstein.[3] A New York World review drew comparisons with American Madness released by Columbia Pictures the same year.[4]
After successfully freeing a wrongfully convicted boy from prison, attorney Jeff Keane is nominated and elected to the United States Senate. Although Keane had been aloof from politics, his crusade against big business becomes popular yet controversial. At a White House gala, Keane meets Consuela Fairbanks, a socialite whom he eventually marries despite his daughter Ruth's protestations.
After the marriage, Consuela confesses that she is heavily in debt and urges Jeff to resign and join lobbyist Alan Hinsdale's law firm. After discovering that Hinsdale is corrupt and that Consuela is having an affair with her former lover Henri Brenner, Jeff and Ruth open a Senate investigation of Hinsdale and his colleague Senator Bitler.
At an emotional testimony, an exhausted Jeff confesses to bribery during his dealings with Hinsdale but exposes the scandal for prosecution by the United States Attorney General. The stress causes Jeff to die of a heart attack at the end of his speech, and Stapleton later notes that "he loved his country enough to die for it."