THE SELLOUT
US, 1951, 82 minutes, Black and white.
Walter Pidgeon, John Hodiak, Audrey Totter, Thomas Gomez, Everett Sloane, Cameron Mitchell, Karl Malden, Paula Raymond.
Directed by Gerald Mayer.
The Sellout is an interesting and entertaining second feature of the early '50s. It has a very good cast led by Walter Pidgeon. It is interesting to consider it in the political background of the time - the House of UnAmerican? Activities investigations and the beginning of Mc Carthyism. The film takes a stand against local bosses and their exploiting of the law and the reliance on the law to effect justice. It also focuses on the pressures made on individuals by powerful authorities and their breaking points. The film is strong on integrity.
1. Interesting thriller? Social drama? Justice, sheriffs, the courts? Media? A pieced of Americana?
2. B-budget production, MGM values: black and white photography, the small American town? The strong cast? Score?
3. The title - and its relationship to justice, breaking and buying points? Personal sellouts?
4. Focus on Allridge and Johnson's voice-over commentary? Allridge and his position in the town, the paper and its reputation? His routine, friendship with Wilfred Jackson? His love for his daughter, her husband being an assistant district attorney? The irony of the accident of knocking the post, picking up Wilf? The police stopping them, the police brutality, no questions asked, his being put in the cell, his protests? The kangaroo court and the bashing? The condemnation of Wilf? The sheriff finding out who he was? Letting him out and his unctuous apologies? His decision to expose the sheriff in the paper? The series of articles, the affidavits? His sudden disappearance? His reappearance with his family, the offer of a job in Detroit? His moving out? Johnson trying to question him for the case? His refusal? On the stand, his shame? His son-in-law speaking the truth, his being able to speak the truth, the flashback to the pressure put on him by the sheriff and Carson? His thanking Johnson for his giving him his integrity?
5. Johnson, the voice-over, the D.A? Working for the government? Wanting to move to private business? The old D.A. and his words? Going to the town, the hostility of the authorities? Trying to build his case? His friendship with Maxwell? Maxwell's explanations? Friendship with Cleo, the relationship? Cleo in jail and his getting her out? His stronghand tactics? His wanting to interrogate Allridge? Thinking of giving up the case? Making the points in court, Carson's objections? The effect of interrogation? Helpless because of the lack of evidence for the court? Randy's change of heart, his winning the case?
6. Maxwell and his role in the police force, supervision, clashes with Burke? Support of Johnson? Following him and rescuing him? Vindicated?
7. Sheriff Burke, his ownership of the town, the votes? Carson as his lawyer? The judge in his pocket? Making money out of cases? The kangaroo court in the cells? Self-confidence? Lying? The murders? The threatening of Allridge? The threatening of the other victims? Their refusal to testify and Carson not questioning them? The final revelations, trying to destroy the evidence? Their being arrested? Carson as the wealthy lawyer and his smugness? The judge as the stooge? The men that they used in the prisons?
8. The local police, their brutality? The decent police?
9. Wilf Jackson, ordinary man, friendship with Allridge, being picked up, arrested and bashed, sent to work in Carson's home? His telling the truth?
10. Randy and his wife, relationship to Allridge? Position in the town? The behaviour at the trial? The decision to tell the truth and risk imprisonment? The flashback, Randy's hopes, ambitions, money? The downfall of Sheriff Burke?
11. Effective characterisations, issues and themes? A film of the '50s? Still relevant?
