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Subgenre Sampler

 
Anne: The Mini-SeriesAnne: The Mini-Series (Anne: One Mother's Story) (2022)
Feat. Maxine Peake
A 4 part miniseries detailing the true story of Anne Williams; who lost her son in the 1989 Hillsborough stadium fire. Unsatisfied with the hasty…
Saint OmerSaint Omer (2022) Aro Favourite
Dir. Alice Diop
Feat. Guslagie Malanda, Kayije Kagame
Inspired by real events, this devastating fictional drama from French–Senegalese director Alice Diop delivers a formally brilliant treatise on…
Big Little Lies - Season 2 (TV Mini-series)Big Little Lies - Season 2 (TV Mini-series) (2019) Recommended
Dir. Andrea Arnold
Feat. Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, Shailene Woodley
The second chapter of this acclaimed HBO series, this time from the director of FISHTANK and AMERICAN HONEY, throws a grief ridden…
Black Earth Rising (TV Series)Black Earth Rising (TV Series) (2018)
Feat. John Goodman, Michaela Coel, Tamara Tunie
Political thriller series about the prosecution of war criminals, with Michaela Coel playing a Rwandan–born British legal investigator whose…
On the Basis of SexOn the Basis of Sex (2018)
Dir. Mimi Leder
Feat. Felicity Jones, Armie Hammer, Justin Theroux
Following on from the recent documentary, RBG, the story of Ruth Bader Ginsburg is given the Hollywood biopic treatment here, detailing her…
RBGRBG (2018) Recommended
Dir. Julie Cohen, Betsy West
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is the worthy subject of this documentary exploring her life and career, successfully fighting gender…
Saint JudySaint Judy (2018)
Dir. Sean Hanish
Feat. Michelle Monaghan, Leem Lubany, Common
Biopic telling the incredible true story of Los Angeles immigration attorney Judy Wood, who single–handedly changed asylum law in the USA to…
I Know Who You Are (TV Series)I Know Who You Are (TV Series) (Sé quién eres) (2017)
Feat. Francesc Garrido, Blanca Portillo, Aida Folch
CONTRABAND TITLE. Not legally available for sale, rent or trade in New Zealand unless submitted for approval to the NZ Office of Film & Literature…
Insult, TheInsult, The (2017) Recommended
Dir. Ziad Doueiri
Feat. Adel Karam, Kamel El Basha
An exchange on a Beirut street between a Palestinian construction worker and a Lebanese Christian escalates into a passionate dispute that opens…
Roman J. Israel, Esq.Roman J. Israel, Esq. (2017) Aro Favourite
Dir. Dan Gilroy
Feat. Denzel Washington, Colin Farrell, Carmen Ejogo
A superbly written dramatic thriller from the director of NIGHTCRAWLER set within the overburdened Los Angeles criminal court system. Denzel…
Split, The (TV Series)Split, The (TV Series) (2017)
Dir. Jessica Hobbs
Feat. Nicola Walker, Stephen Mangan, Fiona Button
British legal drama TV series following a family of female divorce lawyers whose father shows up after a 30–year absence and attempts to claim…
Striking Out (TV Series)Striking Out (TV Series) (2017-2018)
Feat. Amy Huberman, Neil Morrissey, Fiona OShaughnessy
Charming Irish legal drama following a Dublin lawyer who risks everything to start her own private practice after breaking up with her cheating…
American Crime Story: People vs O.J. Simpson, The (TV Series)American Crime Story: People vs O.J. Simpson, The (TV Series) (2016) Aro Favourite
Feat. Cuba Jr. Gooding, Sarah Paulson, Courtney B. Vance
Mesmerizing dramatization of the O.J. Simpson trial that defies its unconventional casting choices to take the viewer on a gripping…
DenialDenial (2016) Recommended
Dir. Mick Jackson
Feat. Rachel Weisz, Timothy Spall, Tom Wilkinson
Cracking courtroom drama with Rachel Weisz in fine form as fiercly determined writer and historian Deborah E. Lipstadt, who battles for the truth to…
OJ: Made in America (TV Series)OJ: Made in America (TV Series) (2016) Aro Favourite
Dir. Ezra Edelman
A hugely acclaimed, definitive exploration of the O.J. Simpson “Trial of the Century” from the producers of ESPN Films prodigious doco series "30…
Shepherds and ButchersShepherds and Butchers (2016)
Dir. Oliver Schmitz
Feat. Andrea Riseborough, Steve Coogan
Apartheid era South African drama following a British lawyer (Coogan)'s heroic attempt to overthrow the death penalty after a white prison guard goes…
Undercover (TV Mini-series)Undercover (TV Mini-series) (2016)
Feat. Sophie Okonedo, Adrian Lester, Dennis Haysbert
A lawyer from London is on the cusp of becoming the first black Director of Public Prosecutions, when she begins to realise that her husband of 20…
War, AWar, A (Krigen) (2016) Recommended
Dir. Tobias Lindholm
Feat. Pilou Asbæk, Søren Malling
The director and leading cast of A HIJACKING turn their attention to the dilemmas of modern warfare in this gripping account of an unexpected tragedy…
Whole Truth, TheWhole Truth, The (2016)
Feat. Keanu Reeves, Renee Zellweger, Gugu Mbatha-Raw
Keanu Reeves plays an attorney who works on a tough case to defend a 17–year–old suspected of murdering his wealthy father in this…
Witness for the Prosecution, TheWitness for the Prosecution, The (2016)
Feat. Toby Jones, Andrea Riseborough, David Haig
2–part miniseries based on Agatha Christie's popular story. A wealthy heiress is found murdered and her principle heir is naturally the major…
Arthur & George (TV Mini-series)Arthur & George (TV Mini-series) (2015)
Dir. Stuart Orme
Feat. Martin Clunes, Arsher Ali, Art Malik
Three–part drama set in 1906 that follows the intersecting lives of Arthur Conan Doyle, world–famous author of 'Sherlock Holmes', and…
Better Call Saul (TV Series)Better Call Saul (TV Series) (2015) Recommended
Feat. Bob Odenkirk, Jonathan Banks, Michael McKean
Spinning–off from smash hit BREAKING BAD, this worthy successor follows the trials and tribulations of criminal lawyer Saul Goodman, in the…
CourtedCourted (2015) Recommended
Dir. Christian Vincent
Feat. Fabrice Luchini, Sidse Babett Knudsen
Denmark's Sidse Babett Knudsen (BORGEN) stars in this quietly accomplished French romantic drama as a juror who's shared past with a judge is…
Grinder, The (TV Series)Grinder, The (TV Series) (2015)
Feat. Rob Lowe, Fred Savage, Mary Elizabeth Ellis
Smart showbiz comedy with Rob Lowe in fine fettle as an actor who believes his time playing a lawyer on TV qualifies him to run the family law firm.
