THE VERDICT

THE VERDICT - 1982

RATED - R for language. Mostly early in the movie in onc scene a number of 'f' words. Pretty minor after that.  No sex or nudity.  One incident of violence where a woman is slapped across the face and shown with bloody nose.

RATINGS - 94 Amazon (5/5), 252.718 Netflix (3.8/5), 10,518 IMDB (7.7/10).

STARRING - Paul Newman, Charlotte Rampling, James Mason, Jack Warden.

AWARDS - Five 1983 Academy Award and four Golden Globe nominations including BEST PICTURE and BEST ACTOR. 

THEMES - Justice, relationships.

STORY - The film opens with down and out attorney Frank Galvin (Newman) spending his day the way he usually does - with alcohol and playing pin ball games.  A former editor of his college law review and partner in a prestigious law firm, he is now an ambulance chaser and alcoholic.  A professional lapse in judgment which led to almost being disbarred and to the end of his marriage has taken its toll.  A friend and former colleague, Mickey Morrissey (Warden) refers him a 'softball' case which should easily settle out of court with the insurance company for a nice fee.  With only ten days before the case goes to court (Frank has forgotten) his conscience starts to bother Frank and he really believes he can go to court and win, contrary to the client's wishes and everyone else's advice. What follows is a fascinating courtroom drama as well as character study.  Enough surprises and twists to keep you on the edge of your seat until the end.  One of Newman's more overlooked gems.  If you like legal thrillers and courtroom drama, this is a classic.  Great supporting performances from Mason, Warden and Rampling.

LINKS -  IMDB/TRAILER

THE INCIDENT

THE INCIDENT - 1990

RATED - NR but probably PG for some language (family friendly).

RATINGS - 5 Amazon (4.5/5), 5,499 Netflix (3.7/5), 228 IMDB (7.2/10).

STARRING - Walter Matthau, Harry Morgan, Susan Blakely.

AWARDS - EMMY for Outstanding Drama/Comedy Special & nominated for several other awards including two Emmy's.

THEMES - Justice, prejudice.

STORY - This made for TV special takes place in 1944 in the fictional town of Bremen, Colorado (it was filmed in Colorado Springs) which is home to a POW camp for German soldiers just outside town. The long-time, popular town physician (also the camp doctor) is murdered at the camp late one night. A makeshift Federal Court is set up in town to conduct the trial. No one doubts for a minute that one of the prisoners, Wilhelm Geiger, did it. To give him a 'fair' trial, he must have legal representation so the judge 'drafts' local down and out attorney, Harmon Cobb (Matthau) to do the job. Cobb, a decorated WWI hero, with a son serving in the military in France, is reluctant to take the job. The judge 'convinces' him to do it. Immediately, he and his family become targets for the local townspeople as 'German lovers'. As he gets into the case, he realizes that it's not all that it appears to be. The acting is great and the story is intriguing, especially since this is a part of WWII that has not had much publicity. A very informative and entertaining 100 minutes, especially for those who like courtroom dramas. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 05/24/2009.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB, POW LINK

P.S. I have to admit I was not aware that there were approximately 500 of these POW Camps in the U.S. during WWII. There were between 400,000-500,000 German and Italian soldiers held prisoner. Because of the war, there was a shortage of farm labor and many of them ended working on farms. It is a subject not given much publicity as far as I know. If you google 'german pow camps in america' you will find some interesting websites.

WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION

WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION - 1957

RATED - NR but probably PG for brief, strong language and adult themes.

RATINGS - 81 Amazon (5/5), 114,897 Netflix (4.1/5), 11,245 IMDB (8.2/10).

STARRING - Tyrone Power, Marlene Dietrich,Charles Laughton & directed by Billy Wilder.

AWARDS - 6 Academy Award nominations including BEST PICTURE and BEST ACTOR (Charles Laughton), BAFTA BEST ACTOR (Laughton) nominee and 5 Golden Globe nominations including BEST ACTOR, BEST ACTRESS & BEST MOTION PICTURE. Just recently named to AFI All Time Top 10 Courtroom Dramas.

STORY - I'm not going to spoil the plot since this Agatha Christie-based movie directed by Billy Wilder takes so many twists and turns, especially at the end. The AWARDS speak for themselves as to the quality of this film. Charles Laughton portrays the huge hunk of a man, barrister Sir Wilfrid, who, as the film opens, is returning home from an extended stay in the hospital for a near fatal heart attack. He is accompanied by his eccentric nurse whose sole job is to keep him away from everything he craves-cigars, brandy, women and high stress criminal cases. Of course, he immediately becomes intrigued with the case of Leonard Vole (Power) who is accused of killing a wealthy widow. His curiosity gets the best of him when he meets Christine Helm/Vole (Dietrich), Leonard's wife and only alibi, and so he decides to take Leonard's case. The rest of this fast-paced film concentrates on the courtroom drama with it famous surprises and great acting and is spiced with some very funny scenes and lines. Definitely one of the all time great courtroom films-put this at the top of the list. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 06-21-2008.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB