This post will cover movies where the primary action is in the courtroom. There are scads of movies that have dramatic or hilarious courtroom scenes but are do not fit my definition as somewhat of a purist. So, outstanding movies like Chicago, A Man for All Seasons, The Untouchables, Miracle on 34th Street and Kramer vs. Kramer don't qualify for this list. Nor do several comedies with wonderful courtroom scenes, notably, Liar, Liar, Legally Blonde and Bananas.
Number one in this category is easy. It is one of my all-time favorite films:
To Kill A Mockingbird (1962) - Stars Gregory Peck, a bunch of people you've never heard of and Robert Duvall (his very first movie) in a bit part but playing a central character who isn't really seen till the end of the movie. It won three Oscar's - Best Actor included - and was nominated for five more. Based on the Pulitzer Prize winning novel by Harper Lee. A great story of the south (so-called Southern Gothic) and of chivalry and respect. A coming of age tale, a story of courage and a dramatic treat. Three of the best kid actors I've ever seen (Dill, Scout and Jem). According to an American Film Institute poll, Atticus Finch (played by Peck) is the number #1 movie hero in film history. Few movies have inspired as many - as this post in Wikipedia shows.
Numbers 2-5 are as follows and are very close in order:
Anatomy of a Murder (1959) - Jimmy Stewart, George C. Scott, Ben Gazzara and Lee Remick star. Another trial with rape as the central theme - but handled with a lot of style and even humor. An Otto Preminger film (his best), it was nominated for seven Oscars. Tough year - Ben Hur took most of the hardware that year.
Inherit the Wind (1960) - In 1925 in a small town in Tennessee a school teacher - John Scopes - was tried for teaching Darwinism. Two of the most famous lawyers in the US - Clarance Darrow and William Jennings Bryan - squared off for this landmark case. The Scopes Monkey Trial made for a great movie with Spencer Tracer and Fredric March playing the two lawyers in this outstanding courtroom drama. It was nominated for four Oscars.
Reversal of Fortune (1990) - Glen Close, Jeremy Irons (Oscar for Best Actor) and Ron Silver as Harvard Law Professor Alan Dershowitz. The Case of Claus Von Bulow. An American Saga of Money and Mystery (so says IMDB). Wonderful courtroom scenes. Irons really is brilliant in the role. The real Dershowitz appears in a cameo as a judge. One of those films where you never really know whether he did it or not.
Judgment at Nuremberg (1961) - The subject was a tough one - Nazi war criminal trials, but it was masterfully handled. Film won two and was nominated for 11 total Oscars. Maximilian Schell and Spencer Tracy both nominated for Best Actor (Schell won). Phenomenal cast - Lancaster, Marlene Dietrich, Richard Widmark, Judy Garland, Montgomery Clift, Werner Klemperer (Col. Klink from Hogan's Heroes) AND William Shatner. According to Wikipedia: The film examines the questions of individual complicity in crimes committed by the state. Really well done.
In 6th through 10th place, in no particular order are:
My Cousin Vinny (1992) - The first time I saw this movie was with Dav.., I mean Dr. Alston in Minneapolis at the Final Four in 1992. It was the day between the semi's (squashed Indiana - okay we won by 3) and the finals (about to squash Webber and the Fab Five - by 20!) . This was also the year that we went to the NCAA Regionals in Philadelphia and saw the Duke-Kentuchas game - the one most people think was the greatest college basketball game ever played. The Grant Hill to Christian Laetner pass and shot at the buzzer have been replayed thousands of times - and I still enjoy seeing it (and Thomas Hill grabbing his head in shock).
Number one in this category is easy. It is one of my all-time favorite films:
To Kill A Mockingbird (1962) - Stars Gregory Peck, a bunch of people you've never heard of and Robert Duvall (his very first movie) in a bit part but playing a central character who isn't really seen till the end of the movie. It won three Oscar's - Best Actor included - and was nominated for five more. Based on the Pulitzer Prize winning novel by Harper Lee. A great story of the south (so-called Southern Gothic) and of chivalry and respect. A coming of age tale, a story of courage and a dramatic treat. Three of the best kid actors I've ever seen (Dill, Scout and Jem). According to an American Film Institute poll, Atticus Finch (played by Peck) is the number #1 movie hero in film history. Few movies have inspired as many - as this post in Wikipedia shows.
Numbers 2-5 are as follows and are very close in order:
Anatomy of a Murder (1959) - Jimmy Stewart, George C. Scott, Ben Gazzara and Lee Remick star. Another trial with rape as the central theme - but handled with a lot of style and even humor. An Otto Preminger film (his best), it was nominated for seven Oscars. Tough year - Ben Hur took most of the hardware that year.
