Trial (1955)

76% of users liked it
(143 ratings)

Adapted by Don M. Mankiewicz from his own novel, Trial is a surprisingly timely story of how justice can sometimes be compromised by "special interests". It all begins when Mexican youth Angelo Chavez (Rafael Campos) is placed on trial for the murder of a white teenaged girl. Battling the lynch-mob… More Adapted by Don M. Mankiewicz from his own novel, Trial is a surprisingly timely story of how justice can sometimes be compromised by "special interests". It all begins when Mexican youth Angelo Chavez (Rafael Campos) is placed on trial for the murder of a white teenaged girl. Battling the lynch-mob mentality in and out of the courtroom is relatively inexperienced defense attorney David Blake (Glenn Ford). Believing that anything done on behalf of his client is for the common good, Blake approves the organization of an "Angelo Chavez Society" to pay the boy's court costs and ostensibly see that justice is done in the face of small-town prejudice. Soon, however, Blake discovers that both he and his client are being used as dupes by a Communist lawyer, who hopes that Chavez will be found guilty and executed, thereby creating a martyr for the Red cause. Much was made in 1955 of the fact that the presiding judge is a black man, played by Juano Hernandez. A bit creaky at times, Trial nonetheless still packs a wallop when shown today. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 45 min.
Directed By: Mark Robson
Genres: Drama, Classics

In Theaters: Oct 7, 1955 Wide

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Cast

            Glenn Ford as David Blake

            Dorothy McGuire as Abbe Nyle

            Arthur Kennedy as Barney Castle

            John Hodiak as John J. Armstrong

            Katy Jurado as Consuela Chavez

            Rafael Campos as Angel Chavez

            Juano Hernandez as Judge Theodore Motley

            Catherine Neilson as Washerwoman

            Robert Middleton as A.S. "Fats" Sanders

            Rodney Bell as Lew Bardman

            Robert Bice as Abbott

            Whit Bissell as Sam Wiltse

            Frank Cady as Canford

            Elisha Cook Jr. as Finn

            Frank Ferguson as Kiley

            Robert Forrest
            
            Richard Gaines as Dr. Schacter

            Everett Glass as Dean

            Paul Guilfoyle as Cap Grant

            Percy Helton as Youval

            John Hoyt as Ralph Castillo

            Barry Kelley as Jim Backett

            David Leonard as County Clerk

            Mitchell Lewis as Jury Foreman

            Mort Mills as Reporter

            Grandon Rhodes as Terry Bliss

            Charles Tannen as Bailiff

            James Todd as Minister

            Vince Townsend Jr. as Dr. Abraham Tenfold

            Frank Wilcox as Lawyer No. 2

            Wilson Wood as Checker

            Sheb Wooley as Butteridge

            Michael Dugan as Pine

            John Maxwell as Benedict

            Richard Tyler as Johnson

            John Lyons
            
            Charlotte Lawrence as Mrs. Webson

            Ann Lee as Gail Wiltse

            John Rosser as Assistant District Attorney

            Charles Evans as Lawyer No. 1

            Dorothy Green as Mrs. Ackerman
See full cast

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