Themes: Fighting the System, Redemption, Social Injustice
Main Cast: Paul Newman, Charlotte Rampling, Jack Warden, James Mason, Milo O'Shea
Release Year: 1982
Country: US
Run Time: 122 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Plot
In Sidney Lumet's powerful courtroom drama The Verdict, Paul Newman stars as Frank Galvin, an alcoholic Boston lawyer who tries to redeem his personal and professional reputation by winning a difficult medical malpractice case. Frank, down on his luck, is presented with the case of his life when he is approached by the family of a woman who has been left in a coma following an operation in a large Catholic hospital. Helped by his assistant Mickey (Jack Warden), he agrees to take the case, hoping for a fast settlement. When he visits the victim in the hospital, he becomes emotionally involved, turns down a sizable settlement offer made by the hospital, and decides to bring the case to trial despite the formidable opposition of the Church and its lawyer, Newman (James Mason). He is also assisted by his new girlfriend, Laura (Charlotte Rampling), a woman who turns out to have an unusual past. Oscar-nominated for "Best Picture" and "Best Director" (Lumet) as well as for "Best Adapted Screenplay" (David Mamet from a novel by Barry Reed), The Verdict is an outstanding, if not very legally accurate, courtroom drama; Frank's decision to try the case without telling the family of the victim of the settlement offer would probably lead to his real-life disbarment. Paul Newman and James Mason give fine, Oscar-nominated performances, and Charlotte Rampling is quite good as the deceitful Laura, who never seems to turn down a drink. ~ Linda Rasmussen, All Movie Guide
Review
Another gritty urban drama from Sydney Lumet, the rich, entertaining courtroom thriller The Verdict combines the director's typically realistic, brooding atmosphere with a stunning lead performance from Paul Newman. Written by David Mamet, the picture follows a fairly standard legal movie premise -- a downtrodden lawyer finds redemption fighting the good fight -- but Lumet gives the proceedings a starkly solemn air, focussing the audience's attention on Newman's subtle performance. It's some of his best work of the actor's career; he's supported by the similarly stellar James Mason, in one of his last noteworthy performances. The film was nominated for five Academy Awards, including Best Picture. ~ Brendon Hanley, All Movie Guide
Edward Binns - Bishop Brophy; Julie Bovasso - Maureen Rooney; Lindsay Crouse - Kaitlin Costello Price; Roxanne Hart - Sally Doneghy; Wesley Addy - Dr. Towler; Kent Broadhurst - Joseph Alito; Colin Stinton - Billy; John Blood - Funeral Director; H. Clay Dear - Courthouse Lawyer; Juanita Fleming - Dr. Gruber's Maid; James Handy - Dick Doneghy; Burtt Harris - Jimmy the Bartender; Leib Lensky - Wheelchair Patient; Edward Mason - Widow's Son; Joe Seneca - Dr. Thompson; Lewis J. Stadlen - Dr. Gruber; Bruce Willis - Courtroom observer (uncredited); Marvin Beck - Sheraton Bar Patron; Ralph Douglas - Clerk; Tony La Fortezza - Sheraton Bartender; Evelyn Moore - Dr. Gruber's Nurse; Joy Todd; Herb Peterson - Sheridan Patrons; Maggie Task - Irish Nurse
Credit
John Kasarda - Art Director, Anna Hill Johnstone - Costume Designer, Burtt Harris - First Assistant Director, Sidney Lumet - Director, Peter C. Frank - Editor, Johnny Mandel - Composer (Music Score), Joseph M. Caracciolo, Jr. - Production Designer, Edward Pisoni - Production Designer, Andrzej Bartkowiak - Cinematographer, Burtt Harris - Producer, David Brown - Producer, Richard D. Zanuck - Producer, David Mamet - Screenwriter, George DeTitta, Sr. - Set Decorator, Barry Reed - Book Author
Fans of Adams' R&B dusties may not find everything on this jazz-based collection to their taste, but Adams' vocal ease within the jazz idiom is undeniable. Noteworthy sidemen include Harry Connick, Jr., and Houston Person. ~ Bill Dahl, All Music Guide
Frank Galvin (Paul Newman), once a promising Boston lawyer, is now an alcoholic ambulance chaser who has lost all of his four cases over the last three years. As a favor, his friend Mickey (Jack Warden) throws him a medical malpractice case where it's all but assured that the defense will settle a large settlement be offered. The case involves a young mother who was possibly administered the wrong anesthetic and is now in a coma. The relatives of the mother are hoping for the settlement and Frank assures them they have a strong case.
Frank visits the coma-stricken young mother and is deeply affected. He then meets with the defendants - the Archdiocese of Boston, who run the Catholic hospital where the incident took place. As expected, the archdiocese offers a fair amount of money to settle out of court, but Frank declines the offer, as he fears that this may be his last chance to do right as a lawyer and taking the money would make him "lost." Everyone, including the presiding judge and the mother's relatives, is stunned by Frank's decision.
Things quickly go wrong for Frank. His star medical witness bails on him; his opponent, the attorney Ed Concannon (James Mason), is masterful with the press; and no one wants to talk about what, if anything, went wrong in the emergency room on the day in question. Frank refuses to give up, even when he has the opportunity to have the case called a mistrial. Though his case is somewhat weak at times, he concludes with an impassioned final speech calling the jury to pursue truth and justice. The jury sides with Frank and awards the family a large, but undetermined, amount of money.
Notes
Robert Redford was originally slated to star in this film, but he was uncomfortable with the script. After several rewrites, he decided that he did not like the story and left the project. Sidney Lumet came on board and chose the original script as the one he would direct.
Bruce Willis has an uncredited background appearance as an extra, in one of his first film projects. After the verdict is read for the plaintiff, Willis can be seen to the left of Paul Newman's head and can be seen smiling. Another notable star in this very same instance, but instead to the right is Tobin Bell.
The jury sides with Frank and awards the family a large, but undetermined, amount of money. The movie was recently redacted to eliminate the jury's finding. It aired on HBO and Cinemax that way.
