MAKSQUIBS CINEMATHEQUE: TRIAL (1955)

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Saturday, October 14, 2017

TRIAL (1955)

Appalling. Glenn Ford just off the ‘daring’ social-issues of BLACKBOARD JUNGLE (inner-city school violence; racial tension; generation gap), double-dips into 'problem pics' with this courtroom drama, larded with tacked on raw political trimmings (HUAC; Commies; KKK types). A law prof, but a courtroom virgin, his first case in the real world finds him handling front-page/ LOOK Magazine stuff, defending a Hispanic kid on a trumped up death-penalty/murder charge. Seems new partner Arthur Kennedy is off with the boy’s mom, raising cash on the Communist Speaking Circuit, offering up the boy as a fresh ethnic martyr. If only the dead girl hadn’t simply keeled over after flirting with the kid due to a bad heart (rheumatic fever), as testified to by her personal physician was also happens to be the coroner. There’s really no case against the kid, so naturally, they force him onto the stand so John Hodiak’s high-powered D.A. can trip him up. The plot is plenty idiotic, made worse by helmer Mark Robson, who pitches it all way too high, like a Center-Right Stanley Kramer on steroids. At a husky 39, Ford is well past playing this stuttering courtroom novice, and fails to connect with assistant Dorothy McGuire. But why pick on these talents; victims all to Don Mankiewicz, whose novel & screenplay call his famous lineage (son of Herman, nephew of Joseph) into question.

SCREWY THOUGHT OF THE DAY: Bad as he is here, Ford had yet to hit bottom. See next year’s TEAHOUSE OF THE AUGUST MOON/’56. Then, major comeback in 3:10 TO YUMA/’57.

ATTENTION MUST BE PAID: Hiding in plain sight is our all-time favorite storyline! The one where an unappreciated guy finally gets a shot at his dream job, unaware he’s only being hired for his supposed incompetence. But he turns the tables, proving he’s got the right stuff after all.

WATCH THIS, NOT THAT: In one of his strongest films before he was effectively BlackListed out of the country, Joseph Losey handles similar issues in the little-known knockout THE LAWLESS/’50.

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Saturday, October 14, 2017

TRIAL (1955)

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