THE VERDICT
US, 1982, 123 minutes, Colour.
Paul Newman, James Mason, Charlotte Rampling, Jack Warden, Milo O' Shea, Lindsay Crouse, Julie Bovasso.
Directed by Sidney Lumet.
The Verdict is a courtroom drama, very well directed by veteran Sidney Lumet. In fact, Sidney Lumet's first feature film was the classic court drama, Twelve Angry Men.
The film has a Boston setting, and is scripted by playwright David Mamet. Mamet had been writing screenplays in the late 70s, early 80s, including The Postman Always Rings Twice. In the mid-80s he moved towards direction with such films as House of Games and Things Change. Other films that Mamet has directed include Homicide, The Spanish Prisoner, State and Main, Heist. Lumet was well known for a great range of dramas, especially police thrillers like Serpico, Prince of the City and Q and A.
The film boasts an Oscar-nominated performance by Paul Newman as an alcoholic lawyer who prosecutes the Catholic Church for malpractice in one of its Boston hospitals. He gives a very strong performance. He is also matched by James Mason as the defending counsel. Also in the cast is a rare appearance by Charlotte Rampling at this stage of her career, which began with light films like Georgy Girl and The Long Duel and continued into the 70s with The Night Porter, from then on making serious films and making a great number of films in the early 2000s including Under the Sand and Swimming Pool.
1. An entertaining and absorbing film? Serious, humorous? Hopeful? Social issues?
2. A successful Paul Newman vehicle? Critical acclaim and awards? The contribution of the star cast - especially James Mason. Jack Warden, Charlotte Rampling, Lindsay Krause etc.? The films of Sidney Lumet?
3. An acclaimed drama? Cast? Sidney Lumet? His work on Twelve Angry Men, Murder on the Orient Express, Courts, Morality and Justice? His many filmed plays? His treatment of this screenplay as a dramatic court play? The overall quality of the film - Oscar nominations?
4. Audience interest in the court case: the actual issue. themes of justice, morality, right and wrong? Audiences taking sides - through justice, emotional response? The law, the language of law? The use of wits? Pressure? Legal espionage? Performances in court? The reputations of the lawyers? Their lack of scruple, lack of personal commitment? The role of the jury and the ability to listen to evidence, weigh the situation for morality and justice? The suspense of waiting for the verdict? The focus of the title on the verdict? The summation of the film?
5. The film as character study: Frank Galvin and his profile, silhouette with the games in the bar, the details of his visiting the funeral parlours, the contact with the bereaved, the pay-offs and the tip-offs, the angry reaction of the mourners? His being warned away? The humiliation for the professional lawyer? His office and its mess? Drinking, friends, jokes and stories? The allusions to the Irish background - as explanation of his character, failures? His visit to the chapel and the Catholic indications? Mike's explanation of his story to Laura - and the later irony for the audience of her knowing it? The background of his career, promise, marriage, separation and divorce, bribing jurors, jail, settlements out of court, his almost being disbarred? His work for Mike in the firm? His going downhill - but Mike's loyalty? The present case and the 18-months lapse? His lack of enthusiasm? The possibility of the out-of-court settlement with the big fee? His seeming hopelessness yet wanting to go on? The possibility of self-redemption and self-respect? His apartment? Isolation, lack of relationships, needs? The physical presence of Paul Newman, his age, powerful screen person? Convincing and persuasive in this role?
6. Jack Warden and his style as Mike? The language, the anger with Frank, his retirement? Giving up on Frank? Frank persuading him to leave the card game, the talk. decision to assist, the help in the research, a growing zest and enthusiasm? His friendship with Laura? The gaining of the witnesses, Dr. Thompson? The various bits of research as well as the interrogation of witnesses? His know-how, it not being adequate in the early sessions of the trial? The friendship with Laura, discovery of the truth, the visit to New York and his telling Frank? Sharing the suspense of the trial. the summing-up speech, the verdict? The quality of the character study?
