Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Claude Rains | ... | Andy Griffin | |
Gloria Dickson | ... | Sybil Hale | |
Edward Norris | ... | Robert Hale | |
Otto Kruger | ... | Gleason | |
Allyn Joslyn | ... | Bill Brock | |
Lana Turner | ... | Mary Clay | |
Linda Perry | ... | Imogene Mayfield | |
Elisha Cook Jr. | ... | Joe Turner | |
Cy Kendall | ... | Detective Laneart | |
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Clinton Rosemond | ... | Tump Redwine |
E. Alyn Warren | ... | Carlisle P. Buxton | |
Elisabeth Risdon | ... | Mrs. Hale (as Elizabeth Risdon) | |
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Clifford Soubier | ... | Jim Timberlake |
Granville Bates | ... | Detective Pindar | |
Ann Shoemaker | ... | Mrs. Mountford |
A southern town is rocked by scandal when teenager Mary Clay is murdered on Confederate Decoration Day. Andrew Griffin, a small-time lawyer with political ambitions, sees the crime as his ticket to the Senate if he can find the right victim to finger for the crime. He sets out to convict Robert Hale, a transplanted northerner who was Mary's teacher at the business school where she was killed. Despite the fact that all the evidence against Hale is circumstantial, Griffin works with a ruthless reporter to create a media frenzy of prejudice and hate against the teacher. Written by Daniel Bubbeo <dbubbeo@cmp.com>
Flawless blending of cynicism, humor and tragedy, this re-enactment of a real-life murder in the south consciously downplays the real-life anti-semitism in the real murder of Mary Phagan case, but carry more of an emotional wallop than the Jack Lemmon made-for-TV docudrama -- although the latter is still good on its own terms. Lana Turner has an impressive screen debut as the murder victim. Gloria Dickson is very powerful as the defendant's wife, and Claude Rains is magnificent as the politically minded prosecutor, but Allyn Joslyn as the cynical, burnt out reporter steals the show. A truly excellent example of how historically based movies can be among the most memorable.