Gideon's Trumpet

In another review, I stated that the "Hallmark Hall of Fame" series was never as good during the last twenty years or so as it had been during its glorious days in the 1950's and '60's. There was one brilliant exception, however, and this is it. "Gideon's Trumpet" can stand up proudly alongside all the other "Hall of Fame" episodes of the past as one of the finest made-for TV films ever made.

It tells the true story of Clarence Earl Gideon, an ex-convict who, in the early 1960's, was accused of breaking into and robbing a convenience store in Florida. Claiming innocence, he was forced to serve as his own lawyer because states' laws at that time did not require an accused person to be automatically given a lawyer. Failing miserably at his own defense, he was sent to prison, where, as a model prisoner, he studied up on law and petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court for the right to be granted a lawyer.

This phrase has already become a cliché from overuse, but Henry Fonda, in one of his last performances, does not play Clarence Gideon--he IS Clarence Gideon. He inhabits the role so completely that we never believe we are watching Henry Fonda; we believe we are seeing a poor, inarticulate, awkward, somewhat cranky, but basically kind man named Clarence Gideon. Fonda utterly lives the role in a way that he seldom does in his other films (although he was an excellent actor).

The other actor who gives a memorable performance is José Ferrer, as Abe Fortas, who pleads Fonda's petition before the Supreme Court. As Fortas, Ferrer gets to do one of the things he does best, and which he had not done to my knowledge since playing "Cyrano de Bergerac"--deliver a long, impressive speech. I don't know how much of the speech was actually taken from the Court hearing and how much was written by the excellent screenwriters, but there are few things as satisfying as an actor who not only gives a great performance, but also delivers a long speech beautifully. The thrill of hearing Ferrer's rich, beautiful voice argue a case before the Supreme Court is enough reason for me to tune in to this film every time it is shown on TV.

There is also a cameo from Fay Wray, as Fonda's longtime landlady, and the other Justices of the Court, all of whom are also excellent, consist of such familiar faces as John Houseman, Sam Jaffe, Dean Jagger, and other familiar character actors from television.

This great production might strike some viewers brought up only on action films as boring--there is no action at all in it; it's like watching a filmed play--but, believe me, there is not a single boring moment in it, if you appreciate well-written characters and dialogue. And this film avoids all of the drippy sentiment that has plagued "Hallmark Hall of Fame" over the last six years or so. If only this anthology series had stayed on the level of "Gideon's Trumpet".

The historic value of this movie is awesome. Yes I recommend it. James Welch Henderson Arkansas 8/26/21.

Watching this flick I kept mulling over how many actors had played lawyers in other movies. Let's see. Lane Smith, of course, in "My Cousin Vinnie" (and "Nixon," I guess), John Houseman in "The Paper Trail," Dean Jagger in "Twelve O'Clock High," Jose Ferrer in "The Caine Mutiny" and "Blood and Orchids," and probably others that I've missed. I kept waiting for E. G. Marshall and John Williams to pop up. Henry Fonda, certainly, brought resonance to his role as well. He was the unjustly convicted Manny Balistrero in "The Wrong Man." And he, too, was a lawyer in "Young Mr. Lincoln."

This is pretty well done, both technically and thematically. It's an important story and is refreshingly free of stereotypes. The Florida court that convicts Fonda of burglary is a just one and operates under the law, as it then existed. And Fonda is no rabble rousing spokesman for the little man either. He's been in prison 5 times before, for crimes such as burglary and "possession of government property." (I'd like to hear more about that.) He's not doing this so that "all men will be free" or any of that bunkum. He's doing it because he's angry at having been denied a lawyer simply because he couldn't afford one.

As he labors over the law books in the prison library, he shows concern only over the fate of one other inmate, a black guy. This is one of those instances in which the story looks a little corny. Here, and where the writers give Clarence Earl Gideon the charisma of Cool Hand Luke with the other prisoners, an increasing number of them, following him back and forth to the mailbox and the warden's office and cheering loudly when the Supreme Court agrees to his request. (I don't believe they cheered for another man's success; I don't believe the writers ever met an inmate or saw the inside of a penitentiary.)

