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Movie Info & Details
Release Year1937
Runtime1h 12m
LanguageEnglish
CertificationNR
GenresCrime, Drama
Votes9
DirectorGeorge Nichols Jr.
WritersGeorge Nichols Jr.
TypeFeature Film
Rating5.8 out of 10
Cast10 credited
Also Known AsPortia on Trial
About Portia on Trial
Lady lawyer Portia Merryman defends woebegone Elizabeth Manners, who is on trial for shooting her lover Earle Condon. Ironically, Portia herself had once had a relationship with Earle Condon, but Earle's father, powerful publisher John Condon, forced them apart. She has a pretty good idea of what is going on in Elizabeth's head, since she herself was on the verge of killing Earle Condon when his father ruthlessly took custody of her illegitimate son. As Portia toils and strains to free her client, she carries on a romance with Dan Foster -- the attorney for the prosecution. LA Law and The Practice have nothing on this one!
Directed by George Nichols Jr., Portia on Trial leans on a strong ensemble — Walter Abel, Frieda Inescort, Neil Hamilton — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.
The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about crime titles of 1937.
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