People Against O'Hara (1951)
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38% want to see it
(8 ratings)
Fish-market worker Johnny O'Hara (James Arness) is named as a suspect when his boss -- with whom he had a dispute the previous day -- is shot to death in an apparent robbery. When he's arrested, his family appeals to their old friend James Curtayne (Spencer Tracy), who was once a renowned… More Fish-market worker Johnny O'Hara (James Arness) is named as a suspect when his boss -- with whom he had a dispute the previous day -- is shot to death in an apparent robbery. When he's arrested, his family appeals to their old friend James Curtayne (Spencer Tracy), who was once a renowned criminal attorney but is now in civil practice. He resists their entreaties until he realizes that no decent attorney will handle the case properly; his daughter (Diana Lynn) watches with alarm, however, for we soon learn that Curtayne is an alcoholic, and that the major factor in his life that pushed him over the edge was the stress of having someone's life in his hands. He discovers soon enough just how much Johnny's life is in his hands when his client refuses to level with him about his real whereabouts on the night of the murder. He also realizes as the trial starts precisely how rusty he is in the courtroom, and the old stresses return -- and with them, his drinking. Curtayne not only manages to lose the case but destroys his career when he tries to buy off a larcenous prosecution witness. His client facing a death sentence and his own life and career in ruins, he's seemingly hit bottom, but then new evidence surfaces, of a nature that not even the ambitious prosecutor (John Hodiak) can ignore. Recognizing that his client was actually innocent and also acting in his silence -- however stupidly -- from the noblest of motives, Curtayne is willing to redeem himself by putting his own life on the line, confronting a killer who has taken more than one life without any compunction whatsoever, and who has no reason to spill anything. The People Against O'Hara was a well-made, largely location-shot crime drama set in New York City, but it wouldn't have been nearly so prestigious a movie were it not for the presence of Spencer Tracy in the role of Curtayne. Ironically enough, he only agreed to do the film on the condition that his friend Pat O'Brien, who hadn't been in a major studio release in a couple of years, be given a large role, which he got as the lead detective on the case, and O'Brien and Tracy get a couple of really good scenes together. The film also includes an unbilled appearance by Charles Bronson, who was still working as Charles Buchinski in 1951, and is highlighted by a superb prominent supporting performance by William Campbell, who seems to quietly relish every nuance of his portrayal of a totally slimy character. ~ Bruce Eder, Rovi
- Directed By
- John Sturges
- Genres
- Mystery & Suspense, Drama
Unrated,
Critic Reviews
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Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
It's not the usual strong role Spencer Tracy is noted for.
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)
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Cast
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Spencer Tracy
as James Curtayne
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Pat O'Brien
as Vincent Ricks
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Diana Lynn
as Ginny Curtayne
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John Hodiak
as Louis Barra
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Eduardo Ciannelli
as Knuckles Lanzetta
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James Arness
as Johnny O'Hara
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Jay C. Flippen
as Sven Norson
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William Campbell
as Frank Korvac
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Richard Anderson
as Jeff Chapman
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Henry O'Neill
as Judge Keating
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Arthur Shields
as Mr. O'Hara
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Louise Lorimer
as Mrs. O'Hara
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Ann Doran
as Betty Clark
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Emile G. Meyer
as Capt. Tom Mulvaney
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Regis Toomey
as Fred Colton
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Katherine Warren
as Mrs. Sheffield
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Tony Barr
as Little Wolfie
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Brooks Benedict
as Gambler
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Lennie Bremen
as Harry
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Paul Bryar
as Detective Howie Pendleton
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Charles Buchinsky
as Angelo Korvac
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Benny Burt
as Sammy
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John K. Butler
as Court Clerk
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Perdita Chandler
as Gloria Adler
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Mae Clarke
as Receptionist
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Jonathan Cott
as Policeman
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Donald Dillaway
as Monty
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Yvette Dugay
as Mrs. Lanzetta
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Fred Essler
as Augie
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Frank Ferguson
as Al
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Bill Fletcher
as Pete Korvac
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Ned Glass
as Magistrate
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Virginia Hewitt
as Girl
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Frank Hyers
as Bartender
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Jan Kayne
as Girl
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Jack Kruschen
as Detective
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Celia Lovsky
as Mrs. Korvac
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Lou Lubin
as Eddie
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George Magrill
as Court Attendant
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Peter Mamakos
as James Korvac
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Michael Mark
as Workman
- Strother Martin
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Paul McGuire
as Male Stenographer
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Lee Phelps
as Emmett Kimbaugh
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Jeff Richards
as Ambulance Driver
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Maurice Samuels
as Papa Lanzetta
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William Schallert
as Intern
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Kay Scott
as Secretary
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Bill Self
as Technician
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John Sheehan
as Postal Clerk
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Frank Sully
as Fishmonger
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Julius Tannen
as Toby Baum
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Lawrence Tolan
as Vincent Korvac
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Jim Toney
as Officer Abrams
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Billy Vincent
as William Sheffield
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Bud Wolfe
as Fingerprint Technician
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Richard H. Bartlett
as Tony Korvac
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Michael Dugan
as Charlie Detective
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John Maxwell
as Thayer Connolly
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Richard Landry
as Sailor
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John Albright
as Waiter
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Harry Cody
as Photographer
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Sam Finn
as Gambler
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Dan Foster
as Assistant District Attorney
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Charles Anthony Hughes
as George
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Ernesto Morelli
as Fishmonger
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Phyllis Graffeo
as Mary
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Jack Lee
as Court Clerk
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Joyce Otis
as Thelma
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Angi O. Poulos
as Watchman
