Customer Reviews

Gideon's Trumpet

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(27)
3 star:		(14)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

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.

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!

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.

I've seen most of Henry Fonda's films and this ranks among his very best. He has captured the flawed character of Clarence Earl Gideon like no other actor.This seemingly inconsequential individual who changed the course of American jurisprudence through his appeal to the US Supreme Court for legal representation is portrayed by Fonda so convincingly and so assuredly that Fonda and Gideon become indivisible.

One is equally astonished that the High Court gave such consideration to a relatively minor infraction of the law, and in doing so, gave everyone like the obscure,impoverished Gideon the right to council regardless of their station in life.

As has been stated elsewhere, this film is both an entertaining and informative experience. It is a must see for law students and laymen alike.

This is an excellent movie for use with case law readings (Gideon v Wainwright.)It is a bit slow. I think a condensed version would be good. The students might lose the significance of this case.
Professor Cavanaugh

The movie Gideon's Trumpet was very good. I liked it because it dealt with something that was really worth it. It told the story of Gideon vs Wainwright. The Supreme Court ruled that in this case that "the right of poeple accused of serious crimes to be represented by an apointed counsel..."

The main reason why I liked it is because I agreed with the Supreme Court's decision in this trial. In my opinion it is not fair for two poeple to go into a trial and one have a lawyer who's job is to do stuff like this and the other have no idea what they are doing.

Lastly, I liked it because of how Gideon too action into his own hands. He knew what had happend to him was wrong and he fought back. He researched and studied until he found what he needed to write an appeal to the Supreme Court. I admired this so much because most of us like the prisoners that were following him in the video would probably been too lazy to do what Gideon did.

Gideon's Trumpet starring Henry Fonda did a wonderful job interpreting the Gideon vs Wainright trial. This was an exeptional movie about a man seeking someone to represent him in a court of law.

He was arrested for theft and the court was unable to provide him with a lawyer. This is a very educational movie that helps to explain this trial. Henry Fonda does a very good job acting as Clarence Gideon. Fonda is a spitting image of Gideon.

Overall, this is a good movie. I gave it four stars. This movie really helps to explain this trial. I would recommend using this movie to teach about the trial.

The movie"Gideon's Trumpet"is a true story about Clarence Gideon, who was wrongly accused of a crime he didn't commmit. In this movie he shows great strength and determination in defending his name.When the case is first tried he ask the judge for a lawyer,because he could not afford one,but the judge refused him. The judge said the court didn't appoint lawyers for misdemeanor offenses. Clarence Earl Gideon has proven that a man with common knowledge and no real experience in the court room couldn't defend himself as well as a lawyer could do. In the first trial he was found guilty and sentenced to 5 years. Gideon knew he wasn't given a fair trial, so while in jail he researched his rights. He read and read until he had proof, that he was debrived of his constitutional rights. He then wrote a letter to the supreme court; asking them to over turn the verdict. They had a meeting and decided he should have a lawyer and his case be retried. In the second trial with the lawyer; Clarence Gideon was found innoence of the crime and set free.Thanks to Mr. Gideon everyone has a right to have an appointed lawyer no matter how big or small the case.

"Gideon's Trumpet," starring Henry Fonda, was an outstanding, low-budget movie. Henry Fonda portrayed Clarence Earl Gideon perfectly. In this true story, Gideon's arrest, trial, and imprisonment are explained. Gideon was arrested because his pockets were full of change. The police officer did not read him his rights. He was arrested while sitting at a restaraunt. The officer asked him to empty his pockets withoout a warrant. His entire arrest should not have happened the way it did. Gideon asked for a lawyer at the beginning of his trial. The judge refused him one because it wasn't a "serious" crime. Although the judge tried to help him, he was still found guilty. Gideon did not ask the best questions. He tried, but he failed. He did not understand the legal system. Gideon was sentenced to 5 years in prison. As soon as he was put into prison he started to research the legal system. He tried to help other people who were in the same predicament as he was. Eventually he wrote to the Supreme Court. They granted him a trial with a jury. Gideon assumed that this was double jeopardy. He tried to motion for that. This time he tried to be his own lawyer. The judge made him get a lawyer. Luckily, Clarence Earl Gideon was found innocent.

"Gideon's Trumpet" tells the story of how Clarence Gideon fights for his right's for a fair trial. In the movie he is accused of breaking into a poolroom and taking some drinks and some change from the cigarette machine. The next day he was arrested with a pocket full of change. When he goes to court he asks for a lawyer,but is denyed. He does the best he can to defend himself,but is still convicted. In prison he spends all his time reading up about his constitutional rights. He says under the constitution everyone has the right to a fair trial and that he should have had a lawyer. He takes it all the way to the Supreme Court. When they hear about this it changes everything. Gideon is triad again with a lawyer and wins his case. All in all I think this is a really informative movie about what a person can do if they fight for what they think they deserve. Now because of Clarence Earl Gideon everyone is entitled to a lawyer when needed.