Inherit the Wind (1960) - In 1925 in a small town in Tennessee a school teacher - John Scopes - was tried for teaching Darwinism. Two of the most famous lawyers in the US - Clarance Darrow and William Jennings Bryan - squared off for this landmark case. The Scopes Monkey Trial made for a great movie with Spencer Tracer and Fredric March playing the two lawyers in this outstanding courtroom drama. It was nominated for four Oscars.
Reversal of Fortune (1990) - Glen Close, Jeremy Irons (Oscar for Best Actor) and Ron Silver as Harvard Law Professor Alan Dershowitz. The Case of Claus Von Bulow. An American Saga of Money and Mystery (so says IMDB). Wonderful courtroom scenes. Irons really is brilliant in the role. The real Dershowitz appears in a cameo as a judge. One of those films where you never really know whether he did it or not.
Judgment at Nuremberg (1961) - The subject was a tough one - Nazi war criminal trials, but it was masterfully handled. Film won two and was nominated for 11 total Oscars. Maximilian Schell and Spencer Tracy both nominated for Best Actor (Schell won). Phenomenal cast - Lancaster, Marlene Dietrich, Richard Widmark, Judy Garland, Montgomery Clift, Werner Klemperer (Col. Klink from Hogan's Heroes) AND William Shatner. According to Wikipedia: The film examines the questions of individual complicity in crimes committed by the state. Really well done.
In 6th through 10th place, in no particular order are:
My Cousin Vinny (1992) - The first time I saw this movie was with Dav.., I mean Dr. Alston in Minneapolis at the Final Four in 1992. It was the day between the semi's (squashed Indiana - okay we won by 3) and the finals (about to squash Webber and the Fab Five - by 20!) . This was also the year that we went to the NCAA Regionals in Philadelphia and saw the Duke-Kentuchas game - the one most people think was the greatest college basketball game ever played. The Grant Hill to Christian Laetner pass and shot at the buzzer have been replayed thousands of times - and I still enjoy seeing it (and Thomas Hill grabbing his head in shock).
What a hilarious movie. Joe Pesci is unbelievably funny - his best work - and Marisa Tomei is fabulous as his Joisey girlfriend come down south to help Pesci defend his cousin. She won Oscar for Best Supporting. Fred Gwynn is fantastic as the judge. Some of the funniest courtroom scenes ever.
The Verdict (1982) - Another great Paul Newman film. Also stars James Mason and Jack Warden. Nominated for five Oscars including all the biggies - Picture, Director, Actor and Supporting Actor.
The Caine Mutiny (1954) - Stars Humphrey Bogart, Van Johnson and Fred MacMurray. Another one based on a Pulitzer Prize winner by the same name. Great scenes in the military court. Nominated for seven Academy Awards.
The Paradine Case (1947) - Lesser known Hitchcock movie starring Gregory Peck, Charles Laughton, Louis Jordan, Leo G. Carroll and Ethel Barrymore (nominated for Best Supporting).
Witness for the Prosecution (1957) - Tyrone Power, Marlene Dietrich and Charles Laughton (he is absolutely perfect in the role of the lawyer). Directed by Billy Winder (Stalag 17, Sunset Blvd). Based on an Agatha Christie story.
There are a bunch of honorable mentions in this category.
Primal Fear - Ed - this is the one with Norton and Gere we were trying to think of.
Philadelphia
Fracture
A few Good Men
And Justice For All
Suspect
Breaker Morant
Class Action
Music Box
Next Post: Gangsta' Movies
The Verdict (1982) - Another great Paul Newman film. Also stars James Mason and Jack Warden. Nominated for five Oscars including all the biggies - Picture, Director, Actor and Supporting Actor.
The Caine Mutiny (1954) - Stars Humphrey Bogart, Van Johnson and Fred MacMurray. Another one based on a Pulitzer Prize winner by the same name. Great scenes in the military court. Nominated for seven Academy Awards.
The Paradine Case (1947) - Lesser known Hitchcock movie starring Gregory Peck, Charles Laughton, Louis Jordan, Leo G. Carroll and Ethel Barrymore (nominated for Best Supporting).
Witness for the Prosecution (1957) - Tyrone Power, Marlene Dietrich and Charles Laughton (he is absolutely perfect in the role of the lawyer). Directed by Billy Winder (Stalag 17, Sunset Blvd). Based on an Agatha Christie story.
There are a bunch of honorable mentions in this category.
Primal Fear - Ed - this is the one with Norton and Gere we were trying to think of.
Philadelphia
Fracture
A few Good Men
And Justice For All
Suspect
Breaker Morant
Class Action
Music Box
Next Post: Gangsta' Movies
