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The Paradine Case

The Paradine Case

  • Status: Released
  • 31-12-1947
  • Runtime: 114 min
  • Score: 6.2
  • Vote count: 238

Attorney Anthony Keane agrees to represent Londonite Mrs. Paradine, who has been fingered in her husband's murder. From the start, the married lawyer is drawn to the enigmatic beauty, and he begins to cast about for a way to exonerate his client. Keane puts the Paradine household servant on the stand, suggesting he is the killer. But Keane soon loses his way in the courtroom, and his half-baked plan sets off a stunning chain of events.

Gregory Peck

Anthony Keane

Ann Todd

Gay Keane

Alida Valli

Mrs. Paradine

Charles Laughton

Judge Lord Thomas Horfield

Charles Coburn

Sir Simon Flaquer

Ethel Barrymore

Lady Sophie Horfield

Louis Jourdan

Andre Latour

Leo G. Carroll

Sir Joseph

Joan Tetzel

Judy Flaquer

Isobel Elsom

Innkeeper

Harry 'Snub' Pollard

Cabby (uncredited)

Kenner G. Kemp

Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)

Colin Kenny

Juror (uncredited)

Bert Stevens

Barrister in Courtroom (uncredited)

Arthur Tovey

Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)

Sam Harris

Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)

CinemaSerf

Gregory Peck is "Keane", a happily married London barrister who is called to defend a woman accused of murdering her wealthy, blind husband. Alida Valli (simply Valli in the titles) is the accused, a glamorous woman who simply reeks of gold-digger right from the start and with Leo G. Carroll leading the prosecution and a wonderfully curmudgeonly Charles Laughton as the High Court judge, you sense the writing is already on the wall for the women. Peck struggles in the role, to be honest, he lacks incisiveness - he is just a bit too "nice". When he discovers that it's possible that she had been having an affair with then old man's valet - a dashing Louis Jourdan - he seems torn between a sense of envy (he is clearly smitten) and a desire to secure a fair hearing and at times that drags this into melodrama territory. The courtroom scenes are all to frequently broken up by domestic issues - even Laughton and put-upon wife Ethel Barrymore as well as Peck with loving, and herself slightly envious, "Gay" (Ann Todd). For me, it is trying to accomplish too many things and ends up not really doing anything spectacular with Richard Hichens far more spicy and potent novel.