Walter Pidgeon stars as an inexperienced experienced attorney who gets more than he bargained for in his latest case. He's a famous, revered civil attorney following in his father's footsteps, and grooming his son to follow his own, when a colleague comes to him asking him to take over a criminal case. A young man, Keefe Brasselle, is accused of murder, and Pidge is supposedly the only man in the world who can save him. His lack of experience in criminal cases will be a benefit, since his sincerity will be felt and he won't be using any slick tricks to influence the jury. Indeed, at the start of the trial, he fails to make an objection, and Judge Lewis Stone has to educate him on the rules of the courtroom. How cute is it that in one of his last movies, Lewis Stone-best known as Judge James Hardy-plays the character Judge James Hulbrook!
I don't want to give away any more of the plot, because it unfolds so wonderfully when you don't know what's coming. If you're not sold on renting it yet, just know that Pidge's belief in his client's innocence quickly fades. One thing leads to another, and the rest of the story is incredibly exciting, culminating in one of the most perfect endings in a crime drama I've ever seen. I'm so happy for Pidge to get such a meaty role and run away with it. He captures the audience's attention from start to finish, so much so that you'll be wondering why Barry Sullivan is featured so prominently when it's clearly not his movie. Even that will be revealed, and you'll understand later. Ann Harding costars as Pidge's wife, and she's once again excellent in the Katharine-Hepburn-esque, woman-behind-the-man character.
I don't want to give away any more of the plot, because it unfolds so wonderfully when you don't know what's coming. If you're not sold on renting it yet, just know that Pidge's belief in his client's innocence quickly fades. One thing leads to another, and the rest of the story is incredibly exciting, culminating in one of the most perfect endings in a crime drama I've ever seen. I'm so happy for Pidge to get such a meaty role and run away with it. He captures the audience's attention from start to finish, so much so that you'll be wondering why Barry Sullivan is featured so prominently when it's clearly not his movie. Even that will be revealed, and you'll understand later. Ann Harding costars as Pidge's wife, and she's once again excellent in the Katharine-Hepburn-esque, woman-behind-the-man character.