The Paradine Case

Plot synopsis:
The police arrest Maddalena Anna Paradine (Alida Valli) for poisoning her late husband, Col. Paradine. She claims innocence, and hires solicitor Sir Simon Flaquer (Charles Coburn) and barrister Anthony (a.k.a Tony) Keane (Gregory Peck, with an occasional British accent) as her defense team. Anthony Keane is very successful and happy at both his career and in his marriage with Gay (Anne Todd). Sir Flaquer and Keane have been friends for many years, and Gay considers Judy Flaquer (Joan Tetzel) her best friend. The presiding judge, Lord Thomas Horfield (Charles Laughton) and his wife, Lady Sophie (Ethel Barrymore) represent the legal and popular views about the case.Spoiler alert:During the pretrial period, Keane's affections changes, as he falls under Maddalena's spell, starting at their first meeting. Gay Keane realizes her husband has fallen for Mrs. Paradine. She confides in Judy, who advises her to confront Keane about this. But Gay refuses to leave or condemn him She knows he still loves and values her, because Keane has not chosen to leave, yet. In fact, Gay wants Mrs. Paradine to be acquitted so she can fight against a living woman instead of a lost love.The suspects narrow down to Maddalena or Andre LaTour (Louis Jourdan), Col Paradine's valet of many years. She claims to love her blind husband. Their marriage had no problems. Andre argued with Col. Paradine earlier that night, about an unknown subject, and was dismissed. There is great uncertainty in the motives and actions of many people that fateful evening. The butler brought Col Paradine that glass of brandy, something he rarely requested at bedtime. Maddalena claims to have laid out her husband's sleepwear but did not go near the brandy. Andre was pounding on Col Paradine's bedroom door, and saw Maddalena enter her room after he started. Andre said the brandy glass still had a few drops when he forced his way inside. However, the police found the brandy glass cleaned and wiped. Just before the trial starts, Andre warns Keane that Maddalena is evil and he hates her because she brought so much turmoil into their lives.As a defense witness, Andre claims that Col. Paradine dismissed him as his valet, but to be reassigned to some other household role. He did put down the Colonel's hunting dog last year, but claimed to have disposed of the poison at that time. The glass still contained some brandy when he went to find the butler and call the doctor. Under more pressure, Andre reveals that he was Maddalena's lover and had confessed to Col. Paradine that day. At this point,Maddalena forces Keane to stop this line of questions. Disillusioned, Keane realizes that she has hidden motives for both her husband's murder and not implicating Andre as the murderer. The next day, Keane puts her on the stand and proceeds to question her relationship with Andre. Shortly after this begins, Sir Flaquer tells Keane of Andre's suicide. At this news, Maddalena breaks down and confesses to poisoning her husband out of love for Andre, who had come to hate her for betraying his Colonel. She receives the death sentence, and Keane goes back to his wife, sadder but more appreciative of his wife's love.

Tags: cruelty, murder

Review:
The build-up of the character within a few minutes of reel time for the viewer is considerably intelligent right up to the loud slamming of the cell door and the effect it has on the inmate (Hitchcock's own phobia?).The second sequence that is unforgettable for me is the camera zooming in on Ann Todd's naked shoulder followed by the lecherous Charles Laughton caressing Todd's hand hidden away from her husband's vision, leading up ultimately to Todd's rejection of Laughton's advances.
The men, doomed to arguing and finagling, miss the point-and the truth-completely, in their attempts to sacrifice each other to their own individual causes.Even considered strictly within the Hitchcock pantheon, it's clear THE PARADINE CASE has many Hitchcockian trademarks: dazzling cameras moves, wonderful imagery, sweeping romantic themes, blurred triangles of love, desire and hate between all the principle characters, brutal men, devious women, an impending sense of doom, and even a character noted for her `masculine' interest in the legal technicalities of the case.
There are some good scenes, with the best one being the subtly crafted opening sequence of Mrs. Paradine being arrested in her elegant home and taken to prison.Many Hitchcock fans will not particularly enjoy this one, although if you like his more somber masterpieces such as "Vertigo", you might at least want to give this one a try - not that it is nearly as good as "Vertigo" (how many films are), but it is somewhat similar in tone.
"The Paradine Case" has gotten an undeserved bad reputation as one of Alfred Hitchcock's least interesting films simply because it does not use any of the gimmicks and brilliant visual touches Hitchcock is famous for: a man being chased by a crop duster, inventively shot murder scenes in locations such as the ones in "Psycho", people dangling from Mt. Rushmore, unusual settings such as a cramped lifeboat.
Peck does quite a good job, but one can only wonder how Laurence Olivier, who was busy filming "Hamlet" at the time, and who was Hitchcock's first choice for the role, might have played it.
