MARSHALL

US, 2017, 118 minutes, Colour.
Chadwick Boseman, Josh Gad, Kate Hudson, Sterling K.Brown, Dan Stevens, James Cromwell, Keesha Sharp, Roger Guenveur Smith, Derek Baskin, Ahna O' Reilly.
Directed by Reginald Hudlin.

This is quite an impressive film and to be recommended.

Justice Thurgood Marshall may be well-known in the United States but is less known throughout the world. But he and his career are well worth knowing. He was first African-American? to be appointed to the American Supreme Court, in 1967, serving until 1991.

The part of his story that is told in this film takes place in the early 1940s, at the time of America’s entry into World War II. Thurgood is a lawyer – and has a powerful back story about his studies, acceptance and not at universities, and later suing the university that would not accept him. Strong-minded, he is sought after all over the United States, but especially in the South, to give advice in court cases. He is a member of the NAACP, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

The film introduces him in action and being successful and acclaimed in his legal advice. The other character who is introduced is a Jewish lawyer, insurance lawyer, Sam Friedman. He is an interesting counter-foil to the character of Thurgood Marshall, especially when he is dragooned by Marshall into collaborating with him in the defence of a young man who is accused of rape. Friedman has to rely on Marshall’s notes.

The screenplay is interesting just in the exploration of the case, the characters involved, the complexities of the action, lies that are told in the motivations behind the lies. It takes place in the comfortable white city of Bridgeport, Connecticut.

There is also the tension of racial prejudice, the prosecutor being an arrogant young white man belonging to social clubs in the town, the judge giving the impression of being impartial but with racist presuppositions.

And the cast is very strong. Chadwick Boseman had already portrayed Jackie Robinson and baseball in 42, James Brown and music, Get It Up. He was about to become to T’ Challa, Black Panther. He makes Thurgood Marshall an earnest, highly self-assured legal expert, presumptions of winning cases, not hesitant in using and manipulating people for his legal purposes. Josh Gad provides a strong counterpoint as the Jewish lawyer. Dan Stevens is the arrogant prosecutor. James Cromwell is the judge. Sterling K. Brown is the accused man with Kate Hudson as the allegedly wronged wife.

It is a pity that this film was not more widely seen, contributing to the history of African-Americans? and their heritage, the move from slavery and racial prejudice and the consequent struggles, the significance of the and a NAACP and its role in American society and promotion of African-American? issues, and the atmosphere of the 1960s with the Civil Rights Movement, the influence of Martin Luther King and the appointment of Thurgood Marshall to the Supreme Court.
Audiences will be caught up in the momentum of the court case – and tension moments when Marshall’s wife suffers a miscarriage and a compelling sequence where Marshall briefs Sam for his summation (Marshall having to move on to his next case) and Friedman’s convincing delivery.
The film is directed by Reginald Hudlin, better known as a director of comedies and television series, some of which starred Eddie Murphy. This is definitely a change of pace for him and well worthwhile.

1. A piece of Americana? Slavery, freedom, racism, law and legislation? The impact for American audiences? For world audiences?

2. Audience knowledge of Thurgood Marshall, before the 1940s, his legal studies, the University, graduating, suing the University of Maryland? His involvement with the NAACP, his services for court cases?

3. The American atmosphere of 1941-1942? America at war, fascism in Europe? Issues of racism in Europe? In the US? The experiences of segregation, signs, people despising African- Americans? The arrogant ordinary people, gangs and violence? The courts, the juries?

4. Marshall and his case, his arguments? His age, experience, studies, the NAACP, sending him to court cases, his arguments, the law, his self-confidence?

5. Sam Friedman, insurance work, his case, winning, the backers congratulating him? In Bridgeport Connecticut, his Jewish background, his family, his wife and children, working with his brother? Lancaster and his appeal to Sam to get Thurgood acknowledged in Connecticut? His reluctance? Being pressurised? His experiencing anti-Semitism? Anti-Semitic? segregation, especially in clubs and social areas? His being bashed as was Marshall? The influence of Marshall, forcing him to work for him?

6. The case, Joseph Press, his job as a chauffeur, the accusation of rape, his past, abandoning his family in Louisiana, six years in the Army, dishonourable discharge, stealing from a family, his credibility, lack of credibility? Marshall asking him the truth?

7. The woman, her story, the re-enactment? From Philadelphia to Bridgeport? The wealthy husband, absent on business, her loneliness, the story of the attack, the rape, in the back of the car, on the bridge, pushed, suicide? Her swimming, the rocks and the cuts, the road? The doctor and his wife, their examinations? The plausibility of her story?

8. The re-enactment, Press and his point of view, the truth? The gradual awareness of what had happened? His needing money, the sexual encounter, the aftermath, in the back of the car, her not screaming, her fear, the policeman? Her jumping, swimming to safety, on the road? The truth of the case?

9. Marshall and Sam, meeting, the pressure, the mutual friend, Sam’s brother? Getting the evidence from the policeman? Going to court, the judge and his being stern, severity, admitting Marshall but not allowing him to speak? In favour of the prosecutor? His overruling Sam, finally allowing the testimony?

10. Marshall silent, guiding Sam, ideas, the jury and the interrogations, refusing, allowing, the local woman and her body language, interested in Sam, her being the forewoman? The prosecutor, his background, his manner, confidence? Interrogating the policeman, the doctor, the woman? Sam and his growing in confidence, Marshall and his absence, wanting a child with his wife, the bond between them, her phoning about the miscarriage? The cross-examination of the woman, getting the truth? The test with a scarf around Sam’s mouth and his ability to scream? The stones as pebbles? The documents from the doctor?

11. The bashings, the thugs bashing Marshall? The attack on Sam? The reaction of his wife?

12. The prosecutor, the offer of deals, pleading guilty? The prosecutors arrogant manner, the meeting of the club and Sam and Marshall intruding, the members’ reactions?

13. Joseph, the truth, his being scared, his being interrogated, his admitting his liability, yet his telling the truth?

14. Marshall leaving, asked to go to another case, the meeting with his wife, the phone call to Sam?

15. The drama of the summing up, preparing Sam, the crosscutting from Sam in court to Marshall and the preparation? The dramatic impact? The impact of the verdict?

16. The subsequent information about Marshall and Sam, their careers, working for victims, the photos, Thurgood Marshall and the Supreme Court?