Trial and Error (1962)

An incompetent barrister is assigned to defend an accused wife murderer.

Director:

James Hill

Writers:

John Mortimer (play), Pierre Rouve (screenplay)

Stars:

Peter Sellers, Richard Attenborough, Beryl Reid

Nominated for 1 BAFTA Film Award.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Peter Sellers	...	Morgenhall
Richard Attenborough	...	Fowle
Beryl Reid	...	Doris
David Lodge	...	Bateson
Frank Pettingell	...	Tuppy Morgan
Tristram Jellinek	...	Perkins
Audrey Nicholson	...	Morgenhall's Girl
Eric Woodburn	...	Judge Banter
John Waite	...	Clerk of the Court
Patrick Newell	...	First Warder
Henry Kay	...	Second Warder
Frank Thornton	...	Photographer
Eric Dodson	...	Examiner

Storyline

An incompetent barrister is assigned to defend an accused wife murderer.

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Plot Keywords:

murder trial | lawyer | based on play | trial | murder | 

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Taglines:

This is NOT the Birdman of Alcatraz!..It's only Peter Sellers with his sly, sneaky style of humor that creeps up on you and the leaves you wanting more.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English Latin

Release Date:

5 August 1963 (Sweden)

Also Known As:

Trial and Error

Filming Locations:

Shepperton Studios, Shepperton, Surrey, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Dimitri De Grunwald Production, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer British Studios

Technical Specs

Runtime:

88 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Black and White

Did You Know?

Trivia

Although this film has been shown on British television many times in the 21st century, it has always been screened under its American title of "Trial And Error", not as "The Dock Brief", its original and proper title. Furthermore, it has been released on DVD in the UK under its American title as well.

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Goofs

While Morgenhall is waiting for his "first case," a series of crossword puzzles are shown, as "time passes." Unfortunately, the puzzles are not in numerical order --- their numbers go up and down, never continually increasing, as they should as the months and years go "passing by."

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Connections

Referenced in A Patch of Blue (1965)

User Reviews

Worth it for the two leads

This neglected little film is based on a one-act play by John Mortimer, the creator of "Rumpole of the Bailey," and it extends some scenes (particularly the flashbacks to the lives of both the barrister and the accused) in ways that add little but running time. Beryl Reid, a very distinguished British stage actress, is given a role that requires her to do almost nothing but laugh hysterically. Oddly enough, the expansion of the script makes it feel even more theatrical than cinematic.

The real reasons to see this "Trial and Error" (aka "The Dock Brief") are the performances of Peter Sellers and Richard Attenborough. The latter was one of England's great character actors before he became a director and a Lord. Here, hidden behind a putty nose, he delivers an impeccable performance as a mediocre little man who kills his wife for a bit of quiet. And this was the period - just before head-turning international fame struck - when Sellers was offering one miraculous performance after another. His barrister is a subtle blend of self-delusional bluster and frightened awareness of his own inadequacy; the delicacy of this performance, especially the love he seems to feel for this little man who might prove his salvation, is a joy to behold. And the very last shot of the film, just before the final credits, made me laugh out loud - very silly, yet absolutely right.