Louis Jourdan plays a suspicious-looking witness in the case, but Hitchcock wanted Robert Newton (famous for playing Long John Silver and other disreputable characters) for the role, and Newton would have provided a far more different and repulsive characterization (apparently Hitchcock's intention).Charles Laughton unforgettably plays the judge at the trial as a sadist and a supremely dirty old man, who hates Peck because Ann Todd (as Peck's wife) refused his advances once, and Ethel Barrymore, brilliant in her limited screen time, is Laughton's intimidated and submissive wife.The majority of the film does take place in the courtroom, but so does "Witness for the Prosecution", and no one has a bad word to say about that film.
It's most interesting parts of the performances of the leads (except for Alida Valli, who is quite dull), and the famous sequence of the portrait of Valli whose eyes seem to follow the camera (standing in for Gregory Peck/Anthony Keane) as it passes from one room to the next.Hitchcock told Francois Truffaut that he felt the casting was wrong.
I don't think so.The supporting players, particularly Ann Todd, Charles Laughton as the sadistic Mr. Justice Lord Hawfield, and Ethel Barrymore as Lady Hawfield, gave good accounts of themselves in the film, especially Laughton as the Judge who takes out his frustrations with Mrs. Keane (ANN TODD) to wreck her husband's case.
In contrast, the final scene of the film does not carry the weight that it should and feels like a cheat rather than the resolution it pretends to be.Some fault may be given to the just-OK performances from usually dependable actors such as Peck and Ann Todd.
The stand-out performances here are from supporting characters such as Charles Coburn, Louis Jordan, Joan Tetzel, Charles Laughton and Ethel Barrymore, but they are either given very little to do or, in Barrymore's case, feel like they were interesting characters in sub-plots that were incompletely edited out of the film (usually a sign of a poor adaptation).In the final analysis, this is a film that will probably only appeal to devotees of Hitchcock and/or Laughton..
It's all of these things rolled together in one intermittently interesting movie, effortlessly told via Hitchcock's sophisticated camera.If you recall the lingering distress which Rebecca, the apparition femme fatale of that film, set off all the other characters, albeit she herself was dead, that's the kind of shadowy trouble that the poised Mrs. Paradine affects all the characters in this narrative, except she's quite alive.
There's also disquieting suggestion of Mrs. Paradine's clutch on her husband's valet, a man upon whom keen suspicion is aimed before and during the trial, though mainly it follows the zeal she rouses in the stiff-postured man appointed as her defending counsel and of the torment this causes his wife.Gregory Peck is fervent as the prominent young London barrister who lets his heart, callously ensnared by his client, control his head, while Ann Todd would be much more persuasively grief-stricken as his wife were it not for Franz Waxman's gushy score being poured on her every word like syrup.
Italian import Alida Valli makes the confined Mrs. Paradine a composite of inscrutability, ambiguity and sensuality, and Louis Jourdan is pretty intense as the harassed valet.It isn't a momentous Hitchcock effort by a long shot, save to the degree that it infers the cave dweller beneath everyone's practiced etiquette and concrete integrity and barristers' wigs.
Mrs. Maddalena Anna Paradine is accused of her blind husband's murder.Barrister Anthony "Tony" Keane takes the case.He is in a loving marriage with Gay Keane, yet he starts falling for his client.The Paradine Case (1947) is an Alfred Hitchcock film.It's one of his lesser known films.It's based on Robert S.
Hichens' novel from 1933.Hitch' wife Alma Reville is behind the adaptation.This movie has competent actors, which saves a lot.Gregory Peck is the leading man.Ann Todd plays his wife.Alida Valli is Mrs. Paradine.Charles Laughton portrays Judge Lord Thomas Horfield, while Ethel Barrymore plays his wife Lady Sophie.Charles Coburn plays Sir Simon Flaquer.Joan Tetzel is his daughter Judy.French actor Louis Jourdan, who turned 90 on June, gives his American debut as Andre Latour.Leo G.
Carroll, who did six Hitchcock movies, is Sir Joseph.Isobel Elsom is Innkeeper.Silent era's 'Snub' Pollard is seen as Cabby.Hitchcock himself is seen as Man Carrying Cello Case.Besides the acting, the movie also works in the courtroom scenes.They're quite absorbing to watch.And the ending makes you feel quite bad for the main character.Hitch certainly made something better than this.This isn't one of his masterpieces.But this is the work of a master.And the master at his worst could come up with pretty good..
Another minor criticism: the music is too heavy, the story just isn't enough to really grab us - so the music must tell us what we are supposed to feel.Yet the movie is still enjoyable - the characters of Gregory Peck, Charles Laughton, Charles Coburn and Louis Jourdan are well-drawn and enjoyably relate to each other.
