The story line here is quite good. A very troubled young man (Nick Adams) marries a floozy (Joey Heatherton), and a sleaze ball (Pat Buttram) ends up dead. Both are sent to trial for murder, but the case against the woman is dropped. Richard Chamberlain is appointed as the defense counsel, while James Gregory is the prosecuting attorney. Through twists and turns, the majority of the film is spent in the courtroom at the trial.
This was Claude Rains' next-to-the-last film. He's clearly not well here, but still did a terrific job in his own twilight as a sort of coach to the defense attorney.
It seems to me that you have to divide Richard Chamerlain's performance into two distinct parts. When he's in the courtroom, and when he's not. I think he does fairly well when he's not in the courtroom, but in the courtroom I think he overacted...perhaps based on the film's director (?).
Joey Heatherton gets a lot of attention because of this, her debut film, but Joan Blackman as the once girlfriend of Chamberlain actually puts in a better performance.
I always think of Nick Adams as a television actor, not one that was really cut out to be on the big screen. After watching this film -- in which he does "okay" as the defendant -- I still think he was best suited for television.
James Gregory deserves mention here (as the prosecutor). Gregory always overacted...but there was something interesting about the way he overacted. Almost always an actor that was fun to watch.
Pat Buttram plays a sleaze ball here...and is not impressive while doing so. Jeanette Nolan has a decent role as his wife. Edgar Stehli is great as an old judge.
While I'm not sure that the verdict is logical, it makes an interesting film -- good, but not great. Worth a watch...once.
This was Claude Rains' next-to-the-last film. He's clearly not well here, but still did a terrific job in his own twilight as a sort of coach to the defense attorney.
It seems to me that you have to divide Richard Chamerlain's performance into two distinct parts. When he's in the courtroom, and when he's not. I think he does fairly well when he's not in the courtroom, but in the courtroom I think he overacted...perhaps based on the film's director (?).
Joey Heatherton gets a lot of attention because of this, her debut film, but Joan Blackman as the once girlfriend of Chamberlain actually puts in a better performance.
I always think of Nick Adams as a television actor, not one that was really cut out to be on the big screen. After watching this film -- in which he does "okay" as the defendant -- I still think he was best suited for television.
James Gregory deserves mention here (as the prosecutor). Gregory always overacted...but there was something interesting about the way he overacted. Almost always an actor that was fun to watch.
Pat Buttram plays a sleaze ball here...and is not impressive while doing so. Jeanette Nolan has a decent role as his wife. Edgar Stehli is great as an old judge.
While I'm not sure that the verdict is logical, it makes an interesting film -- good, but not great. Worth a watch...once.