Hunting Ground, TheHunting Ground, The (2015) Recommended
Dir. Kirby Dick
A scorching exposé of the startling prevalence of sexual assaults and institutional cover–ups at college campuses across America. Through raw…
Woman in GoldWoman in Gold (2015)
Dir. Simon Curtis
Feat. Helen Mirren, Ryan Reynolds, Daniel Brühl
Helen Mirren elevates this polished if prosaic dramatisation of an elderly Jewish woman who teams with a rookie lawyer (Reynolds) to seek restorative…
Captivated: The Trials of Pamela SmartCaptivated: The Trials of Pamela Smart (2014)
Dir. Jeremiah Zagar
One of the highest profile murder trials of the 20th Century is revisited in this fascinating documentary about the murder of Gregg Smart in New…
Case Against 8, TheCase Against 8, The (2014)
This HBO documentary goes behind the scenes inside the groundbreaking case to overturn the ban on same–sex marriage in the state of California.…
CourtCourt (2014) Recommended
Dir. Chaitanya Tamhane
Feat. Vira Sathidar, Vivek Gomber
A strikingly confident directorial debut that exposes the antiquity of the Indian legal system through the court trial of an ageing protest singer…
How to Get Away with Murder (TV Series)How to Get Away with Murder (TV Series) (2014)
Feat. Viola Davis
Legal drama centred around a group of ambitious law students and their brilliant criminal defense professor who become involved in a twisted murder…
Judge, TheJudge, The (2014)
Dir. David Dobkin
Feat. Robert Downey Jnr., Robert Duvall, Vera Farmiga
Big city lawyer Robert Downey Jnr. returns to his childhood home where his father (Robert Duvall), the town's judge, is suspected of murder. He sets…
Whitey: United States of America v. James J. BulgerWhitey: United States of America v. James J. Bulger (2014)
Dir. Joe Berlinger
The director of PARADISE LOST helms this multi–faceted documentary that uses the trial of infamous gangster James "Whitey" Bulger to examine…
Closed CircuitClosed Circuit (2013)
Dir. John Crowley
Feat. Eric Bana, Rebecca Hall, Jim Broadbent
A dangerous conflict of interest arises when two ex–lovers end up on opposite sides of a high profile terrorism trial in this probing courtroom…
Devil's KnotDevil's Knot (2013)
Dir. Atom Egoyan
Feat. Reese Witherspoon, Colin Firth, Alessandro Nivola
Solid dramatisation of the long–running West Memphis Three case covered in depth by several documentaries, with dir. Egoyan weaving a typically…
Phil SpectorPhil Spector (2013)
Dir. David Mamet
Feat. Al Pacino, Helen Mirren, Chiwetel Ejiofor
David Mamet brilliantly dramatises Phil Spector's trial for the murder of Lana Clarkson in this self–proclaimed "work of fiction", in which the…
Ace AttorneyAce Attorney (2012)
Dir. Takashi Miike
Feat. Hiroki Narimiya, Takumi Saito
Takashi Miike churns out this preposterous video game adaptation, about a cocksure lawyer who agrees to defend his courtroom rival in a murder trial,…
Mystery of a Hansom Cab, TheMystery of a Hansom Cab, The (2012)
This costume drama is based on the international best–selling crime novel by Fergus Hume. Set on the grimy streets of Melbourne during the…
ShahidShahid (2012)
Dir. Hansal Mehta
Feat. Rajkummar Rao, Tigmanshu Dhulia, Kay Kay Menon
Indian biopic about the life of lawyer and human rights activist Shahid Azmi, who was assassinated in 2010 by four right wing assailants. Known…
West of MemphisWest of Memphis (2012) Aro Favourite
Dir. Amy Berg
Documentarian Amy Berg, with crucial the backing of Peter Jackson, investigates the crime, arrest, and long legal campaign to free the ‘West…
Jury, TheJury, The (The Jury 2) (2011) Recommended
Feat. Julie Walters, John Lynch, Roger Allam
A gripping court room drama regarded for its authenticity and attention to detail, which centres on a prolonged court room trial from the perspective…
Killing Time (TV Mini-Series)Killing Time (TV Mini-Series) (2011)
Feat. David Wenham, Diana Glenn, Colin Friels
Another hard–hitting crime story ripped from Australian headlines, starring David Wenham as a favourite defense lawyer of Melbourne's gangland…
Lincoln Lawyer, TheLincoln Lawyer, The (2011)
Dir. Brad Furman
Feat. Matthew McConaughey, Ryan Phillippe, Marisa Tomei
Matthew McConaughey plays a low–rent lawyer to low–life clients whose latest case – the defense of a rich playboy (Phillippe) accused…
Paradise Lost 3 - PurgatoryParadise Lost 3 - Purgatory (2011) Recommended
Dir. Joe Berlinger, Bruce Sinofsky
This concluding chapter in the Paradise Lost saga came on the back of the West Memphis Three's sudden release from prison, and covers the defense…
PuncturePuncture (2011)
Dir. Adam Kassen
Feat. Chris Evans, Vinessa Shaw, Brett Cullen
Chris Evans jitters his way through this aggressive legal drama with a motive, ostensibly about a cocaine–addicted lawyer fighting battles both…
Separation, ASeparation, A (2011) Aro Favourite
Dir. Asghar Farhadi
Feat. Peyman Moaadi, Leila Hatami, Sareh Bayat
Winner of the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, this masterfully layered domestic drama sees the wheels of justice turn slowly against a…
Silk (TV Series)Silk (TV Series) (2011)
Feat. Maxine Peake, Rupert Penry-Jones, Tom Hughes
Fascinating, if somewhat glossy insider's guide to the competitive and pressure–filled world of London barristers, who are driven in this…
Tall Man, TheTall Man, The (2011)
Dir. Tony Krawitz
Compelling true crime documentary on a controversial chapter in Queensland’s history, where in 2004 a drunken Cameron Doomadgee was arrested for…
Accused (TV Series)Accused (TV Series) (2010)
Feat. Christopher Eccleston, Naomie Harris, Warren Brown
Acclaimed British anthology series centres each episode on the back story of a new character as they make their way to the dock in court to await the…
Conspirator, TheConspirator, The (2010)
Dir. Robert Redford
Feat. James McAvoy, Robin Wright, Tom Wilkinson
Timely retelling of the aftermath of the Abraham Lincoln's assassination when boardinghouse owner Mary Surratt (Wright) was placed on trial for…
ConvictionConviction (2010)
Dir. Tony Goldwyn
Feat. Hilary Swank, Sam Rockwell, Melissa Leo
Worthy based–on–a–true–story drama of a solo mother who puts herself through law school in order to represent her wrongfully…
Rake (TV Series)Rake (TV Series) (2010) Recommended
Feat. Richard Roxburgh, Matt Day, Russell Dykstra
Richard Roxburgh plays a live–wire criminal barrister whose brilliant defense of often guilty clientele is contrasted against his own…
Beyond a Reasonable DoubtBeyond a Reasonable Doubt (2009)
Dir. Peter Hyams
Feat. Jesse Metcalfe, Amber Tamblyn, Michael Douglas
Glib remake of the hard–to–find Fritz Lang classic has an intrepid reporter (Metcalfe) determined to bring down a corrupt D.A (a…
