CRIMINAL COURT
US, 1946, 60 minutes, Black and white.
Tom Conway, Martha O' Driscoll, June Clayworth, Robert Armstrong, Addison Richards, Pat Gleason, Steve Brodie, Robert Warwick.
Directed by Robert Wise.
Criminal Court is the equivalent of contemporary episode in a television series. It could easily be remade.
Tom Conway, always suave of manner and voice, George Sanders’ brother, is a successful lawyer who performs dramatically in court in rather unorthodox ways. He has campaigned to become DA. He is also in love with a lounge singer who gets a job in a club managed by one of the criminals of the city who is in the pay of the current DA, and who fixes cases with witnesses, albeit dumb, and who relies on his brother as paymaster to corrupt officials.
The plot is sufficiently complex, with attempted bribes, blackmail by forged letters and even an accidental death.
The leading lady is Martha O’ Driscoll who has the opportunity to sing some torch songs.
Of particular interest is the fact that the director is Robert Wise at the beginning of his career, a versatile director who won Oscars for West Side Story and The Sound of Music.
1. A short crime thriller? An episode of a modern television series? Drama, issues, resolution?
2. Supporting feature, black and white photography, tough? The cast?
3. The title, Steve Barnes, appearances, the defence and his skills, smart, rapport with the judges, juries, with the prosecutors, with reporters?
4. Tom Conway and Steve Barnes, in himself, his skills, wanting to be DA, the relationship with Georgia, advice about his singing and warnings about Vic? Bill as his campaign manager? In court, the dumb witness, all the denials, Steve and his tantrum, with the gun, proving the witness’s behaviour? Vic, his admiring him, but his collusion with the DA, the films of the pictures of payments, corrupt police and officials? Vic and his phone call, the threat of the forged letter denouncing Steve? Going to the club, the confrontation, the pulling the gun, the struggle, his death? Steve returning to the screening? Georgia, going into the room, the police arresting her, in prison, the hearings? West and the witnesses, Joan and her fear, the thugs at the back of the court room? Steve confronting Joan, the arrest of the thugs? His continuing on his campaign?
5. Georgia, love interest, the two songs, employed by Vic, going to his office, warning off his brother, Frankie quoting her in the court? The arrest, trusting Steve, wanting to do the right thing, the possibility of prison? Sense of freedom?
6. Vic, the DA is employed, calling the tune, corrupt, Vic’s brother, the thugs, priming the witness, the dumb behaviour in the court? The issue of the films, Vic, the blackmail attempt, the fight, his death? West and the other thugs, the contacts, presence in court?
7. Joan, as secretary, her betraying Steve, information to Vic, her witnessing the accident, giving herself away, admitting the truth?
8. A popular and easy entertainment?