Those who don't appreciate words, will rarely honor great film writing, instead they will base success or failure of a movie on whether it's bloated with computer animated flash.In "The Paradine Case" the subtle gestures the characters employ like the grasping of Ann Todd's hand by Charles Laughtin as she slyly, calmly, cleverly uses parlor room banter to rebuff his advances, are brilliant.
Gregory Peck and Todd so gracefully inhabit their characters that they make the acting seem effortless, so effortless that some may overlook the excellence of their performances in this fine film.One test of a great movie is whether the conflict strongly continues the momentum in every scene and in "The Paradine Case" conflict is present in each deftly crafted moment.Ethel Barrymore is superb.
There was always subtext in Alfred Hitchcock's films, but "The Paradine Case" has subtext to spare.Successful London barrister, Anthony Keane (Gregory Peck), takes the case of Anna Paradine (Alida Valli) who is charged with murdering Colonel Paradine, her rich, blind husband.
It's a delicious performance, but he is totally odious as Judge Tommy Horfield complete with cruel observations on the impermanence of beauty.This film is a class act from beginning to end and Franz Waxman's velvety score gives it a sumptuous quality.I think Hitchcock fans can watch his best films over and over; "Rear Window", "North by Northwest" and others - "The Paradine Case" is one I would add to the list..
The suspected murderer, his beautiful wife Maddalena (Alida Valli), faces the Crown defended by a smitten barrister named Anthony Keane, played by Gregory Peck, who feels his best chance of winning the case is to let the jury see his client's true character and expose the victim's valet as the real killer.That whirring sound you hear is Johnnie Cochran spinning in his grave.
"She's too fine a woman...I only hope the Crown does try to foul her name once, just once."There's also nonsensical exchanges like this, between Keane and another attorney played by Charles Coburn, who rivals Peck, Valli, and a young Louis Jourdan for giving the worst performance.
Gregory Peck has torn Louis Jourdan to shreds and destroyed his life, in the bargain he has ruined the case for Alida Valli, and Charles Laughton as the judge sees it all and laughs at it with gleeful cynicism, as if he found it the merrier the lousier characters he got to expose themselves.
Charles Coburn observes the alarming peril of Gregory Peck's course of an aggressive defense but doesn't reach him to warn him.In the end the real tragedy is that Alida Valli has killed for love and is punished for it, but she doesn't care and almost gladly accepts her punishment, since her real punishment was to lose her love as her lawyer in his love for her tore her love to pieces in defending her - and ruined himself into the bargain.It's actually a passion play of high emotions towering above and beyond the grasp of the actors, who are all defeated victims in the end, as the one innocent and honest participant rather killed himself than accepted being accused of dishonesty.
Making it impossible to restore the movie to its original cut the way the "Master", Alfred Hitchcock, would have wanted it to be.Taking on the case of the murder of the blind WWI war hero Richard Paradine hot shot defense attorney or British Barrister Tony Keane, Gregory Peck, is certain that the Colonel's wife Anna, Alida Vallie, who's standing trail for his murder had nothing at all to do with it.
By then things got so far out of hand that the films director Alfred Hitchcock and star Gregory Peck wished that they never had anything to do with it!.
Enjoyed this Alfred Hitchcock film starring Gregory Peck,( Anthony Keane) who plays the role of a very successful lawyer and is also married to a very pretty wife, Gay Keane, (Ann Todd) and they are both very much in love with each other.
As the story progresses, Anthony visits Maddalena and actually starts to fall in love with her and this starts all kinds of problems with his own wife Gay. This film has many great veteran supporting actors like Ethel Barrymore, Charles Laughton, who plays a Judge and Leo J.
Gregory Peck plays a British attorney and Ann Harding his wife; Alida Valli is Mrs. Paradine, a woman accused of murdering her blind husband, Louis Jourdan is her husband's valet, Charles Laughton is the judge, and Leo G.
Gregory Peck, Ann Todd, Charles Coburn, Charles Laughton, Ethel Barrymore, Alida Valli - it's hard to believe it came out as bad as it did.
Absolutely fantastic performances came from supporting cast, especially Charles Laughton, Ann Todd and Louis Jourdan to name a few.It is not bad movie, as the premise is interesting, the cast is great (although Gregory Peck and Alida Valli are clearly miscast, their performances alone aren't bad), the screenplay is too meandering, but besides those couple of really ridiculous moments it offers magnificent scenes (acting/writing/directing all perfect).
Disclaimer' Any relation to 'Body of Evidence' is purely coincidental Highly successful London barrister Anthony Keane (Gregory Peck)takes on the case of Italian Maddalena Paradine (Alida Valli) who is accused of poisoning her blind military hero husband.