Crude - The Real Price of OilCrude - The Real Price of Oil (2009)
Dir. Joe Berlinger
Dir. Joe Berlinger (PARADISE LOST) uncovers South American exploitation in this searing legal documentary on the damaging effects of oil drilling in…
Garrow's Law (TV Series)Garrow's Law (TV Series) (2009-2011)
Feat. Andrew Buchan, Alun Armstrong, Rupert Graves
Legal drama based around the true tale of William Garrow, who acted as counsel for the accused, introducing the concept of 'innocent until proved…
Girl Who Kicked the Hornets' Nest, TheGirl Who Kicked the Hornets' Nest, The (2009)
Dir. Daniel Alfredson
Feat. Noomi Rapace, Michael Nyqvist, Lena Endre
Satisfying conclusion to the trilogy features some lengthy courtroom scenes as Salander and Nyqvist fight to clear her name and unravel the…
Law and Order UK (TV Series) Law and Order UK (TV Series) (2009)
Feat. Jamie Bamber, Bradley Walsh, Ben Daniels
Beloved crime show gets a UK version capturing the both excitement and drudgery that made the US version such a success. Initially the heavy…
Lost in WonderlandLost in Wonderland (2009) Recommended
Dir. Zoe McIntosh
Wellington filmmaker Zoe McIntosh offers an insightful take on the Rob Moodie character: an eccentric, headline–grabbing lawyer (and former…
Sicilian Girl, TheSicilian Girl, The (La siciliana ribelle) (2009)
Dir. Marco Amenta
Feat. Veronica D'Agostino, Gerard Jugnot
A vivid, level–headed account of Mafiaso intrigue, based around real events surrounding a young woman’s testimony in court against Sicilian…
StormStorm (2009)
Dir. Hans-Christian Schmid
Feat. Kerry Fox, Anamaria Marinca, Stephen Dillane
Accomplished international courtroom drama sees a determined prosecutor (Fox) risk life and limb in order to prove that the former commander of the…
Until Proven InnocentUntil Proven Innocent (2009) Recommended
Dir. Peter Burger
Feat. Cohen Holloway, Edward Campbell, Miranda Harcourt
Credible homegrown teledrama tells the true story of the crusade to free David Dougherty, wrongly imprisoned for the rape and abduction of an…
William Kunstler: Disturbing the UniverseWilliam Kunstler: Disturbing the Universe (2009)
Filmmakers Emily and Sarah Kunstler explore the life of their father, the late radical civil rights lawyer. In the 1960s and 70s, William Kunstler…
American VioletAmerican Violet (2008)
Dir. Tim Disney
Feat. Nicole Beharie, Will Patton, Alfre Woodard
Docudrama based on a true story follows a single mother, Dee (Beharie), wrongly arrested for drug dealing and her fight for justice. Despite a…
Criminal Justice (TV Series)Criminal Justice (TV Series) (2008-2009)
Feat. Ben Whishaw, Pete Postlethwaite, Maxine Peake
Grim and unglamorous drama series focuses on an individual’s journey through the British criminal justice system, from prison to courtroom. It…
Roman Polanski: Wanted And DesiredRoman Polanski: Wanted And Desired (2008) Recommended
Dir. Marina Zenovich
Comprehensive documentary examining the public scandal that led to the controversial departure of director Roman Polanski from the United States.…
Damages (TV Series)Damages (TV Series) (2007) Recommended
Feat. Glenn Close, Rose Byrne, Ted Danson
Complex, high–stakes, aggressively acted legal drama starring Glenn Close as a power–suited litigator tackling a major class action…
FractureFracture (2007)
Dir. Gregory Hoblit
Feat. Anthony Hopkins, Ryan Gosling, David Strathairn
A you–know–whodunnit legal psychodrama with Anthony Hopkins as a wealthy businessman who shoots his wife dead, then plays a cruel (if…
Michael ClaytonMichael Clayton (2007) Recommended
Dir. Tony Gilroy
Feat. George Clooney, Tilda Swinton, Tom Wilkinson
Razor–sharp legal thriller involving a sprawling class–action law suit and alleged cover–up, George Clooney plays a humble legal…
BamakoBamako (The Court) (2006)
Dir. Abderrahmane Sissako
Feat. Aissa Maiga
A mock trial of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank – whose representatives must defend charges of reckless lending and…
Chatterley Affair, TheChatterley Affair, The (2006)
Dir. James Hawes
Feat. Isla Fisher, Rafe Spall
Steamy sidebar to Lady Chatterley's Lover tingles the loins of two attractive jurors sitting on a real–life obscenity trial to determine…
Find Me GuiltyFind Me Guilty (2006)
Dir. Sidney Lumet
Feat. Vin Diesel
An against–type Vin Diesel fuels this mob comedy from seasoned courtroom exponent Sidney Lumet, based on the shenanigans of one Jackie…
New Street Law (TV Series)New Street Law (TV Series) (2006)
Feat. John Hannah, Paul Freeman, John Thomson
Engrossing legal drama with Hannah and Freeman as heads of two law firms sharing the same premises. Plenty of ethical conundrums populate a tightly…
ProvokedProvoked (2006)
Dir. Jag Mundhra
Feat. Aishwarya Rai, Miranda Richardson, Naveen Andrews
Provocative indeed, this is the true story of an Indian woman (played by Bollywood star Aishwarya Rai) who radically changed how the British public…
Shark (TV Series) Shark (TV Series) (2006)
Feat. James Woods
Fine courtroom series headlined by James Woods as a big–time lawyer who back steps to the position of District Attorney and imparts his…
Trials of Darryl Hunt, TheTrials of Darryl Hunt, The (2006) Recommended
Dir. Ricki Stern, Anne Sundberg
Another infuriating indictment of the US legal system, this shockingly reveals beyond reasonable doubt in the case and conviction of Darryl Hunt,…
North CountryNorth Country (2005)
Dir. Niki Caro
Feat. Charlize Theron, Frances McDormand, Sissy Spacek
Fact–based drama about a group of women miners in 1970s Minnesota who endured a hostile work environment, bullying and sexual abuse after…
Sisters in LawSisters in Law (2005) Recommended
Dir. Kim Longinotto, Florence Ayisi
Spirited portrait of two women working in the Cameroonian Judiciary – a State Prosecutor and a judge in the magistrate’s court, respectively –…
Sophie Scholl: The Final DaysSophie Scholl: The Final Days (2005) Recommended
Dir. March Rothemund
Feat. Julia Jentsch
An interesting and worthy companion piece to the excellent DOWNFALL, this necessarily grim drama looks at the trial of 21–year–old…
Boston Legal - Season 1 (TV Series)Boston Legal - Season 1 (TV Series) (2004-2005)
Feat. James Spader, William Shatner, Monica Potter
Irreverent spinoff to THE PRACTICE adds a thwack of biting comedy to some familiar courtroom antics, chiefly courtesy of star turns from James Spader…
Brief, The (TV Series)Brief, The (TV Series) (2004)
Feat. Alan Davies
Alan Davies juggles work as a brilliant, crusading barrister, with a less than perfect home life, in this lively courtroom drama.
