Home / Gideon's Trumpet

Gideon's Trumpet

Year:

1980

Duration:

104 min

Genres:

Drama | History

IMDB rate:

7.3

Director:

Robert L. Collins

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Primetime Emmys.

Details

Country: USA

Release Date: 1980-04-30

Filming Locations: California Institution for Men - 14901 Central Avenue, Chino, California, USA

Cast

Actor

Character

David Clennon

Henry Fonda

Clarence Earl Gideon

José Ferrer

Abe Fortas

John Houseman

Chief Justice / Offscreen Narrator

Fay Wray

Edna Curtis

Sam Jaffe

1st Supreme Court Justice

Dean Jagger

Sixth Supreme Court Justice

Nicholas Pryor

Jacob

William Prince

5th Supreme Court Justice

Lane Smith

Fred Turner

Richard McKenzie

Judge Robert McCrary

Dolph Sweet

Charlie

Ford Rainey

2nd Supreme Court Justice

David Sheiner

Abe Krash

J. Patrick McNamara

Harris

Les Lannom

Bobby Earle

Malcolm Groome

John Ely

Allan Rich

Tobias Simon

Richard Lineback

Lester Wade

Michael Cavanaugh

Stocker

Paul Benjamin

Artis

Clifford A. Pellow

Justin Pike

Jerry Hardin

Sheriff Mel Cobb

Fredric Cook

Leo Stafford

Steven Peterman

Arthur Vitale

James O'Connell

Warden

Jon Locke

Supervisor

Gary Grubbs

Deputy Hamilton

Seamon Glass

Prison Guard

Gwen Van Dam

Mrs. Lawrence

James Brodhead

Court Crier

Edmund H. North

Supreme Court Justice

Emmet Lavery

Supreme Court Justice

Liam O'Brien

Supreme Court Justice

Don Draper

Bailiff

Henry Proach

Guard

Anthony Lewis

The Reporter

Timothy Scott

Toby

Herbert Benkman

8th Justice (uncredited)

Luther Fear

Convict with Gideon (uncredited)

Did you know?

Trivia

Fay Wray's final screen appearance.

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Henry Fonda played Barney Greenwald on stage in "The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial" in 1954, the same year that José Ferrer played the same role in The Caine Mutiny (1954).

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John Houseman's character is never identified by name, but historically, the Chief Justice at that time (1961) was Earl Warren.

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Goofs

In the first trial, when the bailiff is swearing in Lester Wade, he instructs him to "raise your right hand" [the audio of this is clipped]. However, Lester actually places his right hand on the bible and raises his left hand. On all other occasions in the movie, witnesses actually raise their right hands (and put their left hands on the bible) when being sworn in.

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After Gideon wins his second trial and leaves the courthouse a reporter asks him a question. As Gideon leaves the reporter scribbles something on his notebook. However the reporter's notebook is closed throughout the shot.

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In the filmography for Dean Jagger in the extras on the DVD, the picture of one of the other actors playing Supreme Court Justices has been substituted for his.

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Quotes

Abe Fortas: [discussing a person's right to have an adequate defense during a trial] What I'd like to say to the Court is: "Let's not talk; let's go down there and watch one of these fellows try to defend themselves".

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Abe Fortas: [summarizing his argument before the Supreme Court] I think Betts vs. Brady was wrong when it was decided. I think time has made that clear. And I think that the time has come that the correct rule, the civilized rule, the rule of individualism, the rule of due process must be stated by this Court.

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James Fitzpatrick: [referring to Jacob, who is about to argue before the Supreme Court for the very first time] Don't go feeling sorry for the poor son-of-a-bitch until we've won.

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