Beyond a Reasonable Doubt

Beyond a Reasonable Doubt (1956)

Genres - Drama  |   Sub-Genres - Film Noir, Courtroom Drama, Crime Drama, Psychological Drama  |   Release Date - Sep 5, 1956 (USA)  |   Run Time - 80 min.  |   Countries - United States  |   MPAA Rating - NR
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Synopsis by Hal Erickson

Crusading publisher Austin Spenser (Sidney Blackmer) wants to prove a point about the insufficiency of circumstantial evidence. Spencer talks his prospective son-in-law Tom Garrett (Dana Andrews) into participating in a hoax, the better to expose the alleged ineptitude of conviction-happy DA (Philip Bourneuf). Tom will plant clues indicating that he is the murderer of a nightclub dancer, then stand trial for murder; just as the jury reaches its inevitable guilty verdict, Spencer will step forth to reveal the set-up and humiliate the DA. Somewhat surprisingly, Tom eagerly agrees to this subterfuge. Unfortunately, an unforeseen event renders their perfectly formed scheme useless. Beyond a Reasonable Doubt was the last American film of director Fritz Lang.

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Keywords

hoax, murder, District-Attorney, evidence-circumstantial, justice, trial [courtroom], nightclub, publisher