Presumed Innocent (1990)

Director:

Alan J. Pakula

Writers (WGA):

Scott Turow (novel)
Frank Pierson (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

27 July 1990 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

Sometimes it's dangerous to presume.

Plot:

When the woman deputy prosecutor R.K. Sabich had an affair with is murdered the prosecutor asks him to lead the investigation. When Sabich digs too deeply he finds himself framed for the murder.

Plot Keywords:

Murder | Prosecutor | Suspect | Attorney | Lawyer

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Harrison Ford	...	Rozat 'Rusty' Sabich
Brian Dennehy	...	Raymond Horgan
Raul Julia	...	Alejandro 'Sandy' Stern
Bonnie Bedelia	...	Barbara Sabich
Paul Winfield	...	Judge Larren Lyttle
Greta Scacchi	...	Carolyn Polhemus
John Spencer	...	Det. Lipranzer
Joe Grifasi	...	Tommy Molto
Tom Mardirosian	...	Nico Della Guardia
Anna Maria Horsford	...	Eugenia
Sab Shimono	...	'Painless' Kumagai
Bradley Whitford	...	Jamie Kemp
Christine Estabrook	...	Lydia 'Mac' MacDougall
Michael Tolan	...	Mr. Polhemus
Madison Arnold	...	Sgt. Lionel Kenneally

Runtime:

127 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

UK:15 (original rating) (cut) | South Korea:18 | UK:18 (video rating) (uncut) | New Zealand:PG | Argentina:18 | Australia:M | Chile:18 | Finland:K-12 | France:U | Germany:16 | Norway:15 | Singapore:M18 | Sweden:11 | USA:R | Canada:A (Nova Scotia)

Filming Locations:

Allendale, New Jersey, USA

Company:

Mirage

Trivia:

The ending was given away in an episode of "The Kids in the Hall" (1988).

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): A reporter thrusts a small tape recorder in front of Sandy Stern outside the courthouse, and it is possible to see that there is no tape in it. Although this is a mistake, it may be a mistake by the character holding the tape recorder, not the filmmakers.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Rusty Sabich: [voiceover] I'm a prosecutor. I'm part of the business of accusing, judging and punishing. I explore the evidence of a crime and determine who is charged, who is brought to this room to be tried before his peers. I present my evidence to the jury and they deliberate upon it. They must determine what really happened. If they cannot, we will not know whether the accused deserves to be freed or should be punished. If they cannot find the truth, what is our hope of justice?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Ten (2007)

Soundtrack:

Let The Drummer Loose

Gripping but thorough moral thriller

This is cracking matinée fare. The cast is a big pool of Hollywood stalwarts as a fine supporting ensemble giving a thoughtful, adult vehicle to a typically thoughtful, adult lead from Harrison Ford. The drama is quite quiet and internal: don't be put off, as the cast handle it in a way decided non-European, investing characters with credible melodramatics and keeping everything entirely engaging. Some of the best courtroom set pieces I can remember.

The plot is a detailed psychological thriller that one finds hard to keep absolutely on top of, yet Pakula keeps his eye on the top layer. The story unfolds steadily and inexorably. I watched it for a second time on DVD this morning and even knowing the ending and the twists that bring it about I couldn't see them flagged up at any point in Ford's performance.

It's a film about the strengths and weaknesses of law - of civilisation - of the pitfalls of trying to be moral (referred to as 'ideal' throughout). Above all it tries to address humanity and love which it does patiently, accurately and really very entertainingly 8/10