Laws of AttractionLaws of Attraction (2004)
Dir. Peter Howitt
Feat. Pierce Brosnan, Julianne Moore, Parker Posey
Two divorce lawyers (Brasnan and Moore) feud in court, reconcile, schmooze and get drunkenly hitched, in this screwball comedy of average…
Staircase, The (TV Mini-series)Staircase, The (TV Mini-series) (Soupcons) (2004) Aro Favourite
Dir. Jean-Xavier de Lestrade
Fascinating and ambiguous documentary mini–series tracks in detail the trial of a North Carolina man accused of murdering his wife, who was…
House of Sand and FogHouse of Sand and Fog (2003)
Dir. Vadim Perelman
Feat. Jennifer Connelly, Ben Kingsley, Frances Fisher
Essentially a showdown over the ownership of a house between an abandoned wife and a stoic Iranian immigrant, this throws up a compelling, if foggy,…
Runaway JuryRunaway Jury (2003)
Dir. Gary Fleder
Feat. John Cusack, Gene Hackman, Dustin Hoffman
It's back to court with John Grisham, in a well–cast, entertaining tale of gun–control issues, jury–manipulation, big business and…
TorsoTorso (Torso: The Evelyn Dick Story) (2003)
Dir. Alex Chapple
Feat. Kathleen Robertson, Victor Garber, Brenda Fricker
Would–be socialite Evelyn Dick is arrested by Canadian police for the murder of her husband in this above–average account of the trial…
Black and WhiteBlack and White (2002)
Dir. Craig Lahiff
Feat. Robert Carlyle, Kerry Fox, Charles Dance
Stirring courtroom drama based on the dubious conviction for murder of an Aboriginal man in 1950s Adelaide, which dragged the government and press…
Life of David Gale, TheLife of David Gale, The (2002)
Dir. Alan Parker
Feat. Kevin Spacey, Kate Winslet, Laura Linney
Ingenious though slightly muddled thriller, enacts the leadup to death–rower Kevin Spacey's arrest, trial for murder and imminent…
Judge John Deed (TV Series)Judge John Deed (TV Series) (2001-2007)
Feat. Martin Shaw, Jenny Seagrove
Well crafted BBC TV series detailing the might of a High Court Judge commited to upholding justice whatever it takes. Portrayed with insight and wit…
American TragedyAmerican Tragedy (2000)
Dir. Lawrence Schiller
Feat. Ving Rhames, Ron Silver, Christopher Plummer
Heavyweight TV movie of the OJ Simpson trial, with Ving Rhames and Ron Silver and Christopher Plummer suiting up to defend the former football star…
Dirty PicturesDirty Pictures (2000)
Dir. Frank Pierson
Feat. James Woods, Craig T. Nelson
Based on the true–story of how the Chicago Arts Centre was prosecuted in 1990 for obscenity over an exhibition of Robert Mapplethorpe's…
Erin BrockovichErin Brockovich (2000) Recommended
Dir. Steven Soderbergh
Feat. Julia Roberts, Albert Finney, Aaron Eckhart
An interesting and successful marriage of a Hollywood star vehicle (Julia Roberts) and independent credentials (dir. Soderbergh), that takes an…
Murder on a Sunday MorningMurder on a Sunday Morning (2000) Recommended
Dir. Jean-Xavier de Lestrade
Winner of the 2002 Oscar for Best Documentary, this riveting coverage of the murder of a tourist in Florida and the inept (even vindictive)…
NurembergNuremberg (2000)
Feat. Alec Baldwin, Jill Hennessy, Brian Cox
This two part miniseries follows the Chief Prosecutor through the Nuremberg Trials of 1945–46.
Paradise Lost 2 - RevelationsParadise Lost 2 - Revelations (2000) Recommended
Dir. Joe Berlinger, Bruce Sinofsky
Essential sequel to the brilliant documentary of the now infamous Robin Hills Murder trial that saw three small boys savagely murdered and three…
Civil Action, ACivil Action, A (1999) Recommended
Dir. Steven Zaillian
Feat. John Travolta, Robert Duvall, William H. Macy
Fact–based account of a protracted courtroom duel between two corporations and small–town folk, whose children have been affected by…
General's Daughter, TheGeneral's Daughter, The (1999)
Dir. Simon West
Feat. John Travolta, Madeleine Stowe, James Woods
Gathering suspense from the 'closed–world' ethics of the US military, this thriller from the writer of A FEW GOOD MEN concerns a gruesome,…
Hurricane, TheHurricane, The (1999)
Dir. Norman Jewison
Feat. Denzel Washington, Liev Schreiber, Deborah Kara Unger
Denzel Washington blows up a storm as Rubin 'Hurricane' Carter, a championship boxer unjustly imprisoned in the 1970s for a murder he did not commit.…
Insider, TheInsider, The (1999) Aro Favourite
Dir. Michael Mann
Feat. Russell Crowe, Al Pacino, Christopher Plummer
A brooding masterpiece from dir. Mann (HEAT), who finally wrestles down a topic of sufficient weight to justify the peerless brilliance of his…
Judging Amy (TV Series)Judging Amy (TV Series) (1999-2005)
Feat. Amy Brenneman, Richard T. Jones, Tyne Daly
Wholesome drama with Amy Brenneman as a family court judge, focuses on the trials and tribulations of three generations of women living together.…
Punitive DamagePunitive Damage (1999) Recommended
Dir. Annie Goldson
Emotive documentary about the ordeal of an ordinary New Zealand mother, Helen Todd, who ultimately sued an Indonesian general for punitive damages…
True CrimeTrue Crime (1999)
Dir. Clint Eastwood
Feat. Clint Eastwood, James Woods
Implausible but fun, this is Clint Eastwood relaxing his usually rigorous standards with a hokey thriller–by–numbers stocked with…
AmistadAmistad (1998)
Dir. Steven Spielberg
Feat. Anthony Hopkins, Morgan Freeman, Matthew McConaughey
Laying bare his socio–historical conscience (a much better prospect post–SCHINDLER'S LIST), Steven Speilberg sets sail with an epic of…
Confession, TheConfession, The (1998)
Dir. David Jones
Feat. Alec Baldwin, Ben Kingsley, Amy Irving
Fairly standard–issue moral dilemmas in the courtroom for attorney Baldwin, involved in a complex case of guilt, redemption and retribution in…
Gingerbread Man, TheGingerbread Man, The (1998) Recommended
Dir. Robert Altman
Feat. Kenneth Branagh, Embeth Davidtz, Robert Duvall
Script by the courtroom–obsessed John Grisham is here assigned to auteurist Robert Altman (THE PLAYER, SHORT CUTS), who manages to…
Devil's Advocate, TheDevil's Advocate, The (1997) Recommended
Dir. Taylor Hackford
Feat. Keanu Reeves, Al Pacino, Charlize Theron
Invincible lawyer Keanu Reeves is tempted to join an elite law firm, but bossman Al Pacino has a firey temper and is looking for lifelong commitment,…
Law and Order (TV Series)Law and Order (TV Series) (1997)
