Illegal (1955)
Director: Lewis Allen
Starring: Edward G Robinson, Nina Foch, Hugh Marlowe
Synopsis:
A district attorney, plagued by guilt for sending an innocent man to the chair, becomes a defense attorney with a reputation for getting his clients off the hook no matter who they are.
Impressions:
This is very much Edward G Robinson's movie. The rest of the cast do their part well enough, but it's his performance that makes this film memorable. It's got a good premise, a crack DA who's never lost a case finds out he got the wrong man convicted (said man being portrayed by DeForest Kelley, Star Trek fans), then he sinks into alcoholic depression before turning things around and becoming an equally ruthless defense attorney, somewhat misplacing his moral compass along the way. That is, until the third act turnabout. All told, I liked it and I think you will too, especially if you're a fan of Edward G Robinson.
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