Classic Courtroom Dramas.

My top 5 favorite courtroom dramas by some of the greatest actors in some of their best performances.

1. To Kill a Mockingbird(1962).
The film tells the story of a Alabama lawyer, Atticus Finch, defending a back man of the assault of a young white woman. One of Gregory Peck's best performances. Robert Duvall makes his film debut in a non-speaking role of Boo Radley. You will never forget the bigotry and hate that makes the film more compelling.

2. 12 Angry Men(1957).
What appears to be an open-and-shut case of a young Puerto Rican man accused of murdering his father. One juror sees things differently, played brilliantly by Henry Fonda, who is not comfortable making a decision without even debating his case, much to the frustration of the other jurors. Sidney Lumet, directs an all-star cast in this courtroom classic movie..

3. Witness for the Prosecution(1957).
A classic of courtroom suspense, this film keeps the viewer guessing right up to the very surprising end . Tyrone Power plays the prime suspect, in his final film, and Charles Laughton, who plays his defense attorney grabs the spotlight, with his performance, bringing a few smiles, to this serious film.. Based on the Agatha Christie novel.

4. Anatomy of a Murder(1959).
Jimmy Stewart plays a cleaver small-town attorney defending an army lieutenant who shoots a bar owner for allegedly raping his wife. Stewart gives a wonderful performance in this courtroom drama that maybe overlooked.

5. I Want To Live!(1958).
Susan Hayward plays a convicted prostitute who finds herself framed for murder and facing the death penalty. The film is based on the true story of Barbara Graham and journalist Ed Montgomery, who helped convict her then tries to save her. Susan Hayward, totally deserved the best actress Oscar she won for her role in the film..

Too Kill a Mocking Bird(1962).

To Kill a Mockingbird(1962). Drama film adaptation of Harper Lee's novel of the same name. Cast: Mary Badham and Gregory Peck.In 1995, the film was listed in the National Film Registry. It also ranks twenty-fifth on the American Film Institute's 10th anniversary list of the greatest American movies of all time, and #1 on AFI's list of best courtroom films. In 2003, AFI named Atticus Finch the greatest movie hero of the 20th century.This film marks the film debut of Robert Duvall, William Windom and Alice Ghostley.

The story is about Atticus Finch, a widowed small town lawyer and his two children who live a carefree life. They spend their time running the neighborhood, teasing eccentric Mrs. Dubose, and hanging out with their new little friend, who has BIG stories about Boo Radley, a mentally retarded neighbor whom they have never seen.

Soon there is big trouble for the town, Atticus agrees to defend Tom Robinson, who is accused of raping Mayella Ewell. The children find themselves defending their father against the taunts of their classmates. Even though Atticus proves Tom's innocence, the jury finds him guilty. In revenge against Atticus, Bob Ewell attacks the two children, but Boo Radley, who has secretly watched over the children comes to the rescue.

"To Kill a Mockingbird" has what I thought one of the most impressive child performances I have ever viewed. The scene in which Scout breaks up the lynch mob by identifying its individual members is a very powerful moment. One you may not soon forget.



Mary Badham, best known for her portrayal of Jean Louise 'Scout' Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird (1962), for which she was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. At the time, Badham (age 10) was the youngest actress ever nominated in this category. Mary Badham is the younger sister of film director John Badham. Badham had no prior film acting experience before being cast in To Kill a Mockingbird. The Oscar in her category went to another child actress, Patty Duke for The Miracle Worker. During filming, Badham became close to Gregory Peck and remained friends with him. Badham is also known for her performance in, The Bewitchin' Pool, the final episode of the original Twilight Zone series. She also performed in the films, Let's Kill Uncle and This Property Is Condemned. She also made a cameo opposite Keith Carradine for his film, Our Very Own. At present Badham is an art restorer and a college testing coordinator. Married to a school teacher, and the mother of two, she travels around the world sharing her experiences in the making of the film, To Kill a Mocking Bird.