Product Details

• Actors: Henry Fonda, José Ferrer, John Houseman, Fay Wray, Sam Jaffe
• Directors: Robert L. Collins
• Writers: David W. Rintels, Anthony Lewis
• Producers: John Houseman, David W. Rintels, Robert H. Justman
• Format: Color, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo)
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Acorn Media
• DVD Release Date: August 28, 2007
• Run Time: 104 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (61 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000QXDCXI
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #22,384 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "Gideon's Trumpet" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Henry Fonda stars in a Hallmark Hall of Fame classic seen on CBS

In one of the finest and final performances of his distinguished career, Henry Fonda portrays Clarence Gideon, the destitute prisoner whose handwritten plea for justice changed the course of American legal history. Based on the book by Pulitzer Prize-winning author and journalist Anthony Lewis, Gideon’s Trumpet tells the remarkable human story behind the landmark "right to counsel" Supreme Court case.

Nominated for three Emmys® and winner of the prestigious Peabody Award, this powerful Hallmark Hall of Fame drama also features Oscar®- and Tony®-winner José Ferrer (Cyrano de Bergerac, The Caine Mutiny) as Abe Fortas, Oscar®-winner John Houseman (The Paper Chase, Rollerball) as Chief Justice Earl Warren, and Fay Wray (King Kong) in her final screen performance.

"Ranks with the best films of the early 1980s" -- All Movie Guide.

DVD SPECIAL FEATURES INCLUDE insert with production notes by Anthony Lewis and cast filmographies.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

40 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars FOR LEGAL BEAGLES EVERYWHERE..., August 23, 2001

By 

Lawyeraau (Balmoral Castle) - See all my reviews
(TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Gideon's Trumpet [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This is a movie made great by Henry Fonda's compelling portrayal of an unlikely folk hero,Clarence Earl Gideon, who was the catalyst for one of the most significant changes in our legal system. The seminal case of Gideon v. Wainright ultimately saw the United States Supreme Court establish that anyone who is charged with a crime is entitled to legal representation by an attorney.

Clarence Earl Gideon was no angel. He was a four time loser, who had been arrested for the burglary of a pool room. He did, however, maintain that he was innocent in this instance and demanded a trial, as he had no intention of pleading guilty for a crime that he did not commit. When Gideon, a semi illiterate, poorly educated man, requested an attorney to represent him at the trial, his request was denied, the presiding judge being of the mind that Gideon was able to represent himself. Gideon did not have a clue and, consequently, was convicted and sentenced to a five year prison term.

Gideon wrote an appeal to the United States Supreme Court, which granted his appeal, and its justices set a new precedent with their ruling. His case was remanded to the Florida state court for a retrial. He was appointed an attorney, tried and, ultimately, acquitted of all charges, deservedly so, based upon the evidentiary weakness of the case against him. Justice delayed, however, is, as always, justice denied, as Gideon ended up serving two years in prison for a crime that he did not commit, before he was finally freed.

This is a terrific film with wonderful performances by the entire cast. Henry Fonda is superlative as the stalwart Gideon, whose innate sense of fair play and faith in the United States Constitution helped shape the legal system that we know today. This is a film well worth watching.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Age No Object To Henry Fonda's Acting Talents, September 6, 1999

By 

GRAHAM TOMLINSON (LONDON, ENGLAND) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Gideon's Trumpet [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Henry Fonda at seventy four, but he glues together what you may not guess is a T.V. movie with the acting skills of a consumate professional. He plays an ageing semi-literate who just happens to be in the wrong place when a shop break-in and robbery occurs. The actual culprit names Fonda, who with a track record of petty crime is found guilty himself. He had fallen to the mercy of a ruling, made twenty years earlier, that those accused of "non serious" crime did not require the representation of a lawyer, and he was ofcourse in no financial position to hire one. Based on a true story, it tells, in a slow-paced but nonetheless fascinating fashion, how Clarence Earl Gideon(Fonda) studies the law books in his prison library over a two year period , culminating in a letter of appeal to the High Court being taken on by a high-profile lawyer (Jose Ferrer in a strong performance) who succeeds in overturning this ruling, and subsequently in a re-trial Gideon is found innocent. Henry Fonda is quiet, reserved, and as amazingly natural and superb as ever. Its also nice to see Fay Wray in a small role as his landlady. A wonderful production!

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars This movie was entertaining as well as educational, November 13, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Gideon's Trumpet [VHS] (VHS Tape)

The movie, "Gideon's Trumpet" was incredible. It copied the court case Gideon vs Wainright almost word for word. The actors did a wonderful job of protraying the characters and as a whole the movie was quite educational. This movie proved that education can get a person anywhere they want to go. Clarence Earl Gideon was charged for a crime that he did not commit, and he is then sentenced to jail. While on trial, Gideon asked to be represented but the state of Florida denied him of that right. During his time in jail, Gideon researched his case in the jail's library and sent a letter to the supreme court asking for help. The Supreme Court replied and decided to take onthe case. The court ruled in Gideon's favor. The movie proved that an ordinary man such as Clarence Earl Gideon could get help from the Supreme Court. He was by no means extremely intelligent, instead he was just an average man. Gideon made it possible for average people to be noticed and have rights.