The Second Verdict 

An ethical lawyer becomes very disturbed about what to do when the client he just got acquitted of murder brags that he committed the crime.

Director:

Lewis Teague

Writers:

Alfred Hayes (teleplay), Henry Slesar (story)

Stars:

Alfred Hitchcock, Martin Landau, Frank Gorshin

Cast

Episode cast overview:
Alfred Hitchcock	...	Self - Host
Martin Landau	...	Ned Murray
Frank Gorshin	...	Lew Rydell
Sharon Farrell	...	Melanie Rydell
John Marley	...	Tony Hardeman
Nancy Kovack	...	Karen Osterman
Harold J. Stone	...	Mr. Osterman
Richard Hale	...	Judge Arthur
Michael Beirne	...	Tom Bailey
Richard Guizon	...	Bailiff (as Richard F. Guizon)
William Remick	...	The Jury Foreman
Helen Mayon	...	The Maid

Storyline

Attorney Ned Murray wins traveling salesman Lew Rydell a not guilty verdict in a murder trial. An hour later, Rydell tells Murray that he murdered the victim, a delivery boy, because he flirted with his wife, Melanie. Murray wants justice and threatens to go to the D.A., contrary to the admonishment of his senior partner, H.E. Osterman, and Osterman's daughter, Karen, Murray's fiancée. Murray also confronts Melanie about Lew's guilt, inflaming Lew's jealousy. Murray has a rather shady friend, Tony Hardeman, who offers to personally administer capital punishment to Lew. Murray discusses the case with Judge Arthur, and decides to leave Lew alone, but rushes to the Rydell apartment, only to discover that Lew has killed Tony. Murray offers to defend Lew at his next murder trial.

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Plot Keywords:

murder trial | jealousy | capital punishment | fiancee | defense lawyer | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Did You Know?

Trivia

This story was retold on the popular radio drama The CBS Radio Mystery Theater. That radio drama was called "After the Verdict" and was first broadcast on February 6, 1974. CBS frequently re-used stories from its television dramas in CBSRMT.

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Goofs

During the car ride through the theater district immediately following the courtroom scene at the beginning of the story, identical marquees are repeatedly seen through the rear windows as the car travels.

User Reviews

Martin Landau and Frank Gorshin

"The Second Verdict" is for the most part a fine entry about justice and the law, let down by a predictable conclusion. Martin Landau is attorney Ned Murphy, who successfully defends traveling businessman Lew Rydell (Frank Gorshin) from a murder rap. Following the verdict, Rydell privately confesses to Murphy that he is guilty of the crime, beating a grocery boy to death because of his psychopathic rage over the flirtatious nature of his wife Melanie (Sharon Farrell), who remains oblivious to the effect she has on other men. Scrupulously honest, Murphy is engaged to the daughter (Nancy Kovack) of his employer (Harold J. Stone), who is reluctant to have his future son-in-law tarnish the firm's reputation by going to the D.A. with Rydell's confession. Tony Hardeman (John Marley), whose brother was saved by Murphy's defense, decides to take matters into his own hands, while the attorney has a heartfelt talk with the judge (Richard Hale) who helped shape him into the lawyer he's become. Best remembered as The Riddler on TV's BATMAN, Frank Gorshin, one of the greatest impressionists of his generation, proves himself to be a solid character performer, quite believable and even frightening.

Details

Language:

English

Release Date:

29 May 1964 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Alfred J. Hitchcock Productions, Shamley Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

48 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1