The Verdict (1982)

Director:

Sidney Lumet

Writers:

Barry Reed (novel)
David Mamet (screenplay)

Release Date:

8 December 1982 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

A lawyer sees the chance to salvage his career and self-respect by taking a medical malpractice case to trial rather than settling.

Plot Keywords:

Lawyer | Redemption | Tense | Social Injustice | Understanding

Awards:

Nominated for 5 Oscars. Another 2 wins & 6 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Wed. May 21

3:20 AM

MAX

Cast

Paul Newman	...	Frank Galvin
Charlotte Rampling	...	Laura Fischer
Jack Warden	...	Mickey Morrissey
James Mason	...	Ed Concannon
Milo O'Shea	...	Judge Hoyle
Lindsay Crouse	...	Kaitlin Costello
Ed Binns	...	Bishop Brophy (as Edward Binns)
Julie Bovasso	...	Maureen Rooney
Roxanne Hart	...	Sally Doneghy
James Handy	...	Kevin Doneghy
Wesley Addy	...	Dr. Towler
Joe Seneca	...	Dr. Thompson
Lewis J. Stadlen	...	Dr. Gruber (as Lewis Stadlen)
Kent Broadhurst	...	Joseph Alito
Colin Stinton	...	Billy
Burtt Harris	...	Jimmy, the Bartender
Scott Rhyne	...	Young Priest
Susan Benenson	...	Deborah Ann Kaye
Evelyn Moore	...	Dr. Gruber's Nurse
Juanita Fleming	...	Dr. Gruber's Maid
Jack Collard	...	Bailiff
Ralph Douglas	...	Clerk
Gregor Roy	...	Jury Foreman
John Blood	...	Funeral Director
Dick McGoldrick	...	Manager / 2nd Funeral Parlor
Edward Mason	...	Widow's Son
Patty O'Brien	...	Irish Nurse #1
Maggie Task	...	Irish Nurse #2
Joseph Bergmann	...	Friedman
Herbert Rubens	...	Abrams
J.P. Foley	...	John, Cigar Stand
Leib Lensky	...	Wheelchair Patient
H. Clay Dear	...	Courthouse Lawyer (as Clay Dear)
J.J. Clark	...	Courthouse Guard
Gregory Doucette	...	Sheraton Bar Waiter (as Greg Doucette)
Tony La Fortezza	...	Sheraton Bartender
Marvin Beck	...	Sheraton Bar Patron
Herb Peterson	...	Sheraton Bar Patron
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Willow Hale
Kevin Fennessy	...	Funeral Mourner (uncredited)
Jon Hopwood	...	Courtroom observer (uncredited)
Bruce Willis	...	Courtroom Observer (uncredited)

Directed by
Sidney Lumet

Writing credits
Barry Reed		(novel)
David Mamet		(screenplay)

Produced by
David Brown	....	producer
Burtt Harris	....	executive producer
Richard D. Zanuck	....	producer

Original Music by
Johnny Mandel

Cinematography by
Andrzej Bartkowiak		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Peter C. Frank		(as Peter Frank)

Production Design by
Edward Pisoni

Art Direction by
John Kasarda

Set Decoration by
George DeTitta Sr.		(as George DeTitta)

Costume Design by
Anna Hill Johnstone

Makeup Department
Joseph Cranzano	....	makeup artist (as Joe Cranzano)
Bob Grimaldi	....	hair stylist
Monty Westmore	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Joseph M. Caracciolo	....	unit production manager
Jennifer Ogden	....	unit manager (as Jennifer M. Ogden)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Burtt Harris	....	first assistant director
Ken Ornstein	....	dga trainee
Robert E. Warren	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Joseph M. Caracciolo Jr.	....	property master (as Joseph Caracciolo Jr.)
Edward Garzero	....	scenic artist
John McDonnell	....	props
Carlos Quiles	....	construction foreman (as Carlos Quiles Sr.)
William Sohmer	....	scenic artist
Dave Weinman	....	set dresser (as David Weinman)
Joe Williams Sr.	....	construction grip
Mark Bachman	....	scenic artist (uncredited)