7. The basic situation: the mother of three, the entry into the hospital, her meal, the entry card, the doctor's negligence, the changing of the card. the operation, her choking, heart stopping, brain damage? The possibility of such accidents and negligence? Her survival, the ugliness and drabness of the ward? Galvin's visit, his taking the photos and the reaction? The other patients in the ward? The reasons for Frank's decision to fight in the courts? The rights of the victim? Her life gone, his plea for her in the court? Questions of justice, morality, compensation?
8. The sketch of the victim's sister and brother-in-law? The long time for the court case, the hopes of leaving town, the settlement? The brother-in-law's attack on Frank for not taking the money? The presence in court and the final support of the sister? Convincing characters?
9. The Catholic hospital, the Bishop and the insurance men, the priest assistants, the atmosphere of the chancery. the meetings, the decision about the compensation and settlement out of court? The discussions about morality by the Bishop? His sympathy and sense of morality? The offer of the money to Frank? The interview with the Bishop and the showing of the photos? His speech about justice? The Bishop's reaction to the final outcome?
10. James Mason's skilful portrayal of Concannon? Manner, style, the successful lawyer? Personably, personal? Actor? Suave and principles subordinated to cases? His entourage, treating them as a group, as a class? Their youth, humour, admiration? The quality of their research? Smooth manner - presence at the offering of the out-of-court settlement? Discussions with the judge? His disdain of Galvin? The revelation of his contact with Laura - and his explanation of his income, supporting his way of life as well as his helping poor clients? The rehearsing of the doctor - telling him to use the phrase 'throw up' etc.? The strong dramatic presentation and preparation?
11. Laura: the bar, searching for the apartment, the disdain of Frank, telling him about the happy day, his meeting her again, going home, sexual attachment, spending the night? Her growing to like him? Her help and persuading him not to give up? The strong intimate scenes between them? The possibility of love? The irony of her visit to Concannon? The double irony of Mike discovering the truth? Her wanting the opportunity to tell Frank? Her going to New York? The punch in the restaurant? The fact that she did not tell Concannon about his chief witness? The glimpse of her at the court? Her phone call and his not answering?
12. The establishing of the witnesses: the outspoken doctor and his declaration, Frank coming to meet him and his being on holidays? The nurse and her not giving testimony for the doctor, her hostility to Galvin, his getting her in the chapel? The detective work and the late night in trying to track down the key witness? The stories told on the phone - and the later comments and criticisms that Frank and the lawyers were as bad as the doctors in trying to achieve their own ends? The shuttle plane to New York, the talk in the playground, the suspense for the audience whether the witness would come? The talk with Mike in New York? The bringing of the nurse into the court, the interrogation, her telling the truth - her emotional response, her wanting to be a nurse, her going to New York? Her photocopying the document? Audience response to the judge's not admitting it as evidence?
13. The judge - the hard man, his eating, chambers, his amazement at not taking the money - his saying that he would (and Frank's concurrence)! His lack of sympathy? Anger with Galvin and taunts? His behaviour in the court, interfering, cross-examining? His reaction to Galvin's anger? The meeting in chambers? The non-admittance of the photocopied material? His change and his hardness on Concannon? His response to the verdict?
14. Dr. Thompson as witness? Calvin's surprise to see the elderly black man? The intimations of racial themes and prejudice? His help, telling the truth? His being discredited in the court? Galvin's disappointment and letting him go?
15. Galvin's fear about the case, his wanting to give up? The disappearance of witnesses? His visit to the judge who refused a stay? The star witness and the impact that she made? Concannon's not being able to cope after his smooth cross-examination? The doctor's fears? Concannon getting the precedents to disallow the evidence? Galvin's wanting to give up? The significance of his final speech? Themes of justice? His own coming alive throughout the investigation and trial?
16. The dramatic impact of the verdict? The further point about the damages? The effect on each of the people concerned?
17. A film of hope, study of the human spirit? The ending and Frank's achievement? His refusal to answer Laura's phone call?
