Mark Robson directed Trial, a well-acted courtroom crime drama, starring Glenn Ford, Dorothy McGuire, Arthur Kennedy, Juano Hernandez, and Kathy Jurado
Based on Don Mankiewicz’s novel, the film is about a Mexican boy accused of rape and murder. Victimized by prejudiced accusers, he then becomes pawn of his communist defender, whose propaganda purposes would be well served by guilty verdict.
Angel Chavez (Rafael Campos) is a Mexican-American teenager who lives in the small California town of San Juno. During an annual event called Bass Night held at the town beach, he wanders onto the beach, which is off-limits to Mexican Americans. There he meets a non-Hispanic girl he knows from high school, but she has a weak heart due to rheumatic fever and dies suddenly, and Chavez is arrested.
On the grounds that her heart attack was caused by Chavez’s attempt to seduce her—which, as they were minors, would have been statutory rape even if consensual—he is charged with felony murder. A racist mob attempts to break Chavez out of jail and lynch him, but the warden persuades them to stop by promising that the youth will be executed after a fair trial.
David Blake (Glenn Ford), law professor at the state university, is told he must stop teaching until he has had some courtroom experience.
Rejected by law firms, he finds work at small one run by Barney Castle (Arthur Kennedy). Castle wants to defend Chavez and agrees to hire Blake to handle the case.
Castle and Chavez’s mother (Katy Jurado) travel to New York to raise money to defend Chavez.
Castle leaves his law clerk Abbe Nyle (Dorothy McGuire) to help Blake, and they fall in love.
Detectives working for Castle’s firm uncover attempt to tamper with the jury on behalf of prosecution, resulting in new jury being empaneled.
Over a weekend break during jury selection, Castle calls Blake to New York to join him at a fundraising rally.
Blake then realizes that Castle is using the case as propaganda and fundraising tool for American Communist group. Insulted at being used, Blake returns to San Juno to see the trial through and represent Chavez’s interests.
Blake’s trial strategy is to rebut the prosecution’s case that he does not need to present a defense. However, last moment, Castle returns and, using his influence on Chavez’s mother, threatens Blake with removal unless Chavez testifies.
Blake realizes that Castle wants the teen subjected to harsh cross-examination that will ensure conviction and execution; he then will be a martyr, and Castle will be able to use the case as fundraising tool as intended.
The cross-examination goes as poorly as feared. Chavez is found guilty, and as the jury did not suggest leniency, the death penalty will be automatic. Castle then does have Blake fired to keep him from speaking during sentencing, but he arrives anyway and requests and receives amicus status, allowing him to address the court.
Blake argues that Chavez is minor, and instead of being hanged he can be sent to reform school.
When the prosecutor agrees that this would be fair, the African-American judge (Juano Hernandez) accepts the suggestion. He then sentences Castle, who has tried to race-bait him during Blake’s argument, to 30 days in jail for contempt.
In the end, Blake and Abbe Nyle leave the court together.
Commercial Appeal
The film earned $2,312,000 in the U.S. and $993,000 elsewhere, resulting in profit of $518,000.
Oscar Nominations: 1
Best Supporting Actor: Arthur Kennedy
Cast
Glenn Ford as David Blake
Dorothy McGuire as Abbe Nyle
Arthur Kennedy as Barney Castle
John Hodiak as District Attorney Armstrong
Katy Jurado as Mrs. Chavez
Rafael Campos as Angel Chavez
Juano Hernandez as Judge Theodore Motley
Robert Middleton as A.A. ‘Fats’ Sanders
John Hoyt as Ralph Castillo
Paul Guilfoyle as Cap Grant
Elisha Cook Jr. as Finn
Ann Lee as Gail Wiltse
Whit Bissell as Sam Wiltse
Richard Gaines as Dr. Johannes Albert Schacter
Barry Kelley as Jim Brackett
