The poster says it all: Based on a best seller, it would become one of the best Jury movies ever seen.
James Stewart is with no doubt, the motor an axis of the whole plot: A laywer forced -by necessity- to take a complicated case of murder on the first grade, and he should solved it ino order to the accused gets free even though he killed the allegedly rapist of his wife. A strong performance as well as charismatic and impecable.
Film techniques may be not so avant-garde (ok, we are talking about 1959), but close-ups have been an inspiration to multiple film makers when framing to provoke spectators.
Three movie secrets are: Script, excellent cast and direction by Otto Preminger.
Three movie secrets are: Script, excellent cast and direction by Otto Preminger.
The screenplay shows the nowadays very-used-resurce of jury trials defending a person under the argument we now know as temporary dementia, maybe for the first time. This obviously reminded me of Primal Fear. But I try to pictur that on tue 1950s finals, this maneuver was much less known, and that why James Stewart character must investigate historical references to his defense as well as to scrutinize the case so his version becomes convincing.
Supporting cast is absolutely interesting, starting with Ben Gazzara as the acused, Lee Remick as his wife and Arthur O'Connell as the alcoholic partner of Stewart. Beside them, all character seem to be carefully chosen: A dissmisive judge, a naive prosecutor and his sharp auxiliar, among others.
Cinematography is old-fashioned and not so remarkable (sometimes it looks like tv sets) but direction manages the excellent story perfectly and doesn't really require aesthetic eloquence. Beauty is brought via beautiful and good actresses on screen, and by suspense, which will mantain us on the edge of our seats the whole movie.
I will not spoil the plot, and even less the ending, but with no doubt, this is a movie to watch before you die!
1 comment:
great movie...
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