The story revolves around a newly appointed captain who is on trial for manslaughter - 162 counts to be exact - after a fire breaks out on his ship and many are killed or disabled as a result. He is found guilty of gross negligence by a coast guard tribunal and handed over to the civilian courts for trial. Why do I ask "Why are we here?"? Because the captain is a new captain who takes over mid voyage upon the death of the actual captain. As a matter of fact, the new captain, Jerry Barrett, is in just the first few days of his command when the ship catches fire and sinks. He doesn't panic upon the discovery of the fire, but a blast in a stairwell makes him appear possibly drunk when he staggers onto the bridge, still dizzy from the blast. So much so that the second in command takes over until Barrett can regain his bearings. Too late though, because now his crew believes he was either drunk or just plain scared out of his wits.
Yet in spite of the fact that everything was done that could be done to save the passengers, that Barrett stayed on board finishing up his duties after he told his crew to abandon ship, everybody wants his head on a platter. Couldn't it be that the dead captain, who had control of every inch of the ship until days before the fire had some culpability? Nobody ever brings this up.
Edmond O'Brien is in fine form as the defense attorney, David Carson, apparently a five star attorney, just brimming with self confidence sprinkled with cynicism. How can Barrett afford him? The ship line for which he worked is footing the bill because if Barrett is acquitted it will save them millions in payouts in lawsuits over the disaster.
What makes this one a little different? It shows the trial process in detail, and it makes a break with courtroom dramas of the past and enters the modern era. Like Perry Mason, Carson can't do it all himself, and he has his own P.I. who does the investigative work. It shows that corporations really do a cost analysis on the worth of human life, even sixty years ago, and then there is the lone nut with the gun that appears out of nowhere crazed with a desire for revenge.
This is a good courtroom drama that ends somewhat predictably if you pay attention to the opening scene and the undercurrents of emotion of the crew, but there are some interesting twists and turns along the way. Watch it anyways, the journey is worth the rather predictable ending.
Yet in spite of the fact that everything was done that could be done to save the passengers, that Barrett stayed on board finishing up his duties after he told his crew to abandon ship, everybody wants his head on a platter. Couldn't it be that the dead captain, who had control of every inch of the ship until days before the fire had some culpability? Nobody ever brings this up.
Edmond O'Brien is in fine form as the defense attorney, David Carson, apparently a five star attorney, just brimming with self confidence sprinkled with cynicism. How can Barrett afford him? The ship line for which he worked is footing the bill because if Barrett is acquitted it will save them millions in payouts in lawsuits over the disaster.
What makes this one a little different? It shows the trial process in detail, and it makes a break with courtroom dramas of the past and enters the modern era. Like Perry Mason, Carson can't do it all himself, and he has his own P.I. who does the investigative work. It shows that corporations really do a cost analysis on the worth of human life, even sixty years ago, and then there is the lone nut with the gun that appears out of nowhere crazed with a desire for revenge.
This is a good courtroom drama that ends somewhat predictably if you pay attention to the opening scene and the undercurrents of emotion of the crew, but there are some interesting twists and turns along the way. Watch it anyways, the journey is worth the rather predictable ending.
