TRIAL

US, 1955, 109 minutes, Black and white.
Glenn Ford, Dorothy Mc Guire, Arthur Kennedy, John Hodiak, Katy Jurado, Rafael Campos, Juano Hernandez, Robert Middleton, John Hoyt.
Directed by Mark Robson.

Trial is a dramatic film about justice, racism, communism from the mid-50s. Filmed in black and white, with strong screenplay by Don Mankiewiez (from his novel; Mankiewlez was later to write I Want To Live), the film was directed with strength by Mark Robson. It has a very good cast and Arthur Kennedy was nominated for an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. Glenn Ford was beginning a very solid M.G.M. career at this stage, after his work with Columbia. He was to make numerous films within the next ten years and become one of the popular stars. Dorothy McGuire? gives warn support.

The film focuses on an American town in 1947, prejudice against Hispanics, bigotry even to lynching by the irate citizens, the difficulties of the admiinistration of justice. It is also anticommunist and highlights the movements of the '40s with communists using the courts for their own purposes. However, the film is also critical of Mc Carthyism; in the background there is reference to a commissioner called Battle holding sessions for unAmerican activities (echoing Mc Carthy and critical of him).

While aspects of the film are definitely of the '40s and '50s, -it nevertheless is quite an involving drama.

1. A film, of the '50s, Justice, bigotry, anti-communism?

2. M.G.M. production values, black and white photography, 1947 setting, the town of San Juno, the beach, homes, the court? The New York rally? Evocation of period? The offbeat score?

3. The prologue and the events at the beach, the audience as witnesses to the events, uncertain of what happened? The arrest of Chavez, prejudice against the Mexican?

4. The town, its prejudice, the funeral and the bigoted men going, wanting a prayer? Echoes of the Ku Klux Klan? The lynch group at the prison? The sheriff and his fear, being persuaded to warn them off? Politicking the background? The prosecutor and his status in the town? The weeks taken to get the jurors, their links with the sheriff, racist attitudes? The proceedings of the case, the papers and the nationwide coverage?

5. Glenn Ford as David: law professor, his work, seeking cases, in court? Meeting Barney and Abbe? Barney's pressure about the case, in the restaurant? The interview with the prosecutor? Seeing Chavez, knowing him innocent? His mother? Preparation of the case, no plea bargaining? Barney summoning him to New York, the rally, his speech, being cut off, his reaction, going home, anger at Abbe? His relationship With Abbe, her help in the preparation of the case, personal? The jurors and their selection? The discussion with the black judge and his accusing David of prejudice? The witnesses, the cross-examination? The adjournment at the wrong moment in the questioning of the doctor? Testing out the young man's spotlight? The proceedings of the case, his relationship with Chavez, Chavez reading law books? Barney's return, taking over, the debate about Chavez going on the stand? Barney's railroading? Learning the truth about Barney from Abbe? The argument, off the case? Mrs Chavez and her hostility? Going to the library, his final speech in the court, blaming himself for not giving Chavez an adequate defence, his plea? The reconciliation wIth Abbe? His being pursued by the UnAmerican? Activities agent? Delaying his -interview, its probably being cancelled - the president not wanting to debate With David? His future?

6. Barney and his shrewdness, pushing David into the case, the research? Going to New York for funds, the rally, his meticulous planning, the gestures, giving $50 for a donation? His signals, demagogue, the talk, Mrs Chavez, her support of him? Forcing David into a situation, cutting off the microphone? His return, making Chavez a victim? His making Chavez take the stand, the loss of the case? The clash with David? His anger in the court, bigotry, trying to provoke the Judge, being seen as a martyr? David and Abbe, her work, personality, love? The accuracy of her information, not worried about New York? The confrontation, the atmosphere of the warning David, '40s and '50s and communist fellow travellers, her story, her anticommunist stances? In court? Talking with Mrs Chavez? The end?

8. The prosecutor, his status in the town, offering deals, hard line, the interrogations, skill in cross-examination, especially of Chavez? His speech at the end supporting David?

9. The sheriff, racism, the lynching party, people paying him to get into the prison, talking the men off, laughing during the trial?

10. Chavez: his age, experience, the actual events, the girl and her medical condition, his encounter with her, going up the steps, her death, his call for help? His studying of law, his respect for David? His artwork and gifts? Going on the stand, the questions of the biology classes and his signature? His mother, love for her son, going to New York, her anaer against David, the apology?

11. The black judge, the possibility of justice being done, his being considered a legal scapegoat? David's anger and his wise response? The interrogation of the jurors, tactics, the adjournment and the doctor's testimony? His final confrontation of Barney? The end?

12. The undertones of McCarthyism?, anticommuniist persecution? unAmerican activities? The man watching him, the reputation of Battle?

13. The themes of 1947 and racism, the state of America after World War Two, communists and anticommunism, the cold war? Rallies and groups, tactics?

14. The court case, the evidence, the girl and her medical condition, her parents? The truth of the matter? Justice being done?