Directed by:
Fritz LangScreenplay:
Fritz LangCinematography:
Joseph RuttenbergComposer:
Franz WaxmanCast:
Sylvia Sidney, Spencer Tracy, Walter Abel, Bruce Cabot, Edward Ellis, Walter Brennan, Frank Albertson, George Walcott, Arthur Stone, Morgan Wallace (more)VOD (1)
Plots(1)
In Fritz Lang's first American film, a young engaged couple, Joe (Spencer Tracey) and Katherine (Sylvia Sydney), are saying a sad good bye, parting for as long as it will take them to save up enough money to start a life together. Eventually the day arrives when the two are to be reunited, but en-route to see Katherine, Joe is picked up by an ornery police officer in search of a kidnapper. Among bizarre extenuating circumstances and circumstantial evidence, all signs point to Joe as the culprit, and he is immediately taken to jail. The news of the kidnapper's capture spreads quickly through town, and soon an angry mob gathers outside the jail. The mob quickly becomes violent and burns down the jail with Joe apparently inside. Shortly thereafter, the real kidnapper is captured, and the local citizens fall under the scrutiny of the law, which accuses them of Joe's murder. (official distributor synopsis)
(more)Reviews (1)
I almost felt like Lang ran out of breath towards the end, and the finale isn't as strong as I would have liked, but it doesn't matter so much because what you're watching up until then is very powerful. Humanity is beautifully presented here as lying, violent, and unable to accept responsibility for its actions. This society is weird and, sadly, nothing has changed in 80 years.
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