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Amazon.co.uk Review
On the DVD: The print is letterboxed to 1.85:1, but it's a bit of a cheat since that seems to involve trimming the top and bottom of the image (losing the steps under and the clouds above the Columbia lady in the opening titles), though the film isn't seriously hurt by a tighter look at the action. Also included are: an Ellington-scored photo montage, soundtracks in English, French, German, Italian and Spanish with subtitles in ten languages, filmographies for director and principal cast, original advertising (highlighting Saul Bass' poster designs, a trailer and more trailers for more Columbia Jimmy Stewart or courtroom films. --Kim Newman
DVD Description
"Anatomy of a Classic" photo montage
Original Advertising Posters
Theatrical Trailer
Filmographies
Interactive menus feature choices of;
-Language - English, French, German, Italian, Spanish
-Multiple Language subtitles - English, French, German, Polish, Czech, Hungarian, Hindi, Turkish, Danish, Arabic, Bulgarian, Swedish, Finnish, Icelandic, Dutch, Norwegian, Portuguese, Greek, Hebrew, Spanish, Italian
-Scene selection
Dolby Digital mono
1:1.85 aspect ratio - presented in letterbox widescreen format - enhanced for 16:9 widescreen TV
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Customer Reviews
It's a simple enough plot. A soldier (Ben Gazarra) is held for the murder of a man who has allegedly raped his wife. The wife (Lee Remick) is far removed from the wholesome image of faithful wife - she wears revealing clothes, hangs out down the bar, and flirts with any male who comes within hailing distance. James Stewart plays the small-town lawyer persuaded to take the unwinnable case - he's bright, but he's jaded after years as District Attorney, and prefers to escape down the river to fish for trout.
It's an open-and-shut case - the soldier admits the shooting, there are witnesses, and the wife's morals are the subject of much gossip around town. The tension is in whether or not Stewart can prove the rape allegation ... and whether or not he can prove that this was justifiable cause for the taking of the man's life.
Preminger was taking major risks. He explores themes which were still pretty risqué in the late 50's. He doesn't sensationalise - we get no gory murder, we get no flashbacks or images of the night. The setting is largely confined within the courtroom and Stewart's offices as we play out a psychological drama. What really happened? What really happened in the minds of the protagonists?
This is a mellow, black & white film: there are dark themes, but the lighting is certainly not 'noir' - the drama is beautifully lit, filmed almost tenderly. The acting is superb (though Gazarra's performance is beginning to appear a little dated), with Stewart and Remick stealing the show. Remick is a wonderfully cool and intelligent actress, and she plays the role of the promiscuous wife with relish and a certain humour. Stewart, as usual, has physical presence ... and then the voice comes in, like whorls in coffee ... creamy, rich, riveting the attention.
The courtroom drama is beautifully handled - the tension and the emotion played slowly, allowed to peak, then subside again. It's as if Preminger is fishing - one moment reeling in the drama, the next letting it run. The judge is used to inject light relief - a brave move in itself - and the themes of rape and promiscuity are never allowed to become salacious. Indeed, the judge's role is to relieve tension ... then crank it up again, reminding the actors of the seriousness of the court case, keeping the audience under control as he does so.
It's a beautifully filmed, tense, psychological drama which demonstrates that good writing, a good plot, and quality acting mean a director has little need for special effects to keep the audience rooted in their seats.
The film revolves around a murder case under peculiar circumstances. An army lieutenant kills a bar owner who allegedly raped his wife. The raped wife is joyful and full of life married with a jealous and easily infuriated Korean War hero who carries a Luger as a memento of the World War 2. The small town lawyer and his team carefully study the case and finally beat the young and succesfull attorney who is on the way up in his carreer.
In my opinion the film tries to give the audience the feeling that people can not be judged harshly with regards to their evident appearances. They have to be carefully examined and studied before judging them. All the men have vices and virtues at the same time.
A very good movie worth watching over and over again.
1) It was cheap (even in US dollars)
2) The US Version is Full Frame
Having watched both the full frame and widescreen versions of this - all I can say is no matter what the argument is on how it is shot, this is one fantastic film, a great courtroom drama with James Stewart, George C Scott,etc. I just love this film; the 2+ hr movie just goes by so quickly for me.
Some websites say it was shot full frame, others say it was widescreen, TCM shows a widescreen (aka letterboxed) version. Basically you can either watch it with more scenery on the top and bottom that may or may not have been to be viewed , or see the widescreen version which may or may not have had the top and bottom cropped..
Now I own the UK and USA versions so I can see it either way and enjoy it no matter how I see it...
This is a GREAT film and a must for courtroom drama fans, James Stewart fans as well as Otto Premminger fans (great director) who in his films was going for a more risky style (panties being mentioned in this movie wasnt exactly commonplace in film making at the time)
This film and Witness For the Prosecution I will highly recommend as they are both excellent courtroom dramas..
A classic film by the man himself Hitchock. Read more
Carolyn
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