John Sawyer, once an eminent barrister, has slid into a life of cynicism and drunkenness since his wife left him. When his daughter's boyfriend is accused of murder, Sawyer decides to try to pull himself together and defend him in court.
James Mason
John Sawyer
Geraldine Chaplin
Angela Sawyer
Bobby Darin
Barney Teale
Paul Bertoya
Jo Christoforides
Ian Ogilvy
Desmond Flower
Bryan Stanion
Peter Hawkins
Pippa Steel
Sue Phillips
Clive Morton
Col. Flower
Moira Lister
Mrs. Flower
James Hayter
Harry Hawkins
Megs Jenkins
Mrs. Christoforides
Lisa Daniely
Diana Sawyer
Marjie Lawrence
Brenda
Michael Danvers-Walker
Chelham
Ivor Dean
Insp. Colder
Yootha Joyce
Shooting Range Girl
John Henderson
Old Clerk
Toni Palmer
Doorwoman
Sheila White
Hazel (uncredited)
Rita Webb
Mrs. Plaskett (uncredited)
Victor Harrington
Singing Party Guest (uncredited)
Julian Orchard
Policeman (uncredited)
Fred Wood
Protester Against Execution (uncredited)
Director, Screenplay
Pierre Rouve
Novel
Georges Simenon
August 28, 2023
6
This is an odd choice of Simenon novel to adapt into a film. It provides for a good role for James Mason as the drunkard solicitor "Sawyer" - a bright, intelligent operator who has hits the skids somewhat after his wife abandoned him, and he became oddly estranged from his daughter "Angela" (an effective, almost aloof Geradine Chaplin), with whom he shares a home. Otherwise, the rest of the roles are weak, wet even. When her boyfriend "Jo" (Paul Bertoya) is accused of a murder, "Sawyer" determines to raise his game and defend the young man. To be fair, this is a small tour de force for the star, who does deliver well. The rest of the story borders on the facile. The collective surrounding "Angela" - a bunch of wealthy no-hope wasters with Bobby Darin and a very dapper looking Ian Ogilvy, are thoroughly disengaging and but for a suitably grumpy performance from James Hayter as chief magistrate "Hawkins" one could reasonably be forgiven for reaching for the fast forward button. The ending, doubtless a superlative piece of deduction from Mason is almost irrelevant - by this point I really couldn't care less about any of the characters and, indeed, may well have reached for a glass myself (it's not yet 10am, so perhaps not!). At best it's a mediocre short story that has little enough to sustain it for the viewer, sorry.
Status:
Released
Original Language:
English
Budget:
$0.00
Revenue:
$0.00