Gideon's Trumpet (1980)
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53% of users liked it
(307 ratings)
In the tradition of his earlier work in Grapes of Wrath and Twelve Angry Men, Henry Fonda played another social-protest role in the Hallmark Hall of Fame TV presentation Gideon's Trumpet. Clarence Earl Gideon (Fonda) is a poor, ill-tempered Florida handyman who is arrested for petty larceny in… More In the tradition of his earlier work in Grapes of Wrath and Twelve Angry Men, Henry Fonda played another social-protest role in the Hallmark Hall of Fame TV presentation Gideon's Trumpet. Clarence Earl Gideon (Fonda) is a poor, ill-tempered Florida handyman who is arrested for petty larceny in 1961. Unable to afford a lawyer, Gideon is sentenced to five years in prison. His treatment by the Florida judicial system, a clear violation of the Fourteenth Amendment, is brought to the attention of the Supreme Court. As a result, a landmark decision is reached, assuring free legal representation for anyone accused of a crime in the United States. Also appearing are Jose Ferrer as Gideon's attorney Abe Fortas, John Houseman (who also produced) as the Chief Justice, and Fay Wray as the owner of the lodging establishment where Gideon lived. Gideon's Trumpet premiered on April 30, 1980. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Directed By
- Robert E. Collins
- Genres
- Drama, Television
Unrated,
- In Theaters
- Apr 30, 1980 Wide
- Studio
- Acorn Media
Critic Reviews
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David Cornelius, DVDTalk.com
Nearly three decades since its initial broadcast, it still holds a place as a triumph of televised storytelling.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
Featured Audience Ratings
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Cast
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Henry Fonda
as Clarence Earl Gideon
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John Houseman
as Chief Justice
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José Ferrer
as Abe Fortas
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Fay Wray
as Edna Curtis
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Paul Benjamin
as Artis
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James Brodhead
as Court Crier
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David Clennon
as James Fitzpatrick
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Frederic Cook
as Leo Stafford
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Seamon Glass
as Prison Guard
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Malcolm Groome
as John Ely
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Gary Grubbs
as Deputy Hamilton
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Jerry Hardin
as Mel Cobb
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Dean Jagger
as 6th Supreme Court Justice
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Les Lannom
as Bobby Earle
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Richard Lineback
as Lester Wade
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J. Patrick McNamara
as Harris
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Clifford A. Pellow
as Justin Pike
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William Prince
as 5th Supreme Court Justice
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Nicholas Pryor
as Jacob
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Ford Rainey
as 2nd Supreme Court Justice
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Timothy Scott
as Toby
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David Sheiner
as Abe Krash
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Lane Smith
as Fred Turner
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Dolph Sweet
as Charlie
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Gwen Van Dam
as Mrs. Lawrence
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Michael Cavanaugh
as Stocker
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Sam Jaffe
as 1st Sumpreme Court Justice
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Edmund H. North
as Supreme Court Justice
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Liam O'Brien
as Supreme Court Justice
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Allan Rich
as Tobias Simon
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John Miller
as Judge Robert McCrary
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Jon Locke
as Supervisor
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Don Draper
as Bailiff
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James O'Connell
as Warden
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Henry Proach
as Guard
