Blast from the Past: Revisiting Tracy’s Career
A ploddingly old-fashioned courtroom drama, with touches of crime noir, The People Against O’Hara was directed by John Sturges, based on Eleazar Lipsky’s novel.
The film features Spencer Tracy, Pat O’Brien, John Hodiak and James Arness.
Tracy plays James Curtayne, formerlu a successful prosecutor as a New York district attorney, is driven from his job and criminal law by the bottle.
Over the years, he has tried to settle into less demanding civil law in order to make it to his overdue but postponed retirement.
Things change when Johnny O’Hara, a boy from the old neighborhood, is accused of murder, and his parents head to Curtayne. Unable to pay, they beg “the counselor” to take the case, and he agrees, knowing it would be a tough experience, personally and professionally.
A widower, Curtayne is taken cared of by his doting but overprotective daughter, Ginny. She has put her own future with fiancé Jeff on hold for two years, keeping her father on the wagon.
Upon discovering that Johnny had been set up, Curtayne revisits the crime, trying to tease out a motive. Wired for sound, he volunteers to be the pigeon to deliver it and lie in wait for whoever was behind the original killing.
It turns out to be the eldest Korvac brother, who abducts Curtayne, and marches him, suitcase in hand, toward the river and certain death.
Cluttered up with too many unnecessary side twists and turns, which distracts from the main action, The People Against O’Hara was not popular at the box-office.
The film earned $1,107,000 in the U.S., and $588,000 elsewhere, resulting in minor $22,000 profit.
Cast
Spencer Tracy as James Curtayne
Pat O’Brien as Det. Vincent Ricks
Diana Lynn as Ginny
John Hodiak as D.A. Louis Barra
James Arness as Johnny O’Hara
Eduardo Ciannelli as Knuckles Lanzetta
William Campbell as Pete Korvac
Yvette Duguay as Katrina
Jay C. Flippen as Sven Norson
Richard Anderson as Jeff Chapman
Charles Bronson as Angelo Korvac