Feat. Michael Moriaty, George Dzundza, Paul Sorvino
The original US police and courtroom drama from which various satellite shows and TV movies have sprouted, which contrasts its polish with fairly…
Night Falls On ManhattanNight Falls On Manhattan (1997)
Dir. Sidney Lumet
Feat. Richard Dreyfuss, Andy Garcia, Lena Olin
Poking around among the NYPD's rotten apples, this unsettling thriller gouges up about as much police corruption and moral dry–rot as you can…
Practice, The (TV Series)Practice, The (TV Series) (1997)
Feat. Dylan McDermott, Michael Badalucco, Camryn Manheim
Joined ostensibly at the hip with BOSTON LEGAL (James Spader and other characters would migrate in later seasons), this punchier, more serious minded…
Rainmaker, TheRainmaker, The (1997)
Dir. Francis Ford Coppola
Feat. Matt Damon, Danny De Vito, Jon Voight
John Grisham's novel is spared from the airport–novel–as–movie–fodder assembly line by a refined Coppola script that attends…
Tichborne Claimant, TheTichborne Claimant, The (1997) Recommended
Dir. David Yates
Feat. Stephen Fry
Based on a real–life 19th century mystery concerning the fabulously wealthy Sir Roger Tichborne, who disappeared in the South Pacific in 1866.…
Trial and ErrorTrial and Error (1997)
Dir. Jonathan Lynn
Feat. Jeff Daniels, Michael Ritchie, Charlize Theron
Big city lawyer Jeff Daniels and his actor buddy Michael Ritchie (from TV's Seinfeld) wind up having to swap identities to defend a case against a…
Twelve Angry MenTwelve Angry Men (1997)
Dir. William Friedkin
Feat. George C. Scott, Ossie Davis, Armin Mueller-Stahl
An award–winning television version of the classic jury–room drama. Re–written by the scriptwriter of the original film version…
Crime of the CenturyCrime of the Century (1996)
Dir. Mark Rydell
Feat. Stephen Rea, Isabella Rossellini, J.T. Walsh
Astute re–enactment of the controversial Lindbergh trial that resulted in a supposed wrongful execution for the kidnap and murder of a baby in…
Ghosts of MississippiGhosts of Mississippi (1996)
Dir. Rob Reiner
Feat. Alec Baldwin, Whoopi Goldberg, James Woods
Thirty years after the fact, D.A. Alec Baldwin re–investigates the murder of a Mississippi civil rights leader. Fact–based…
JadedJaded (1996)
Dir. Caryn Krooth
Feat. Carla Gugino, Rya Kihlstedt, Christopher McDonald
Putting a hefty, controversial twist on the subject of rape, this psychodrama has smalltown loner Carla Gugino sexually abused, not by a man, but by…
Juror, TheJuror, The (1996)
Dir. Brian Gibson
Feat. Demi Moore, Alec Baldwin, Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Struggling artist and mother Demi Moore is summoned to jury service and is singled out by the mob defendants to swing the verdict in their favour.…
MistrialMistrial (1996)
Dir. Heywood Gould
Feat. Bill Pullman, Robert Loggia, Blair Underwood
Frustrated by the legal system, cop Bill Pullman pours gasoline on community tensions by kidnapping a judge and jury – to put a suspected…
Paradise LostParadise Lost (1996) Aro Favourite
Dir. Joe Berlinger, Bruce Sinofsky
A ‘tour de force’ crime documentary, courtroom saga and true life horror show, this is a bare witness account of the trial of three…
People Vs. Larry Flynt, ThePeople Vs. Larry Flynt, The (1996) Recommended
Dir. Milos Forman
Feat. Woody Harrelson, Courtney Love
A weighty, colourful biopic of the notorious publisher of 'Hustler' magazine. The 'free speech' debate presides over the issue of pornography, but…
Primal FearPrimal Fear (1996)
Dir. Gregory Hoblit
Feat. Richard Gere, Laura Linney, Edward Norton
Hotshot Chicago attorney Richard Gere defends, with difficulty, an altar boy accused of brutally murdering a much–loved archbishop. The…
Time to Kill, ATime to Kill, A (1996)
Dir. Joel Schumacher
Feat. Samuel L. Jackson, Matthew McConaughey, Sandra Bullock
A blue–eyed lawyer comes to the defence of a black man (Samuel L. Jackson) who murdered his daughter's rapists in the Deep South. This…
IndictmentIndictment (1995)
Dir. Mick Jackson
Feat. James Woods, Mercedes Ruehl
Courtroom drama of rare power locks James Woods and Mercedes Ruehl as duelling lawyers in a detailed examination of the McMartin child abuse trial…
J.A.G. (TV Series)J.A.G. (TV Series) (1995) Aro Favourite
Feat. David James Elliott, Tracey Needham, Catherine Bell
Hold on to your hairpiece, it's JAG! (U.S. military acronym for Judge Advocate General!) Predominantly follows a lieutenant called "Harm", who used…
Just CauseJust Cause (1995)
Dir. Arne Glimcher
Feat. Sean Connery, Laurence Fishburne, Ed Harris
Power–attorney Sean Connery defends a death row prisoner despite the evidence against him, and butts heads with Larry Fishburne, the cop…
Kavanagh QC (TV Series) Kavanagh QC (TV Series) (1995-2001)
Feat. John Thaw, Ray Winstone, Ewan McGregor
Clever Brit crime series, with INSPECTOR MORSE's John Thaw stepping easily back into the role of criminal investigator, this time as a London law…
Murder One (TV Series)Murder One (TV Series) (1995-1997)
Feat. Daniel Benzali, Stanley Tucci, Mary McCormack
A compelling crime drama whose chief novelty was basing each season around a single courtroom case, from indictment and jury selection, through to…
Client, TheClient, The (1994)
Dir. Joel Schumacher
Feat. Susan Sarandon, Brad Renfro, Tommy Lee Jones
The best adaptation yet of a John Grisham legal–eagle novel. Susan Sarandon embraces the character–driven story that is mercifully free…
Law & Disorder (TV Series)Law & Disorder (TV Series) (1994)
Feat. Penelope Keith, Charles Kay
British sitcom about a acid–tongued, no–nonsense barrister who isn't above breaking the law to win her cases.
Murder in the First (1994)
Dir. Marc Rocco
Feat. Christian Slater, Kevin Bacon, Gary Oldman
Powerhouse acting enlivens fact–based proceedings that led to the closure of Alcatraz. Kevin Bacon plays a victimised prisoner pushed to the…
Trial by JuryTrial by Jury (1994)
Dir. Heywood Gould
Feat. Armand Assante, Joanne Whalley, Gabriel Byrne
A ruthless mob boss (Armand Assante) on trial for multiple murders employs strong–arm tactics to 'influence' mother–of–two…
A CrimeA Crime (Un Crime) (1993)
Dir. Jacques Deray
Feat. Alain Delon
Vintage courtroom vehicle for the ice cool Delon, sturdy in its workmanlike screenplay and no–nonsense attitude.
