The People Against O'Hara (1951)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Director:

John Sturges

Writers:

Eleazar Lipsky (novel)
John Monks Jr. (writer)

Release Date:

1 September 1951 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Film-Noir

Plot:

James Curtayne has retired from law but he returns to defend John O'Hara on a murder charge. Curtayne's...

Plot Keywords:

Alcoholism | Suitcase | Father Daughter Relationship | Witness | Murder Trial

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Spencer Tracy	...	James P. Curtayne
Pat O'Brien	...	Det. Vincent Ricks
Diana Lynn	...	Virginia 'Ginny' Curtayne
John Hodiak	...	District Attorney Louis Barra
Eduardo Ciannelli	...	Sol 'Knuckles' Lanzetta
James Arness	...	John Fordman 'Johnny' O'Hara
Yvette Duguay	...	Mrs. Katrina Lanzetta
Jay C. Flippen	...	Sven Norson
William Campbell	...	Frank Korvac
Richard Anderson	...	Jeff Chapman
Henry O'Neill	...	Judge Keating
Arthur Shields	...	Mr. O'Hara
Louise Lorimer	...	Mrs. Peg O'Hara
Ann Doran	...	Betty Clark, Policewoman
Emile Meyer	...	Captain Tom Mulvaney

Runtime:

102 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

Although almost of the film takes place in New York City, there is less than 5 minutes of footage filmed on location in the City of New York.

Worth seeing for star Tracy, director of photography Alton

It's a shame this movie never lives up to the dark promise of its opening images: Night in a run-down quarter of the city; an all-night coffee shop, like Edward Hopper's "Nighthawks"; an old Swedish salt stumbling around. In deep background, a door opens, flooding a stairway with light. Then, shots ring out. What it's all about is a young man framed for a murder, whose impoverished parents coax "retired" defense attorney Spencer Tracy to exonerate him; Tracy plays half Clarence Darrow and half gumshoe. Despite the obligatory falling-off-the-wagon scene (where he succumbs to ethical temptation) it's a solid job. The noir influence goes beyond the camerawork; the ending is darker than you might be led to expect.