As as details in the case come to light ,Madame Paradines Veil begins to slip for all but her Champion , Her Lawyer We have at least two love triangles in this film, and they not as obvious as you may think.This is the Final Collaboration between Hitchcock and meddlesome Producer David O Selznick Who Brought him to America and Helped Create his first major American Film Rebecca , After The contract Expired with Paradine Hitchcock gained Creative Freedom of shorts and went on to experiment with new styles of editing such as in 'Rope" and "under Capricorn"Hitchcock also pioneers the use of multiple cameras with live action almost a forerunner to what Television would do in Studios some Years laterParadine was Considered in the "lesser Category" of the Cannon of Hitchcock However it does showcase his technique and the Entered of Louis Jordan is till one of the most startling is Cinema History.
Gregory peck Plays Another Lawer, who's sexual frustration begins upon meeting the Beautiful Mrs Paradine Joan Tetzel Plays an Interesting role of the sudo lesbian Daughter of A Solicitor who dosn't wont the Market woman to hang as she "hates breaking pretty things" Louis Jordan Plays the Anti social Woman Hating Vallet of the Murdered Mr Paradine Ann Todd aka Mrs David Lean as the Long Suffering 'Good Wife' Perhaps the Suspended Belief that Gregory Peck would Sacrifice everything for a Woman he had not even kissed seems a little slim, However as a Vehicle Created for the Mystique of Greta Garbo (who was offered the role first ) it may be been slightly more believable She Turned it Down after another film role Famously saying "No Mommies No Murderesses" ,Alida Valli Stills holds the attention of the Audience as the Mysterious Manipulative Passive Aggressive Madame Paradine , if you ever wondered what 'Rececca' may have been like in the flesh and why she seems to capture the hearts of Woman and Men give Mrs Paradine a look.As well as a resemble to Mrs Paradine Gorgeous Music of Franz Waxman which dominated the film of Rebecca Suffocated the Paradine case in wonder and MysteryIts is to be appreciated for the things which Hitchcock alone brings to the film even in the little scenes that make this a very engaging film to watch.
Ann Todd gave a standout performance as the "stand by your man" wife who knew her husband was in love with his client, Alida Valli.Louis Jourdan's role in his only Hitchcock film, was superb!
Sadly, in times of so many fast-paced and impressive courtroom thrillers and dramas (i.e. Witness for the Prosecution, Anatomy of a Murder, Judgment at Nuremberg) this movie really deserved the bad reputation that it gained in the first few years after its original release.If it weren't for the well-known director and notable movie stars, the movie would probably end up as some long-forgotten B-grade flick that no one would really want to watch.It's a story of forbidden romance, which began between a woman, accused of killing her blind husband, and her prominent defender.
Ann Todd as the brave and lovable Gay Keane, a wife, who even under the difficult circumstances doesn't give up and lets go of the jealousy.All in all, The Paradine Case looks more like a soap opera designed for TV, not a substantial film directed by one of the greatest director's in history.
******* The Paradine Case (12/31/47) Alfred Hitchcock ~ Gregory Peck, Alida Valli, Louis Jourdan, Ann Todd.
Alfred Hitchcock presents a suspenseful courtroom tale about a lawyer(Gregory Peck)defending an alluring woman(Alida Valli)accused of poisoning her blind husband.
Wall-to-wall music in every scene, notes constantly zigzagging up and down scales for no reason, and orchestrations that seem to want to drive the listener insane—Unfortunately, Franz Waxman's score was only the first of many problems with this movie.Fresh off his success in Alfred Hitchcock's Spellbound, Gregory Peck reunited with his director to play a British barrister hired to defend an accused murderess, but finds himself falling in love with her.
One of Hitchcock's few legal thrillers, The Paradine Case mixes the suspected wrong man theme so typical of his work to rear it's head, along with the film noir feel that is immediately conveyed through the stunningly beautiful Mrs. Prradine, accused of murdering her blind husband and clearly the forbidden object of her attorney's affections, the talented, handsome, and married Anthony Keane, played with outstanding intensity by Gregory Peck.As far as being a Hitchcock film, there is almost nothing technically brilliant about it, other than the fact that nearly every individual shot in the film, whether inherently interesting or not, is beautifully framed and photographed, but as is not very often the case, the story far overshadows the direction or photography.They heavy hand of David O.
The film though is still identifiably Hitchcock's but while it has its moments it unfortunately has more longueurs too.I can't recall too many Hitchcock courtroom dramas, maybe "I Confess" and "The Wrong Man" have similar scenes but not to the extent here where the last half hour or more is devoted to the lengthy trial of Alida Valli's Marguerita Paradine black widow character's trial for the murder of her blind husband.
I felt the premise may have worked better if Valli did act more the femme fatale in leading Peck's character on, as in the end he's made to look rather foolish and shallow with his infatuation.So this wasn't the best Hitchcock I've ever seen, as this time when it was good, it was just good but when it was poor, it was pretty poor..
Barrister Anthony Keane (Gregory Peck) takes on the case of Maddalena Paradine (Alida Valli).