Advocate, TheAdvocate, The (Hour Of the Pig) (1993) Recommended
Dir. Leslie Megahey
Feat. Colin Firth, Donald Pleasence, Nicol Williamson
Polished, wry and most unusual medieval fact–based tale. Colin Firth plays a lawyer summonsed to act for the defence a pig (yes, an animal) for…
Firm, TheFirm, The (1993)
Dir. Sydney Pollack
Feat. Tom Cruise, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Gene Hackman
Tom Cruise ain't bad as a prodigal law graduate offered a six–figure salary with a prestigious but corrupt law firm. A reasonable meal is made…
Guilty As SinGuilty As Sin (1993)
Dir. Sidney Lumet
Feat. Rebecca De Mornay, Don Johnson, Stephen Lang
Attorney Rebecca De Mornay finds herself unable to discharge her suave lady–killing client (Don Johnson – perfectly cast). Never as…
In the Name of the FatherIn the Name of the Father (1993) Aro Favourite
Dir. Jim Sheridan
Feat. Daniel Day-Lewis, Pete Postlethwaite, Emma Thompson
Daniel Day–Lewis gives a devastating performance in this powerhouse re–creation of the tragedy that beset Jerry Conlon, his family and…
Joh's JuryJoh's Jury (1993)
Dir. Ken Cameron
Feat. Simon Bossell, Noah Taylor, Gerry Connolly
Intensively researched teledrama about the sensational trial of Queensland state premier Joh Bjelke–Petersen (Connolly) for perjury in…
MaliceMalice (1993) Recommended
Dir. Harold Becker
Feat. Alec Baldwin, Nicole Kidman, Bill Pullman
An unlikely but nonetheless ripping yarn unfolds when a brilliant but dubious doctor is sued for medical negligence by his college pal's wife.…
Pelican Brief, ThePelican Brief, The (1993)
Dir. Alan J. Pakula
Feat. Julia Roberts, Denzel Washington
Julia Roberts mugs through this leaden adaptation of John Grisham's novel as a genius law student whose thesis about two top–level…
A Few Good MenA Few Good Men (1992)
Dir. Rob Reiner
Feat. Tom Cruise, Jack Nicholson, Demi Moore
Tom Cruise portrays another upstart lawyer brat who is called to defend the alleged murderers of a fellow army cadet. Blame soon veers to the very…
Brother's KeeperBrother's Keeper (1992) Aro Favourite
Dir. Joe Berlinger, Bruce Sinofsky
An outstanding piece of criminal reportage, that takes a case of hillbilly crime and punishment from backwoods New York State and over the course of…
Citizen CohnCitizen Cohn (1992)
Dir. Frank Pierson
Feat. James Woods
James Woods plays Joseph McCarthy's crooked lawyer, Roy Cohn – a role meaty enough to sustain every ounce of his frustrated energy. The…
My Cousin VinnyMy Cousin Vinny (1992) Recommended
Dir. Jonathan Lynn
Feat. Joe Pesci, Marisa Tomei
Joe Pesci plays a well–meaning but inept Brooklyn lawyer, hired to defend his innocent young cousin deep in redneck country. Better than it…
Trial, TheTrial, The (1992)
Dir. David Jones
Feat. Kyle MacLachlan, Anthony Hopkins, Jason Robards Jr.
Update of Kafka's disturbing, influential novel posits Kyle MacLachlan as the man mysteriously arrested and subjected to a totalitarian judiciary.…
Guilty by SuspicionGuilty by Suspicion (1991) Recommended
Dir. Irwin Winkler
Feat. Robert De Niro
Robert De Niro portrays a film–maker victimised by the communist witch–hunts of the '50s. A powerful examination of the dilemma faced by…
JFKJFK (1991) Recommended
Dir. Oliver Stone
Feat. Oliver Stone, Kevin Costner
Oliver Stone's gripping, technically dazzling opus is both convincing propaganda and marvellous entertainment, with Kevin Costner leading a large and…
Let Him Have ItLet Him Have It (1991) Recommended
Dir. Peter Medak
Feat. Christopher Eccleston, Tom Courtenay, Eileen Atkins
Riveting re–creation of events pre–empting the tragic 1952 hanging of a simple teenager, whose only crime was to ambiguously utter “Let…
Paris TroutParis Trout (1991)
Dir. Stephen Gyllenhaal
Feat. Dennis Hopper, Barbara Hershey
In 1949, crazed hick Dennis Hopper manifests his full–blooded rascism when he murders the young sister of a negro who has renegged on his car…
Prisoner of HonourPrisoner of Honour (1991)
Dir. Ken Russell
Feat. Richard Dreyfuss, Oliver Reed, Peter Firth
Fact–based story of a military official Alfred Dreyfuss who was wrongly convicted of espionage in the French army c1900. Richard Dreyfuss (no…
Class ActionClass Action (1990)
Dir. Michael Apted
Feat. Gene Hackman, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio
A lawyer becomes forced to prosecute a case in which his estranged daughter will act for the defence. Courtroom ethics are violated in style by Gene…
Close-UpClose-Up (1990) Recommended
Dir. Abbas Kiarostami
Feat. Hossain Sabzian, Mohsen Makhmalbaf
A uniquely–devised work intermingling life and art, documentary and fiction, born of a real life incident in which an unemployed film buff is…
Presumed InnocentPresumed Innocent (1990)
Dir. Alan J. Pakula
Feat. Harrison Ford, Brian Dennehy, Raul Julia
Scott Turow's best seller is faithfully adapted here with Harrison Ford cast as the D.A. who finds himself accused of the rape and murder of a…
Reversal of FortuneReversal of Fortune (1990)
Dir. Barbet Schroeder
Feat. Jeremy Irons, Glenn Close, Ron Silver
In his best performance, Jeremy Irons won an Oscar for portraying Claus Von Bulow, a European émigré who was accused of trying to poison his wife…
A Dry White SeasonA Dry White Season (1989)
Dir. Euzhan Palcy
Feat. Donald Sutherland, Susan Sarandon, Marlon Brando
Enraged by the brutal, senseless murder of his black gardener’s son by a racist ‘special policeman’, a South African schoolteacher (Sutherland)…
Criminal LawCriminal Law (1989)
Dir. Martin Campbell
Feat. Gary Oldman, Kevin Bacon, Tess Harper
Hot shot lawyer Gary Oldman successfully defends psycho–killer Kevin Bacon, only to find he had made a costly misjudgement.
