The Verdict (1946 film)

The Verdict
theatrical release poster
Directed by	Don Siegel
Produced by	William Jacobs
Screenplay by	Peter Milne
Based on	The Big Bow Mystery (novel) by Israel Zangwill
Starring	Sydney Greenstreet Peter Lorre
Music by	Frederick Hollander
Cinematography	Ernest Haller
Edited by	Thomas Reilly
Distributed by	Warner Bros.
Release dates	November 23, 1946 (1946-11-23) (US)
Running time	86 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

The Verdict is a 1946 film noir mystery drama directed by Don Siegel and written by Peter Milne, based on Israel Zangwill's 1892 novel The Big Bow Mystery. It stars Sydney Greenstreet and Peter Lorre in one of their nine film pairings, as well as Joan Lorring and George Coulouris. The Verdict was Siegel's first full-length feature film.

Plot

George Edward Grodman, a respected superintendent at Scotland Yard in 1890, makes a mistake in an investigation that causes the execution of an innocent man. He takes the blame for his error, is dismissed from his position as superintendent and replaced by the obnoxious and gloating John Buckley.

Soured by the turn of events, Grodman sets out to make Buckley look too inept to perform his new job. He enlists the aid of his macabre artist friend, Victor Emmric, and when a mysterious murder occurs, they realize their chance to ruin Buckley may have arrived.

Cast

Sydney Greenstreet as Superintendent George Edward Grodman
Peter Lorre as Victor Emmric
Joan Lorring as Lottie Rawson
George Coulouris as Superintendent John R. Buckley
Rosalind Ivan as Mrs. Vicky Benson

Paul Cavanagh as Clive Russell
Arthur Shields as Reverend Holbrook
Russell Lowry as Arthur Kendall
Holmes Herbert as Sir William Dawson
Clyde Cook as Barney Cole

Reception

Bosley Crowther in The New York Times was unimpressed: "It is rather hard to figure just what the Warners saw in this antique mystery story other than roles for Sydney Greenstreet and Peter Lorre. But even those are of slight consequence. ... Neither gentleman approaches his assignment with apparent satisfaction or zest. Mr. Greenstreet is puffier than usual, and Mr. Lorre more disinterested and wan. In the end, after various turns and skirmishes uninspiredly aimed to baffle and disturb, they both seem entirely willing to call quits."^[1] Variety wrote, "Stock mystery tale with period background, The Verdict aims at generating suspense and thrills, succeeding modestly."^[2]

References

↑ Bosley Crowther "Movie Review: The Verdict (1946)", New York Times, December 13, 1946
↑ "Review: ‘The Verdict’". Variety. 1946. Retrieved April 8, 2015.

External links

The Verdict at the Internet Movie Database
The Verdict at AllMovie
The Verdict at the TCM Movie Database

Films directed by Don Siegel

Star in the Night (1945)
Hitler Lives (1945)
The Verdict (1946)
Night Unto Night (1949)
The Big Steal (1949)
The Duel at Silver Creek (1952)
No Time for Flowers (1952)
Count the Hours (1953)
China Venture (1953)
Riot in Cell Block 11 (1954)
Private Hell 36 (1954)
The Blue and Gold (1955)
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)
Crime in the Streets (1956)
Spanish Affair (1957)
Baby Face Nelson (1957)
The Lineup (1958)
The Gun Runners (1958)
Edge of Eternity (1959)
Hound-Dog Man (1959)
Flaming Star (1960)
Hell Is for Heroes (1962)
The Killers (1964)
The Hanged Man (1964)
Stranger on the Run (1967)
Madigan (1968)
Coogan's Bluff (1968)
Death of a Gunfighter (1969)
Two Mules for Sister Sara (1970)
The Beguiled (1971)
Dirty Harry (1971)
Charley Varrick (1973)
The Black Windmill (1974)
The Shootist (1976)
Telefon (1977)
Escape from Alcatraz (1979)
Rough Cut (1980)
Jinxed (1982)

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