The Nuisance (1933) in Color — Starring Lee Tracy & Madge Evans

The Nuisance (1933) — Buy This Classic in Color

Experience the hilarious, fast-paced Pre-Code comedy The Nuisance (1933) colorized in stunning HD quality. Directed by Jack Conway, this delightful MGM production stars Lee Tracy at his rapid-fire best as Joe Doyle, a spectacularly unscrupulous ambulance-chasing lawyer who has turned personal injury lawsuits against a trolley company into a massively profitable racket — staging fake accidents, coaching false witnesses, and billing the company millions — until the trolley company fights back by planting a beautiful undercover agent (Madge Evans) to seduce Joe and gather evidence to destroy him. The plan works perfectly, except for one unforeseen complication: Joe and the agent fall genuinely, hopelessly in love. Now available as an instant, DRM-free digital download for only €15.00.

Plot Summary

Joe Doyle (Lee Tracy) is the most successful — and most utterly unethical — personal injury lawyer in the city. His operation is a thing of devious beauty: when a trolley accident occurs (or can be reasonably faked), Joe’s network of operatives immediately rushes to the scene, signs up the victim, coaches them on how to exaggerate injuries, provides cooperative doctors to produce impressive X-rays, and delivers tearful testimonies that devastate juries and drain the trolley company’s bank account. Joe is making a fortune, his office is a magnificent circus of corruption, and his alcoholic but brilliant father (Frank Morgan) assists with gleeful enthusiasm.

The Metropolitan Trolley Company, bleeding millions in Joe’s fraudulent lawsuits, hires a private investigator to destroy him. Their weapon is Dorothy Brill (Madge Evans), a beautiful, intelligent woman who is planted in Joe’s life to seduce him, gain his trust, and gather the evidence needed to have him disbarred and imprisoned.

Dorothy infiltrates Joe’s operation brilliantly, pretending to be an accident victim who needs his legal services. Joe, instantly smitten by her beauty and intelligence, takes her case personally — and begins courting her with the same aggressive, irresistible charm he uses on juries. Dorothy’s mission proceeds perfectly: she obtains damning evidence of Joe’s fraudulent methods while Joe, utterly besotted, reveals his secrets without suspicion. But the inevitable happens — Dorothy falls genuinely in love with the charming, audacious, infuriatingly likeable rogue she was sent to destroy, leaving her trapped between her mission and her heart in a beautifully constructed romantic comedy dilemma.

Cast & Crew

Director: Jack Conway
Stars: Lee Tracy is electrifying as Joe Doyle, delivering his dialogue at machine-gun speed with the cocky, unstoppable energy that made him one of the most dynamic performers of the Pre-Code era. Madge Evans is a perfect match as the conflicted Dorothy, and Frank Morgan (later the Wizard of Oz himself) is wonderfully entertaining as Joe’s perpetually tipsy father and partner in crime.

Why Buy This Classic in Color?

This professionally colorized edition enhances the film’s glamorous Pre-Code settings with era-accurate hues. The bustling courtroom interiors, elegant law offices, lively city streets, and the warm domestic scenes gain delightful visual charm through careful colour restoration. Now also available in colour.

Buy now for an instant, secure digital download with no DRM restrictions. Compatible with all devices that play MP4 files.

Historical Significance

Released in 1933, The Nuisance is a perfect showcase for the Pre-Code era’s gleeful celebration of charming rogues and loveable scoundrels. Lee Tracy, one of the era’s most distinctive stars, brings electrifying energy to a character who would have been impossible after the 1934 Hays Code enforcement — an openly dishonest lawyer presented as irresistibly likeable. Frank Morgan’s performance as the alcoholic father demonstrates the comic talent that would later enchant millions as the Wizard of Oz. Through colorization, this delightful Pre-Code comedy is preserved for modern audiences.

Technical Details

• Format: MP4
• Resolution: HD 720p
• Colorized: Yes — professionally restored frame-by-frame
• Audio: Original English mono soundtrack
• Runtime: 83 minutes
• DRM-free: Yes — play anywhere, keep forever
• Instant download: Yes — available immediately after purchase
• Price: €15.00

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Movie-Specific Questions

Q: Is the hero really a dishonest lawyer?
A: Gloriously so — this is Pre-Code Hollywood at its most delightful, presenting an openly corrupt ambulance-chaser as the irresistible, charming hero you can’t help rooting for.

Q: Is Lee Tracy a well-known actor?
A: Tracy was one of the major stars of the Pre-Code era, famous for his rapid-fire delivery and cocky, irreverent energy. He later received an Academy Award nomination for The Best Man (1964).

Q: Is Frank Morgan in this film?
A: Yes — Frank Morgan, who would later become immortal as the Wizard of Oz, plays Lee Tracy’s alcoholic father and ambulance-chasing partner in a wonderfully funny supporting performance.

Digital Download Questions

Q: What format is the download?
A: The film is delivered as a high-quality MP4 file compatible with all modern devices and media players.

Q: Is there DRM protection?
A: No. The download is completely DRM-free — you own it outright and can play it on any device forever.

Q: How do I receive the film after purchase?
A: You receive an instant download link immediately after payment. A backup copy of the link is also sent to your email address.

Related Colorized Classics

• Front Page Woman (1935)
• His Girl Friday (1940)
• The Best Man (1964)
• Carnival (1935)
• Lawyer Man (1932)