The Tattered Dress

directed by Jack Arnold
Category: "Drama"
Year of Release:1957
Date Added:09/10/2024
Date Watched:09/10/2024
Description:When a rich guy murders a bartender for fooling around with his wife, hot-shot lawyer James Blane (Jeff Chandler), known for getting acquittals for mobsters, is called in to defend the guy. He succeeds, largely by discrediting the testimony of Sheriff Nick Hoak (Jack Carson). But Hoak has a backup plan — he claims that Blane bribed juror Carol Morrow (Gail Russell). Blane himself is put on trial. Carol claims that Blane gave him $5,000, money Blane really lost at a crooked card game set up by Hoak. Blane's estranged wife, Diane (Jeanne Crain) comes to town to support him. Blane attempts to defend himself but gets too emotionally involved and blows it with the witness testimony of both Hoke and Carol. But in his closing statement, he challenges the jury to decide if they want the admittedly imperfect justice of the courtroom or the street justice of Hoak. The jury acquits Blane. Hoak is about to shoot him on the courthouse steps, but Carol, her reputation destroyed by the sheriff, shoots him first. Blane gets back together with Diane.
My Rating:8

Reviews for The Tattered Dress

Review - Tattered Dress, The

Overly dramatic in spots and a bit preachy, but I enjoyed it. Carson was good as the sleazy sheriff/political boss. Crain was lovely but under-used as the suffering wife. Russell was well on her way to pickling herself with alcohol by this point in her career and looked it.
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