Character assassination (1963)

Movie
German title	Character assassination
Original title	Twilight of Honor
Country of production	United States
original language	English
Publishing year	1963
length	104 minutes
Age rating	FSK 16
Rod
Director	Boris Sagal
script	Henry Thinker
production	Irv Pearlberg , George Seaton
music	Johnny Green
camera	Philip H. Lathrop
cut	Hugh S. Fowler
occupation
Richard Chamberlain : David Mitchell Nick Adams : Ben Brown Claude Rains : Art Harper Joan Blackman : Susan Harper James Gregory : Norris Bixby Joey Heatherton . Laura Mae Brown Pat Buttram : Cole Clinton Jeanette Nolan : Amy Clinton Linda Evans : Alice Clinton Edgar Stehli : Judge Tucker James Bell : Charles Crispin George Mitchell : District Attorney Farish Don Barry : Judson Elliot

Character assassination (Original title: Twilight of Honor ) is an American film drama of Boris Sagal from 1963. The screenplay is based on the novel by Al Dewlen.

action

Cole Clinton, one of the most famous residents of Durango, New Mexico, was brutally murdered. Young attorney David Mitchell is appointed attorney for suspect Ben Brown. Mitchell first believes in Brown's guilt, but the written confession presented to him is in stark contrast to Brown's statements he made to Mitchell. Mitchell's only support comes from retired attorney Art Harper and his daughter Susan.

Politically ambitious prosecutor Norris Bixby refuses to call important witnesses to the stand. When Brown's wife Laura Mae is also not supposed to testify, Mitchell is convinced that Brown is the victim of an intrigue. With Harper's help, Mitchell finds out the truth. Brown shot Clinton when he surprised him in bed with his wife. The prosecution tries to get the murdered man's reputation and tries to dissuade Mitchell from his defensive tactics. However, the fact of adultery leaves the jury not guilty. Harper is pleased that his future son-in-law has proven himself an honorable lawyer.

background

The film premiered on October 18, 1963 in Chicago. It first appeared in German cinemas on February 6, 1964.

After his success as Dr. Kildare in the eponymous TV series was character assassination for Richard Chamberlain the first leading role in a movie.

Reviews

The lexicon of international film describes the film as "a court drama with a young Richard Chamberlain in the lead role, who creates his role in a multifaceted manner and ensures a certain amount of interest in the film". The conclusion of the film magazine Cinema was: "Pretty tricky, but without oomph."

Variety certified that the density of the script had been captured by the cunning and flexible direction. Bosley Crowther of the New York Times, on the other hand, saw the Perlberg-Seaton production as a standard, surprise-less court drama with a good Richard Chamberlain.

Awards

In 1964 Nick Adams was nominated for Best Supporting Actor and George W. Davis , Paul Groesse , Henry Grace and Hugh Hunt for Best Production Design / Black and White for an Oscar.

There was another nomination for Joey Heatherton for the Golden Globe for Best New Actress .

Web links

• Character assassination in the Internet Movie Database (English)
• Character assassination in the German dubbing files

Individual evidence

1. ↑ character assassination. In: Lexicon of International Films . Film service , accessed May 29, 2019 .  
2. ↑ See cinema.de
3. ↑ See Twilight of Honor . In: Variety , 1963.
4. ^ Bosley Crowther : Two Other Movies Make Their Debuts . In: The New York Times , November 14, 1963.