I Cheated the Law

{{Short description|1949 film by Edward L. Cahn}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2026}} {{Infobox film | name = I Cheated the Law | image = I Cheated the Law poster.jpg | alt = | caption = Theatrical release poster | director = [[Edward L. Cahn]] | producer = Sam Baerwitz | screenplay = [[Richard G. Hubler]] | story = Sam Baerwitz | starring = [[Tom Conway]] [[Steve Brodie (actor)|Steve Brodie]] [[Robert Osterloh]] [[Barbara Billingsley]] [[Russell Hicks]] [[James Seay]] | music = [[Edward J. Kay]] | cinematography = [[Jackson Rose]] | editing = [[Arthur Hilton]] | studio = [[20th Century Fox]] | distributor = 20th Century Fox | released = {{Film date|1949|3|4}} | runtime = 69 minutes | country = United States | language = English | budget = | gross = }}

'''''I Cheated the Law''''' is a 1949 American [[crime film]] directed by [[Edward L. Cahn]] and written by [[Richard G. Hubler]]. The film stars [[Tom Conway]], [[Steve Brodie (actor)|Steve Brodie]], [[Robert Osterloh]], [[Barbara Billingsley]], [[Russell Hicks]] and [[James Seay]]. The film was released on March 4, 1949, by [[20th Century Fox]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/78775/i-cheated-the-law |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201019222525/https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/78775/i-cheated-the-law |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 19, 2020 |title=I Cheated the Law! (1949) - Overview |publisher=Turner Classic Movies |date=1949-03-31 |access-date=2015-10-02}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/movies/movie/96002/I-Cheated-the-Law/overview |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151011184340/http://www.nytimes.com/movies/movie/96002/I-Cheated-the-Law/overview |url-status=dead |archive-date=2015-10-11 |department=Movies & TV Dept. |work=[[The New York Times]] |publisher=[[Baseline (database)|Baseline]] & [[All Movie Guide]] |author=Hal Erickson |title=I-Cheated-the-Law - Trailer - Cast - Showtimes |author-link=Hal Erickson (author) |date=2015 |access-date=2015-10-02}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/DetailView.aspx?s=&Movie=25963 |title=I Cheated the Law |publisher=Afi.com |access-date=2015-10-02}}</ref> It received positive reviews from critics

==Plot== {{More plot|date=September 2015}} In court, criminal attorney John Campbell defends a man, Frank Bricolle, who is charged with murdering a night watchman in a fur warehouse during a robbery. Frank having saved his life during the war, John believes in him so much that both he and wife Ruth provide the defendant with an alibi, resulting in his acquittal.

Frank later confesses to John how he did indeed commit the crime, aided by Joe Corsi and other accomplices. John expresses regret for his actions and leaves Ruth, wanting to be alone for a while. He is actually busy scheming to frame Corsi for the murder. Corsi tries to avoid a conviction by accusing Bricolle in the courtroom, where Bricolle pulls a gun and tries to shoot his way out. He is killed, and John returns home to Ruth. == Cast == *[[Tom Conway]] as John Campbell *[[Steve Brodie (actor)|Steve Brodie]] as Frank Bricolle *[[Robert Osterloh]] as Joe Corsi *[[Barbara Billingsley]] as Ruth Campbell *[[Russell Hicks]] as District Attorney Randolph *[[James Seay]] as Rodd Simpson *[[Chet Huntley]] as Himself *[[Tommy Noonan]] as Sad Sam Carney *[[William Gould (actor)|William Gould]] as First Judge *[[Harry Harvey, Sr.]] as Second Judge *[[Garry Owen (actor)|Garry Owen]] as Jerry *Charles Wagenheim as Al Markham

== References == {{reflist}}

== External links == * {{IMDb title|0041494|I Cheated the Law}}

[[Category:1949 films]] [[Category:1949 English-language films]] [[Category:20th Century Fox films]] [[Category:American crime films]] [[Category:1949 crime films]] [[Category:Films directed by Edward L. Cahn]] [[Category:American black-and-white films]] [[Category:1949 American films]] [[Category:English-language crime films]]