Main Cast: Dana Andrews, Joan Fontaine, Sidney Blackmer, Barbara Nichols, Philip Bourneuf, Shepperd Strudwick
Release Year: 1956
Country: US
Run Time: 80 minutes
MPAA Rating: NR
Plot
Crusading publisher Austin Spenser (Sidney Blackmer) wants to prove a point about the insufficiency of circumstantial evidence. Spencer talks his prospective son-in-law Tom Garrett (Dana Andrews) into participating in a hoax, the better to expose the alleged ineptitude of conviction-happy DA (Philip Bourneuf). Tom will plant clues indicating that he is the murderer of a nightclub dancer, then stand trial for murder; just as the jury reaches its inevitable guilty verdict, Spencer will step forth to reveal the set-up and humiliate the DA. Somewhat surprisingly, Tom eagerly agrees to this subterfuge. Unfortunately, an unforeseen event renders their perfectly formed scheme useless. Beyond a Reasonable Doubt was the last American film of director Fritz Lang. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Arthur Franz - Hale; Edward Binns - Lt. Kennedy; Robin Raymond - Terry Larue; William Leicester - Charlie Miller; Dan Seymour - Greco; Rusty Lane - Judge; Joyce Taylor - Joan; Carleton Young - Kirk; Trudy Wroe - Hatcheck Girl; Joe Kirk - Clerk; Charles Evans - Governor; Wendell Niles - Announcer; Baynes Barron - Higgens; Larry Barton - Customer; William Boyett - Staff; Benny Burt - Reporter; Myron Cook - Reporter; Dorothy Ford - Blonde; Dorothy Gordon - Secretary; Joey Ray - Eddie; Jeffrey Sayre - Foreman of Jury; Harry Strang - Warden; Ralph Volkie - Photographer; Eric Wilton - Clergyman; Frank Mitchell - Waiter; Tony DeMario - Doctor; Carl Sklover - Taxi Driver;Photographer
Credit
Carroll Clark - Art Director, Fritz Lang - Director, Gene Fowler, Jr. - Editor, Herschel Burke Gilbert - Composer (Music Score), Lou Lacava - Makeup, William Snyder - Cinematographer, Bert E. Friedlob - Producer, Jimmy Thompson - Sound/Sound Designer, Darrell Silvera - Sound/Sound Designer, Terry Kellum - Sound/Sound Designer, Douglas Morrow - Screenwriter
Also,
beyond the shadow of a doubt. Certainly so, undoubtedly so, as in Beyond a doubt this is the best view of the valley. This phrase, along with the earlier
without doubt (dating from c. 1300), asserts the truth of some statement. W.S. Gilbert's version, in The Gondoliers(1889), is: "Of that there is no manner of doubt--no probable, possible shadow of doubt--no possible doubt whatever." In this context shadow means "a trace or slight suggestion." Another variant is
beyond a reasonable doubt. This phrase is often used in court when the judge instructs the jury that they must be convinced of the accused's guilt or innocence beyond a reasonable doubt; reasonable here means "logical and rational." Also see beyond question; no doubt.
A newspaper publisher, wanting to prove a point about the insufficiency of circumstantial evidence, talks his possible son-in-law Tom Garrett (Dana Andrews) into a hoax in an attempt to expose the alleged ineptitude of the city's hard-line district attorney. The plan is to have Tom plant clues leading to his arrest for killing a female nightclub dancer. Once Tom is found guilty, he is to reveal the setup and humiliate the DA.
Tom agrees to the plan, not knowing that unforeseen events will put such a snag in the scheme that he ends up in danger of being executed. A friend holding back evidence that will clear Tom at his trial dies in an accident before he can testify.
Critical standing
Dennis L. White describes Beyond a Reasonable Doubt as having "considerable impact, due not so much to visual style, as to the narrative structure and mood and to the expertly devised plot, in which the turnabout is both surprising and convincing."[1]
A new version of Beyond a Reasonable Doubt directed by Peter Hyams and starring Michael Douglas, Amber Tamblyn, and Jesse Metcalfe was released in theaters on September 11, 2009.[2] It has been negatively received by critics, and currently has 00% on Rotten tomatoes, based on 20 reviews.[3]
References
^ White, Dennis L., ''Beyond a Reasonable Doubt," in Film Noir An Encyclopedic Reference to the American Style, ed. Alain Silver and Elizabeth Ward (Woodstock, N.Y.: Overlook Press, 1992), 21–22. ISBN 0-87951-479-5
