The Verdict (1946)
Genre: Crime
Duration: 86 minuten
Country:
United States
Directed by: Don Siegel
Stars: Sydney Greenstreet, Peter Lorre and Joan Lorring
IMDb score:
7,2 (3.259)
Releasedate: 23 November 1946
The Verdict plot
London, 1890. Scotland Yard Inspector George Edward Grodman has sentenced an innocent man to death and must now resign. Bitterly, he appeals to his friend and artist Victor Emmric to compromise his successor, the detested John Buckley. Based on the novel "The Big Bow Mystery" by Israel Zangwill.
Actors and actresses
Supt. George Edward Grodman
Victor Emmric
Lottie Rawson
Supt. John R. Buckley
Mrs. Vicky Benson
Clive Russell
Rev. Holbrook
Arthur Kendall
Sir William Dawson
PC Warren
Reviews & comments
otherfool
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- 18537 messages
- 3404 votes
Mediocre whodunit despite the big names. The surprise ending is actually a bit much.
2.5*.
Translated from Dutch · View original
Bobbejaantje
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- 2301 messages
- 2092 votes
The Verdict is set in Victorian London in 1890, constantly shrouded in fog, with gloomy streetlamps as the only bright spots. And that sets the mood. This debut film by Don Siegel is a superb crime film. His direction makes it clear that he's not aiming for mediocrity but, from the outset, wants to squeeze every last drop out of it for the sake of the story. He's assisted in this by (top) cinematographer Ernest Haller, who can truly make his mark in gaslit London, masterfully playing with light and shadow in backstreets, stairwells, and bourgeois salons. With an excellent screenplay that captivated me from start to finish, suspense, and the occasional touch of humor.
Besides being a Don Siegel film, it's a Sidney Greenstreet-Peter Lorre vehicle, and in that respect too, it's a smash hit. Both their distinctive qualities are fully realized in their respective roles, with George Coulouris and Paul Cavanagh as understated counterparts. Joan Lorring plays the music hall girl and treats us to a fun song and outfit, for which she's very grateful.
Conclusion: A Gothic masterpiece that showcases the qualities of everyone involved, and even ends with a bang.
Translated from Dutch · View original
Collins
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- 7346 messages
- 4345 votes
The directorial debut of Don Siegel, who would later make a splash with films like Dirty Harry and Escaño from Alcatraz. The Verdict is a murder mystery set against an atmospheric London backdrop. London in the late 19th century. A Victorian setting. Wisps of fog drift through the gloomy London streets, dimly lit by gaslights. On the streets, people wear top hats and carry canes. They travel by horse-drawn carriage, a mode of transport that roars along the cobblestone streets. In the event of an emergency, a police officer blows a whistle. In short, there's a delightfully clichéd setting. Hollywood par excellence.
Starring Sydney Greenstreet and Peter Lorre, giants of the 1940s silver screen. Greenstreet plays the washed-up and aggrieved inspector. Lorre plays the bon vivant and provides a touch of levity. Excellent actors. The story is enjoyable to follow and manages to create a layer of suspense. There are plenty of candidates to be identified as the perpetrator, and it's fun to puzzle out how a murder can be committed when the room where it happens is locked from the outside and the keys are inside the lock. The 86-minute running time is manageable. It also has a happy ending. The final revelation about the perpetrator may not be entirely convincing, but it is a pleasant surprise.
Translated from Dutch · View original
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