Music BoxMusic Box (1989)
Dir. Costa-Gavras
Feat. Jessica Lange, Armin Mueller-Stahl, Frederic Forrest
Jessica Lange plays the attorney daughter of a Hungarian immigrant (Mueller–Stahl), now accused of WW2 war crimes. Her quest for the truth…
Accused, TheAccused, The (1988) Recommended
Dir. Jonathan Kaplan
Feat. Jodie Foster, Kelly McGillis
Jodie Foster won an Academy Award for her portrayal of a rape victim who suffered the additional ordeal of prosecuting her attackers in the face of…
Evil AngelsEvil Angels (A Cry in the Dark) (1988)
Dir. Fred Schepisi
Feat. Meryl Streep, Sam Neill
Jack–of–all–accents, Meryl Streep, does wonders as Lindy Chamberlain, the woman accused of murdering her child in the Australian…
Judgement in BerlinJudgement in Berlin (1988)
Dir. Leo Penn
Feat. Martin Sheen, Sean Penn, Sam Wanamaker
Stolid courtroom drama about the trial of an man who hijacked an airplane in order to flee East Germany for the West, Martin Sheen plays the American…
Rampage (1988)
Dir. William Friedkin
Feat. Michael Biehn, Alex McArthur, Nicholas Campbell
This grapples with the psychology of murder and the moral dilemma surrounding the death penalty. A vicious serial killer is prosecuted but how will…
ShameShame (1988)
Dir. Steve Jodrell
Feat. Tony Barry, Deborra-Lee Furness
Stranded in an outback town, a female lawyer defends a young rape victim when her plight is met with nonchalance by the townsfolk.
Short Film About Killing, AShort Film About Killing, A (1988) Aro Favourite
Dir. Krzysztof Kieslowski
Feat. Miroslaw Baka, Krzysztof Globisz, Jan Tesarz
Feature–length version of Kieslowski's indelibly chilling Decalogue Pt.5 further protracts a cold–blooded murder and the subsequent…
Thin Blue Line, TheThin Blue Line, The (1988) Recommended
Dir. Errol Morris
Director Morris digs up a 1976 murder case and uncovers a web of deceit and police corruption. A twisting, bizzare slice of journalism, nicely offset…
Trial of Bernhard GoetzTrial of Bernhard Goetz (1988)
Dir. Harry Moses
A verbatim re–creation of the courtroom battle that ensued after Goetz admitted to shooting four black muggers on the New York subway in 1984.…
Cause CelebreCause Celebre (1987) Recommended
Dir. John Gorrie
Feat. Helen Mirren, David Suchet
Gripping, three–pronged crime of passion has Helen Mirren confessing to the murder of her husband, even though her young lover is suspected of…
NutsNuts (1987)
Dir. Martin Ritt
Feat. Barbra Streisand, Richard Dreyfuss, Maureen Stapleton
Barbra Streisand must prove her sanity in order to stand trial for manslaughter. Richard Dreyfuss helps out with some heavy duty courtroom banter.
SuspectSuspect (1987)
Dir. Peter Yates
Feat. Cher, Liam Neeson, Dennis Quaid
Solid courtroom thriller proffers Cher as the defence for derelict murder–accused Liam Neeson, who’s helped out by a juror who smells a rat…
Matlock (TV Series)Matlock (TV Series) (1986)
Feat. Andy Griffith, Linda Purl
Updating the "Perry Mason" blueprint with rumpled Southern charm, the ultra laid–back Andy Griffith plays Ben Matlock, an Atlanta defense…
Jagged EdgeJagged Edge (1985) Recommended
Dir. Richard Marquand
Feat. Glenn Close, Jeff Bridges, Peter Coyote
Glenn Close and Jeff Bridges star in this compelling courtroom thriller about a defence attorney who romances her client who is on trial for a brutal…
Passage to India, APassage to India, A (1984) Recommended
Dir. David Lean
Feat. Judy Davis, Victor Banerjee, Peggy Ashcroft
Judy Davis leads a troupe of perenial British actors in this, the legendary director's final film – an immaculate production of E.M. Forster's…
Murder In Coweta CountyMurder In Coweta County (1983)
Dir. Gary Nelson
Feat. Johnny Cash, Andy Griffith, June Carter-Cash
A gritty fact–based policier about a cold–blooded land baron in 1940s rural Georgia (Griffiths) who murders a black tenant farmer and…
Still of the NightStill of the Night (1982)
Dir. Robert Benton
Feat. Meryl Streep, Roy Scheider
Hitchcock–style thriller about a psychiatrist who falls in love with a woman who may have brutally murdered one of his patients.
Verdict, TheVerdict, The (1982) Recommended
Dir. Sidney Lumet
Feat. Paul Newman, Charlotte Rampling, James Mason
Sombre dramatic death–march, with Paul Newman playing a convincingly booze–soaked lawyer, whose last chance in the courtroom sees him…
No Time for Tears (1981)
Dir. Hark Bohm
Feat. Marie Colbin, Michael Gwisdek
True story of Marianne Bachmeier who shot the murderer of her child during his trial. Subtle yet disturbing film concentrates on the background to…
And Justice for AllAnd Justice for All (1979)
Dir. Norman Jewison
Feat. Al Pacino, Jack Warden, Craig T. Nelson
Intense, if uneven courtroom–drama in which hot–shot lawyer Al Pacino defends a judge on a rape charge. Even a top supporting cast and a…
Law And Order (TV Mini-Series) Law And Order (TV Mini-Series) (1978) Recommended
Dir. Les Blair
Feat. Peter Dean, Derek Martin
Discerning Brit crime series focusing on three men involved in a bungled armed robbery – the Criminal, the Inspector and the Lawyer and played…
Rumpole of the Bailey (TV Series)Rumpole of the Bailey (TV Series) (1978-1992) Recommended
Dir. Herbert Wise
Feat. Leo McKern, Peter Bowles, Patricia Hodge
The much–loved series in which Leo McKern portrayed the rumpled lawyer – created by playwright Sir John Mortimer – who attacks his…
American Film Theatre - The Man in the Glass BoothAmerican Film Theatre - The Man in the Glass Booth (1975)
Dir. Arthur Hiller
Feat. Maximilian Schell, Lois Nettleton, Lawrence Pressman
Another intense, performance based entrant in the American Film Theatre series, with Schell playing a wealthy Jewish industrialist who survived the…
Conduct UnbecomingConduct Unbecoming (1975)
Dir. Michael Anderson
Feat. Michael York, Richard Attenborough, Trevor Howard
Well–made, though somewhat old–fashioned version of Barry England's play about misbehaviour among the British Army in India. The stars…
QB VII (TV Mini-Series)QB VII (TV Mini-Series) (1974)
Dir. Tom Gries
Feat. Ben Gazzara, Anthony Hopkins, Leslie Caron
A multiple Emmy–winning adaptation of the novel by Leon Uris (best known for "Exodus") detailing the gripping court battle between a…
Kojak Collection, TheKojak Collection, The (The Marcus-Nelson Murders, The Belarus File, The Price of Justice) (1973-1987) Recommended
Dir. Joseph Sargent, Robert Markowitz, Alan Metzger
Feat. Telly Savalas, Marjoe Gortner, Jose Ferrer
Telly Savalas stars as the tough but witty sleuth who became a small screen icon in the 1970's. This set features the three feature–length TV…
