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How Can They Hear the Truth Above the Roar? Courtrooms of the Movies

By Sarah Carlson | Posted Under Seriously Random Lists | Comments (24)



Mockingbird.jpg

It’s sad that I can pinpoint — and I know I’m not alone — where I was during the various stages of the O.J. Simpson debacle. Of course, I was young and most of it is blurry. But I remember listening to the verdict on the radio in my drama class as students came back from lunch in sixth grade. Almost 16 years later, ask many Americans what they think about that case and they’ll have a strong opinion, and perhaps one about the Casey Anthony verdict, handed down Tuesday, too. We’re all armchair lawyers, and often our love-hate relationship with the judicial system becomes more sensational than the crimes and trials with which we’re obsessed. We just love a good show, but I’d rather stick to the courtrooms of the movies.

There have been plenty of riveting trial dramas throughout the years, most of which were adapted for the screen from other works, as well as comedies that have fun at our system’s expense. Some depict verdicts we can get behind; others don’t. But all have something to say about the pros and cons of the court. Here are 10 of my favorite (and some simply obligatory) scenes out of films regarding trials, from the silly to the serious.

What are yours?


“12 Angry Men” (1957)

“Judgment at Nuremberg” (1961)

“To Kill a Mockingbird” (1962)

“The Godfather: Part II” (1974)

The Godfather: Part II Senate Hearing
Tags: The Godfather: Part II Senate Hearing

“Kramer vs. Kramer” (1979)

“A Few Good Men” (1992)



“My Cousin Vinny” (1992)

“Philadelphia” (1993)

“A Time to Kill” (1996)

“Chicago” (2002)

Sarah Carlson has a front-row seat to the decline of the newspaper industry and lives in Alabama with her overly excitable Pembroke Welsh Corgi.









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Comments

Give 'em a fake and a finagle, how can they spot you're just a bageeeel

Damn, now I have that song in my head.

You posted all my favorites, but To Kill a Mockingbird rises above the rest. The scene as Atticus is walking out always makes me tear up.

Posted by: Figgy at July 6, 2011 2:14 PM

Ahem. THE VERDICT.

Posted by: PaddyDog at July 6, 2011 2:16 PM

Anyone here a fan of Inherit the Wind?

Posted by: Whalen at July 6, 2011 2:24 PM

Funny, just saw The Verdict a couple days ago for the first time. When it was over, I thought "Oh." The average Law and Order episode is more believable and compelling.

And... Liar Liar!

Posted by: Greedy at July 6, 2011 2:24 PM

"STAND UP, SCOUT. YOUR FATHER'S PASSIN'."

Oh, the tears.

Posted by: Internet Magpie at July 6, 2011 2:27 PM

Whalen, one here. Inherit the Wind is one of my all-time favorite courtroom movies. The verbal jabs traded by two men who liked each other privately but publicly advocated two completely oppposed viewpoints was always a great draw for me.

Posted by: The Wanderer at July 6, 2011 2:37 PM

No love for My Cousin Vinny? What about the yoots?

Posted by: Mrcreosote at July 6, 2011 2:45 PM

Never mind. Comment withdrawn.

Posted by: mrcreosote at July 6, 2011 2:46 PM

I love Inherit the Wind, The Devil vs. Daniel Webster and 12 Angry Men. I cite all three as my inspiration to study law. And my natural talent for programming as the reason I don't practice law :p

Posted by: lubeg at July 6, 2011 2:49 PM

The court room scene in Natural Born Killers.

I'm pretty sure it's a deleted scene...but anyway, it's fantastic.

Posted by: DeistBrawler at July 6, 2011 3:16 PM

The closing argument from "A Time to Kill" still gives me chills every time I see/hear it.

Posted by: Uncle JR at July 6, 2011 3:48 PM

I always forget how much I love A Time To Kill. Matthew McConnaughey (whatever) pretty much gets a lifetime pass for me for it.

Posted by: Linda at July 6, 2011 4:17 PM

In the Name of the Father. Both court scenes-when the Guildford Four are sentenced, and when Gerry Conlon, or the electrifyingly good Day-Lewis is released. These scenes make my hair stand on end, every time.

Posted by: Cadence at July 6, 2011 4:36 PM

12 Angry Men still holds up as one of the all-time greats for this 33-year old. Not just a courtroom drama but as pure film. It's magnificent.

Posted by: gunnertec at July 6, 2011 4:38 PM

My favorite courtroom drama is 12 Angry Men. However, I was oddly drawn to the courtroom elements of The Exorcism of Emily Rose. Something about a horror film that had the balls to say "it might be real, or it might be fake, and we won't tell you either way" really appealed to me.

Posted by: Robert at July 6, 2011 4:41 PM

Love, love, love A Few Good Men! Not only does it show a lot of phenomenal courtroom scenes, but it also shows the prep that goes into it, which I always found really interesting. One of my faves.

Posted by: noodlestein at July 6, 2011 5:26 PM

Posted by: gp at July 6, 2011 5:31 PM

A Time to Kill is one of my favorite movies.

Posted by: Melody at July 6, 2011 6:59 PM

...and Justice for All

Arthur Kirkland: That man is guilty! That man, there, that man is a slime! he is a *slime*! If he's allowed to go free, then something really wrong is goin' on here!
Judge Rayford: Mr. Kirkland you are out of order!
Arthur Kirkland: You're out of order! You're out of order! The whole trial is out of order! They're out of order! That man, that sick, crazy, depraved man, raped and beat that woman there, and he'd like to do it again! He *told* me so! It's just a show! It's a show! It's "Let's Make A Deal"! "Let's Make A Deal"! Hey Frank, you wanna "Make A Deal"? I got an insane judge who likes to beat the shit out of women! Whaddya wanna gimme Frank, 3 weeks probation?
Frank Bowers: *Dammit!*
Arthur Kirkland: [to Judge Fleming] You, you sonofabitch, you! You're supposed to *stand* for somethin'! You're supposed to protect people! But instead you rape and murder them!
[dragged out of court by bailiffs]
Arthur Kirkland: You killed McCullough! You killed him! Hold it! Hold it! I just completed my opening statement!

Posted by: LwoodPDowd at July 6, 2011 8:24 PM

The court scene in Miracle on 34th Street isn't very dramatic, but seeing all the letters to Santa piled up on the judge's bench make me tear up EVERY DAMN Christmas.

Posted by: courtsinsession at July 6, 2011 8:54 PM

The Hurricane.

Good > evil

Posted by: Will at July 6, 2011 11:06 PM

HELLO!? And Justice for All?! I'm out of order?! You're out of order!!

Posted by: Sarah J-Town at July 7, 2011 2:53 AM

i saw 12 angry men in highschool
my brother thinks the guy who bought the second knife commited the murder.
itook an insane amount of interest in the elizabeth smart trial

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