Sound Department
Louis Cerborino	....	sound editor (as Lou Cerborino)
Lee Dichter	....	sound re-recording mixer
Frank Graziadei	....	boom operator
James Sabat	....	sound mixer
Louis Sabat	....	boom operator
Maurice Schell	....	sound editor
Harry Peck Bolles	....	assistant sound editor (uncredited)
Mel Zelniker	....	adr recordist (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Louis Goldman	....	still photographer
Gary Muller	....	assistant camera
Hank Muller	....	assistant camera
Robert Paone	....	second assistant camera (as Bob Paone)
Ed Quinn	....	dolly grip (as Eddie Quinn)
William H. Steiner	....	camera operator (as William Steiner)
Dusty Wallace	....	gaffer
Robert Ward	....	key grip (as Bobby Ward)
Billy Kerwick	....	grip (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
William Loger	....	wardrobe (as Bill Loger)
Marilyn Putnam	....	wardrobe

Editorial Department
David Gelfand	....	apprentice film editor
Andrew Mondshein	....	assistant film editor (as Andrew Mondschein)

Music Department
Joel Moss	....	music engineer
Miles Goodman	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Angela Morley	....	additional orchestrator (uncredited)

Transportation Department
James Fanning	....	transportation captain
Michael Avallon	....	driver (uncredited)

Other crew
Sally Brim	....	production assistant
Kay Chapin	....	script supervisor
Alexandra Decker	....	location manager
Eileen Eichenstein	....	production office coordinator
Lilith Jacobs	....	assistant: Mr. Lumet
Ellen Levene	....	unit publicist
Kathleen McGill	....	production auditor
Chris Stoia	....	location manager
Todd Winters	....	production assistant

Production Companies

• Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Distributors

• Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation (1982) (USA) (theatrical)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1985) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (laserdisc)
• Abril Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• CBS/Fox (USA) (laserdisc)

Other Companies

• Casting Company, The  casting: Boston
• Intrada  score album released by (limited edition)
• Joy Todd Casting  casting
• Massachusetts Film Bureau  grateful acknowledgement for the cooperation of
• Mayor's Office for Motion Pictures & Television  grateful acknowledgement for the cooperation of
• Production Services International  production auditing
• R/Greenberg Associates  titles

Runtime:

129 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

South Korea:15 | Netherlands:12 | Australia:M | Iceland:L | Norway:16 | Finland:K-12 | Sweden:11 | UK:15 | USA:R | West Germany:6 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

Robert Redford was originally involved with this film. After writer David Mamet delivered his draft, Redford was uncomfortable with the main character and hired another writer to do another draft, and so on until Redford decided he didn't want to do the film. He was uncomfortable because he did not want to play an alcoholic. Sidney Lumet was offered the project. He read all the drafts and identified the original Mamet version as the one to make. At that point, Paul Newman agreed to star.

Quotes:

Judge Hoyle: This case should never have come to trial. But you know better. You're mister independent. You want to be independent? Be independent now. I have no sympathy for you.

Movie Connections:

Featured in The Making of 'The Verdict' (1982) (V)

Newman amazing as drunken lawyer in story of redemption...

The title of this movie is deceiving. THE VERDICT suggests a courtroom drama, something like TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, or INHERIT THE WIND. It does have some riveting court scenes, but what happens outside of court and to Paul Newman is the real attraction here. The title not only refers to the inevitable decision of the important case of the film, but also to how the Newman character is going to live the rest of his life. Should he sell out and take the easy settlement, or take the highly regarded archdiocese of Boston to court for real justice. These are the questions Newman must face in this profound drama that seems more like a picture of the 70's than an 80's film.

Director Sidney Lumet has dealt with the legal system before in his first film, 12 ANGRY MEN. He takes it to a more personal level and Paul Newman, one of the finest actors of the past 40 years, is the person to do it. He is a legend and he bares his soul as attorney Frank Galvin, a lonely, corrupt drunk whose license to practice law is hanging by a thread. Jack Warden plays his trusty assistant who gets him a case that could help Frank change his life. Warden, however, has had enough.

Newman plays an excellent drunk, even cracking an egg into an 8am beer to start his day. This is a dim looking movie, shot during a cold winter in Boston. There are no great shots, or even any emotionally-rousing speeches, but this is Lumet's style. It is plodding and we see into the life of a lawyer on the ropes. James Mason is perfect as the slimy defense lawyer. Newman is constantly underestimated because of past failures. He is a drunk, but he still has some tricks up his sleeve.

NOTE: Look closely at the closing argument given by Newman. In the background, you can glimpse a then-unknown Bruce Willis.