Crown Court (TV Series)Crown Court (TV Series) (1972)
"Water cooler" British courtroom drama that used fictional cases, but presented them before a jury comprised of members of the actual public. Cases…
Bloody Judge, TheBloody Judge, The (Trono di fuoco, Il) (1970)
Dir. Jess Franco
Feat. Christopher Lee, Maria Schell, Leo Genn
More lavish than the usual fare of horror dir. Franco, here telling the tale of a corrupt witchfinder (Lee) in 16th century England, based around the…
Madame XMadame X (1966)
Dir. David Lowell Rich
Feat. Lana Turner, John Forsythe, Ricardo Montalban
Sudsy melodrama with Turner as a woman with a past who's dalliance with a wealthy politician leads to murder. Superior weepie, lushly mounted and…
King and CountryKing and Country (1964) Recommended
Dir. Joseph Losey
Feat. Dirk Bogarde, Tom Courtenay, Leo McKern
Earnest, expertly acted drama in which a detached army lawyer (Dirk Bogarde) attempts to defend a working–class deserter (Tom Courtenay) during…
Murder Most FoulMurder Most Foul (1964)
Dir. George Pollock
Feat. Margaret Rutherford, Ron Moody, Charles Tingwell
Fourth and final film in the Agatha Christie/MGM set. Rutherford appears again as Miss Marple, defiant as the only member of a jury who believes the…
To Kill a MockingbirdTo Kill a Mockingbird (1962) Recommended
Dir. Robert Mulligan
Feat. Gregory Peck, Mary Badham
Moving adaptation stars Gregory Peck in an Oscar–winning performance as the genial lawyer who defends an innocent Negro accused of rape in the…
Trial and ErrorTrial and Error (The Dock Brief) (1962)
Dir. James Hill
Feat. Peter Sellers, Richard Attenborough, Beryl Reid
Sellers plays a washed–up barrister who must represent wife–murderer Attenborough, who insists upon his guilt. This is ignored by Sellers…
Judgement at NurembergJudgement at Nuremberg (1961)
Dir. Stanley Kramer
Feat. Spencer Tracy, Burt Lancaster, Maximilian Schell
Dramatisation of the trial of the Nazi judges at Nuremberg, facing the patient integrity of Judge Spencer Tracy. Epic, gripping courtroom drama, with…
Town Without PityTown Without Pity (1961)
Dir. Gottfried Reinhardt
Feat. Kirk Douglas, Robert Blake, Richard Jaeckel
Bitter legal drama with Kirk Douglas defending four American soldiers charged with the gang rape of a young German woman. Somewhat sluggish in its…
Inherit the WindInherit the Wind (1960)
Dir. Stanley Kramer
Feat. Spencer Tracy, Fredric March, Gene Kelly
The Evolutionist vs Creationist debate is encapsulated in this courtroom recreation of the Monkey Trial of the 1920s (a Tennessee schoolteacher was…
Anatomy of a MurderAnatomy of a Murder (1959) Recommended
Dir. Otto Preminger
Feat. James Stewart, Lee Remick, Ben Gazzara
Smalltown lawyer James Stewart defends a man accused of murdering a suspected rapist. The shifting ambiguities of the case make this more a…
CompulsionCompulsion (1959)
Dir. Richard Fleischer
Feat. Dean Stockwell, Bradford Dillman, Orson Welles
As distinctive a rendition of the infamous Leopold–Loeb murder case as ROPE and SWOON, Dean Stockwell and Bradford Dillman playing the…
Young Philadelphians, TheYoung Philadelphians, The (1959)
Dir. Vincent Sherman
Feat. Paul Newman, Barbara Rush
Engaging drama with Paul Newman as an attorney of dubious background who defends an affluent friend in a murder trial while hussling his way into the…
Perry Mason (TV Series)Perry Mason (TV Series) (1957-1966) Recommended
Feat. Raymond Burr, William Hopper, William Talman
Benchmark legal drama series which turned star Raymond Burr into a television institution as the near–invincible criminal lawyer, Perry…
Time Without PityTime Without Pity (1957) Recommended
Dir. Joseph Losey
Feat. Michael Redgrave, Leo McKern, Ann Todd
Nervy noir has Michael Redgrave in top form as an alcoholic father racing against time to save his son from the gallows. Somewhat dated thriller…
Twelve Angry MenTwelve Angry Men (12 Angry Men) (1957) Aro Favourite
Dir. Sidney Lumet
Feat. Henry Fonda, Lee J. Cobb, Ed Begley
Henry Fonda holds–out on a unanimous jury who wish to convict an alleged murderer. A sweltering tension is worked up as he struggles to…
Witness for the ProsecutionWitness for the Prosecution (1957) Recommended
Dir. Billy Wilder
Feat. Tyrone Power, Marlene Dietrich, Charles Laughton
Tense courtroom thriller, with Tyrone Power in the dock, defended by Charles Laughton, and consoled by wife Marlene Dietrich. Agatha Christie's story…
Please Murder MePlease Murder Me (Please Murder Me!) (1956) Recommended
Dir. Peter Godfrey
Feat. Angela Lansbury, Raymond Burr, Dick Foran
Raymond Burr and Angela Lansbury square off in this tough–minded noir about a lawyers who successfully defends his client only to discover…
Tight SpotTight Spot (1955)
Dir. Phil Karlson
Feat. Ginger Rogers, Edward G. Robinson, Brian Keith
Tense crime melodrama in which Ginger Rogers is persuaded by attorney Edward G. Robinson to testify against her gangster boyfriend.
Place in the Sun, APlace in the Sun, A (1951) Recommended
Dir. George Stevens
Feat. Montgomery Clift, Elizabeth Taylor, Shelley Winters
Montgomery Clift excels as a penniless youth whose determination to win the heart of socialite Elizabeth Taylor (in her debut as an adult actress) is…
RashomonRashomon (1951) Recommended
Dir. Akira Kurosawa
Feat. Toshiro Mifune, Machiko Kyo, Masayuki Mori
The film that brought Kurosawa to the attention of the world, and an Oscar winner for Best Foreign Film. Four wildly varying perspectives on a…
Adam's RibAdam's Rib (1949) Recommended
Dir. George Cukor
Feat. Spencer Tracy, Katharine Hepburn
A bittersweet battle of the sexes in which married lawyers find themselves on opposite sides of an attempted murder case. High–brow romp was…
Purple Heart, ThePurple Heart, The (1944)
Dir. Lewis Milestone
Feat. Dana Andrews, Richard Conte, Farley Granger
Watchable flag–waver from WW2 depicts the show trial of a crew of American airmen (led by Andrews) who are shot down over Tokyo in 1944. Has…
Murder!Murder! (1930)
Dir. Alfred Hitchcock
Feat. Herbert Marshall, Edward Chapman, Miles Mander
Hitchcock's second talkie is a clever whodunnit in which a juror (Marshall) in the murder trial of a young woman decides to open his own…
Passion of Joan of ArcPassion of Joan of Arc (1928) Aro Favourite
Dir. Carl Dreyer
Feat. Renee Maria Falconetti, Eugene Silvain, Michel Simon
An intense recreation of Joan of Arc’s trial and sentence that qualifies as one of cinema’s most transcendental achievements. Consisting…

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