Darrow

I read the book "Clarence Darrow: Attorney for the Damned" written by John A. Farrell, so I was somewhat excited to see a movie was made about him. Clarence Darrow was born in 1857 and was in his prime before the turn of the century. He would defend all types of unpopular characters including murderers, African-Americans, unions, and even evolution. He would also defend people because they had the means to pay him handsomely. He loved women and talking.

Of course, a movie is not going to be able to capture as much as a book (especially the 400 pager I read), yet I think the movie "Darrow" did a fair job.

Cannot praise this film enough, Kevin Spacey was brilliant. I had never heard of Clarence Darrow. What a man , he was a Charles Dickens, he showed the courts how to be merciful.

He changed so much of the laws , about black people , the union s etc . This is a must watch. First class film.

I am going to read up about his writings, and find out more about this fascinating person.

My husband and I were truly mesmerized , it captured the era. Its a shame they didn't make two films. What Darrow achieved was hardly touched on.

This is my all time favorite movie. You must help fight for those who are placed into the spots of weakness in our society. And death is never the answer!!!!! Even for the most hideous crimes. Forget Usual Suspects and American Beauty --this is Spacey at his best!! Mr Darrow was a man that fought for what we take for granted today in this country. Watch this movie and you will appreciate what we today see as common laws. A movie like this will help us never forget the pain and suffering people like Mr. Darrow were willing to endure to offer future generations a better life. I recently visited the poor villages of a third world country and this movie came to mind as I saw many people who live without basic protections from exploitation. It is movie choices like this that have made me a Spacey Fan for life. Jackie

I was in this movie in Pittsburgh; unfortunately, I loaned my copy, that I had made off of PBS, and the guy, Richard Swope did not return it. Would someone have a copy I could buy or copy? lfo1920220@aol.com. Me and my buddy took a walk before the convention and went down to the subway, and on the way the sign said extras report here; so we were in.

Wow, a Spacey film with no reviews. I picked this one up from a pirate seller here in Shanghai. It's pretty good. It's got that made-for-TV feel, which is a bit distracting, but with its obviously modest budget it turns in a decent performance -- though the voice-over by the protagonist's son is largely superfluous.

Spacey plays (the historical) Clarence Darrow, who turns from a meek early 20thC corporate lawyer into a champion of justice for the poor and downtrodden. Spacey nicely captures Darrow's growing surety and nuanced reaction to his growing fame. The resulting break-up of Darrow's marriage, however, is dealt with somewhat incoherently, though the aftermath of the break-up is tackled with more gusto.

The surrounding cast turn in a workmanlike performance, though there's a hint of evil-baron-twirling-moustache to some of the villains, and too much `ard -working `onesty to the poor folk (sort of Goody Blake and Harry Gill)

Darrow's rise was followed by a sharp fall; this too is covered pretty well. But his most famous case, The Scopes Trial, which was the one I most wanted to see (Spacey getting his teeth into the absurd christians) is not covered, merely voiced by his son. I'm not sure if that's a cop-out or quite admirable (cf. the son's voice-over ``The Scopes Trial, the one which everyone remembers him for..'').

Thus the film closes with Darrow's return to notoriety, trying to save a pair of murders the death sentence. This calls for the lawyer-film favorite, the barnstormer speech. It's a trope ripe for melodrama, but Spacey sees the trap and sidesteps it. The make-up (Darrow's now elderly) is a bit ropey, it's true -- but that's no impediment to the actor. None of your cocksure lawyer here; he's half-broken, half-unsure, passionate but querulous. Nor is the speech wrapped up in a couple of paragraphs; it's a lengthy, judicious affair, Spacey dominating the scene entirely.

In all, well worth a punt.