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Trial

  • 19551955
  • PassedPassed
  • 1h 45m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
1K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
90,519
32,341
Glenn Ford, Katy Jurado, Arthur Kennedy, and Dorothy McGuire in Trial (1955)
Drama
Courtroom drama set in 1947 and underlying post-WW2 acute problems facing the USA such as stormy race relations and the growing threat of local communism.Courtroom drama set in 1947 and underlying post-WW2 acute problems facing the USA such as stormy race relations and the growing threat of local communism.Courtroom drama set in 1947 and underlying post-WW2 acute problems facing the USA such as stormy race relations and the growing threat of local communism.
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
1K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
90,519
32,341
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • Mark Robson
    • Writer
      • Don Mankiewicz(novel)
    • Stars
      • Glenn Ford
      • Dorothy McGuire
      • Arthur Kennedy
    Top credits
    • Director
      • Mark Robson
    • Writer
      • Don Mankiewicz(novel)
    • Stars
      • Glenn Ford
      • Dorothy McGuire
      • Arthur Kennedy
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 29User reviews
    • 7Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar
      • 1 win & 1 nomination total

    Photos56

    Trial (1955)
    Rafael Campos in Trial (1955)
    Rafael Campos, Arthur Kennedy, and Joe McGuinn in Trial (1955)
    Rafael Campos and John Hodiak in Trial (1955)
    Glenn Ford, Katy Jurado, and Dorothy McGuire in Trial (1955)
    Glenn Ford, Arthur Kennedy, and Robert Middleton in Trial (1955)
    Glenn Ford, Juano Hernandez, and John Hodiak in Trial (1955)
    Glenn Ford and Dorothy McGuire in Trial (1955)
    Glenn Ford and Dorothy McGuire in Trial (1955)
    Glenn Ford and Rafael Campos in Trial (1955)
    Glenn Ford and Arthur Kennedy in Trial (1955)
    Glenn Ford and Robert Middleton in Trial (1955)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Glenn Ford
    Glenn Ford
    • David Blake
    Dorothy McGuire
    Dorothy McGuire
    • Abbe Nyle
    Arthur Kennedy
    Arthur Kennedy
    • Barney Castle
    John Hodiak
    John Hodiak
    • District Attorney John J. Armstrong
    Katy Jurado
    Katy Jurado
    • Consuela Chavez
    Rafael Campos
    Rafael Campos
    • Angel Chavez
    Juano Hernandez
    Juano Hernandez
    • Judge Theodore Motley
    Robert Middleton
    Robert Middleton
    • A.A. 'Fats' Sanders
    John Hoyt
    John Hoyt
    • Ralph Castillo
    Paul Guilfoyle
    Paul Guilfoyle
    • Cap Grant
    Elisha Cook Jr.
    Elisha Cook Jr.
    • Finn
    • (as Elisha Cook)
    Ann Lee
    • Gail Wiltse
    Whit Bissell
    Whit Bissell
    • Sam Wiltse
    Richard Gaines
    Richard Gaines
    • Dr. Johannes Schacter
    Barry Kelley
    Barry Kelley
    • Jim Brackett
    John Albright
    • Courtroom Spectator
    • (uncredited)
    Al Bain
    Al Bain
    • Townsman
    • (uncredited)
    Eddie Baker
    Eddie Baker
    • Electrician
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Mark Robson
    • Writer
      • Don Mankiewicz(novel)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      According to contemporary newspaper articles, the rally scene was shot at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles over three days and used 2,000 extras - 750 of which were students from the nearby University of Southern California.
    • Goofs
      After ordering David to put Angel on the stand following their argument in his office, Barney walks out, leaving Abbe and David alone. Abbe turns to David and says, "Oh, Barney, there's a new world coming", when she certainly meant to say "David".
    • Quotes

      David Blake: I learned a long time ago that when someone says 'decide right now' that that's the time to take your time.

    • Alternate versions
      Also shown in computer colorized version.
    • Connections
      Featured in MGM Parade: Episode #1.3 (1955)

    User reviews29

    Review
    Review
    Top review
    9/10
    The Quality of Mercy
    Trial is one of the best films of the Fifties and a personal favorite of mine in the credits of a favorite actor of mine, Glenn Ford. Made at the end of what is loosely described as the 'McCarthy Era', Trial bravely tackles the evils of right and leftwing extremism and shows that people of good will can make a difference in defeating them. It's a subject I'm surprised Frank Capra didn't consider as a project.

    Communist attorney Arthur Kennedy has latched on to a case involving the death of a teenage caucasian girl in which a young Mexican boy stands accused of her murder. In fact we see the events as they transpire at the beginning of the film. The boy, very winningly played by Rafael Campos has some very dubious culpability in the matter.

    But in this California town, prejudice against Mexican-Americans runs pretty high. Rafael is arrested and the Communist party looks to jump in. For window dressing they latch on to law professor Glenn Ford who agrees to go to court with the young man, partly to prove the falsity of that old adage about those who can't, teach.

    Ford does pretty good for a while, but Kennedy who's more interested in a martyr and the stirring up of race prejudice, gets the mother played by Katy Jurado to have Rafael take the stand. District Attorney John Hodiak in a devastating cross examination blows the defense wide open.

    Arthur Kennedy's bravura performance as Communist attorney Barney Castle won him an Oscar nomination, but he lost out to Jack Lemmon for Mister Roberts. But my personal favorite in this film is the Judge played with strength and dignity by Juano Hernandez. Judge Hernandez shows as Shakespeare put it that the quality of mercy is indeed not strained.

    I can't think of another film in that time that showed some of the problems that scar America's soul, but also show that the cure offered might indeed be worse.

    Unseen is a state investigating committee against subversives where Ford's been subpoened to appear. That's not modeled after McCarthy, the reference is to a California State Senator named Jack Tenney who in that era attempted to be a state version of McCarthy. And like McCarthy generated a lot of heat, but very little light.

    Glenn and the cast can be very proud of the work they did on this film.
    helpful•43
    4
    • bkoganbing
    • Sep 28, 2005

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 7, 1955 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Spanish
    • Also known as
      • Das Komplott
    • Filming locations
      • Shrine Auditorium - 665 W. Jefferson Boulevard, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $1,341,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 45 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White

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