In a small southern town in the 1960s, a black man awaits trial for murdering the two rednecks who viciously raped his 10-year-old daughter. A young, idealistic white lawyer takes up the father's defense, and the incendiary case becomes a firestorm of racism and controversy, ripping the town apart. Based on John Grisham's bestselling first novel.
This adaptation of John Grisham's bestseller takes place in the small town of Canton, Mississippi, where two White rednecks kidnap, rape and savagely beat a young Black girl. The men are caught, but the child's deeply enraged father, Carl Lee Hailey, takes justice into his own hands by killing the thugs himself at the courthouse.
Now Carl Lee Hailey is the one on trial, a highly controversial and fiery proceeding that begets numerous racial issues and incidents, some involving the Ku Klux Klan and the NAACP. At the center of this storm is White lawyer Jake Brigance, who not only faces an all-White jury, but personal attacks on his life should he win the case. Brigance, Hailey and Ellen Roark, a rich law student aiding Jake, face a tough road ahead of them, one that will change their lives forever.
Released theatrically in the USA July 24, 1996.
Co-produced by Monarchy Enterprises B.V.
Color by Technicolor; in Panavision Widescreen and SDDS (Sony Dynamic Digital Sound).
Additional cast: Doug Hutchison (Pete Willard); Byron Jennings (Brent Musgrove) and Tonea Stewart (Gwen Hailey).
Additional credits: Richard Toyon (art direction); Keith P. Cunningham and Maya Shimoguchi (set design).
Filmed on location in Mississippi.
Rated BBFC 15 by the British Board of Film Classification.
Copyright 1996 Warner Bros., Monarchy Enterprises B.V. and Regency Entertainment (USA), Inc.
DVD Features:
Region 1
Snap Case
Anamorphic Widescreen - 2.35
Letterbox - 2.35
Audio:
Dolby Digital 5.1 - English
Dolby Digital 5.1 - French
Additional Release Material:
Trailers: Original Theatrical Trailer
Interactive Features:
Scene Access
Interactive Meuns
Text/Photo Galleries:
Production Notes
Story
John Grisham: Best-selling Novelist
Production Manager/UPM
Bill Johnson: Producer (many roles), Production Manager, began in '90s
Review 1:
"...McConaughey does an impeccable movie-star turn..."
Source: Los Angeles Times
p.F1 07/24/1996
Review 2:
"...The most satisfying of the John Grisham screen adaptations to date....Well served by a stellar cast....In the film's most riveting performance, Jackson capitalizes on his role's potent dramatic opportunities..."
Source: Variety
07/15/1996
Review 3:
"...Plenty of enjoyable turns....Casting McConaughey in the lead certainly pays off..."
Source: Sight and Sound
p.54-5 10/01/1996
Review 4:
"...[McConaughey] is dynamite in a performance of smarts, sexiness, scrappy humor and unmistakable star sizzle..."
Source: Rolling Stone
p.68-70 08/08/1996
Review 5:
"...Handsome..."
Source: USA Today
p.10B 07/24/1996
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