GIDEONS TRUMPET (DVD/HENRY FONDA) DVD

Gideon's Trumpet
In the tradition of his earlier work in Grapes of Wrath and Twelve Angry Men, Henry Fonda played another social-protest role in the Hallmark Hall of Fame TV presentation Gideon's Trumpet. Clarence Earl Gideon (Fonda) is a poor, ill-tempered Florida handyman who is arrested for petty larceny in 1961. Unable to afford a lawyer, Gideon is sentenced to five years in prison. His treatment by the Florida judicial system, a clear violation of the Fourteenth Amendment, is brought to the attention of the Supreme Court. As a result, a landmark decision is reached, assuring free legal representation for anyone accused of a crime in the United States. Also appearing are Jose Ferrer as Gideon's attorney Abe Fortas, John Houseman (who also produced) as the Chief Justice, and Fay Wray as the owner of the lodging establishment where Gideon lived. Gideon's Trumpet premiered on April 30, 1980. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Cast Henry Fonda as Clarence Earl Gideon John Houseman as Chief Justice José Ferrer as Abe Fortas Fay Wray as Edna Curtis

Crew Robert H. Justman - Co-producer David W. Rintels - Co-producer Robert E. Collins - Director Frank Bracht - Editor John Houseman - Executive Producer Joseph Weiss - Composer (Music Score) Edward C. Carfagno - Production Designer Don Birnkrant - Cinematographer Robert J. Koster - Production Manager David W. Rintels - Producer David W. Rintels - Screenwriter Anthony Lewis - Book Author

Gideon's Trumpet
Gideon's Trumpet is among the few films to treat the law as a serious subject. The real-life history behind this case is perhaps even more amazing than the film: occasional handy man and convicted petty thief Clarence Gideon sent a handwritten petition to the U.S. Supreme Court that forced a major, long-overdue change in the law. Unlike docudramas that present a simplistic view of their subjects, Gideon's Trumpet does not falsely make its protagonist into a likable hero, and Henry Fonda's powerful performance is one of the few times that he played a character so obviously flawed as a person. It is among his best late-career performances. Despite its origins as a made-for-television movie, Gideon's Trumpet contains inventive camera work and an overall sheen of quality that belie its TV-movie status. It ranks with the best films of the early 1980s, despite not having had a theatrical release. ~ Richard Gilliam, All Movie Guide
 

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General Specifications: Language Options: Subtitle Options: Sound Processing: DD2: Dolby Digital Stereo Additional Features: Insert with production notes by Anthony Lewis and cast filmographies MPAA Rating: DVD Discs Included: 1 DVD Sides: 1 DVD DVD Region Code: Content Length: 104 min   DVD Chapters: Disc #1 -- Gideon's Trumpet 1. The Crime [5:34] 2. His Own Defense [13:01] 3. Sentenced [8:11] 4. Research [9:22] 5. Supreme Court [7:20] 6. Biographical Information [11:38] 7. Defendant's Rights [16:26] 8. The Decision [10:42] 9. Second Trials [17:00] 10. A Free Man [4:08]