The production had a bit of a problem with the focus puller too. But, that aside, this is really pretty instructive. The Supreme Court evidently agreed to review his case not because they felt sorry for him but because they felt ready for a change in the existing rules about due process. Gideon was the right man in the right place. Luck had a lot to do with his success. Equally interesting is Fonda's performance. He was never a ham and was always minimally expressive. It works here because Gideon is played as a grouchy, angry, taciturn loner who minds his own business. A lesser script would have made him bombastic and articulate but this Gideon stumbles over words while reading aloud. The scene in which Fonda chokes up when he receives the news from Abe Fortas about the Court agreeing to review his case is as moving as it is because Fonda underplays it.

Dare I suggest that in this film, playing a skinny, tattooed, unfriendly convict, he does a better job than he did in his convict's role in Hitchcock's movie? Or even that this is one of his best performances, period? The photography and locations are pretty good too. The stale, almost empty courtroom during Fonda's trial, the silence and boredom of all involved, rather match the almost sensible heat of the Florida summer and the interiors baking under the sun.

Lane Smith, as Fonda's counselor in his retrial, is simply great -- sneaky and dark, almost villainous in the glee with which he attacks the prosecution's witnesses and frees Fonda. What a contrast to his performance as the affable prosecutor in "My Cousin Vinnie." Hallmark Productions are often soporific or -- let me say -- family oriented, but this one makes a few demands on a viewer, all for the good. Watch it if you have the chance. It doesn't seem to be on very often.

This movie is slow moving but fascinating. The scenes with the Supreme Court held my attention, as their deliberations are something we seldom see. Henry Fonda is a pleasure to watch, in his portrayal of Clarence Gideon who petitioned the Supreme Court to allow indigent defendants to have a court-appointed attorney. It was a landmark case which is too little known. Mr. Fonda manages to make his role sympathetic while remaining a touch irascible, uncommunicative, and focused on his self-appointed task.

This is a movie which should be seen by more Americans.

The real story of Clarence Earl Gideon was published in part on the famous The New Yorker Magazine and later into a book wrote by Anthony Lewis, the case had enormous impact in the media in 1963 due he got his case be overhauled over a hand-written letter sent to US Supreme Court, his petition is about he was sentenced to five years jail for a small felony without a council on courthouse in Florida which he could afford, after exhaustive studies on many Book's law Gideon finds out the answer for his case on US constitution according every person has a right to be a fair trial, under this premise US Supreme Court by unanimous granted to Gideon another trial with council on Courthouse, this was a hallmark for all case hereinafter.

Clarence Earl Gideon had a hard times with his parents on tender age, the egocentric boy was sent to reformatory on teenager years, aftermaths committed a small robbery of clothes, being arrested for first time, along these years just one time more on small burglary and even larceny were carried out by the troublesome Clarence, after his three marriages whereof he had children, he went to straight having a normal life when he was appointed by a witness of robbery of bottle of wine and broken a jukebox machine coins quarter at pool hall and beer bar, on Courthouse without any council he was sentenced in five years prison, anyway as above stays clear Clarence Earl Gideon wasn't a righteous citizen whatsoever, although he deserves a proper support from the state anyhow.

The heavyweight casting is another highlight as Henry Fonda playing a deep in thought Clarence, José Ferrer in very convincing acting, what a voice, John Houseman, William Prince, Sam Jaffe, Dean Jagger, Ford Rainey as Supreme Court members, the still young Lane Smith as defense attorney and the unforgettable Fay Wray on last appearance on a movie as landlady of Clarence Earl Gideon, rare movie to find out, just free in Youtube no subtitled at all.

Thanks for reading

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First watch: 1984 / How many: 2 / Source: TV-Youtube / Rating: 8.