Beyond a Reasonable Doubt

Released Sep 13, 1956

1h 20m

Mystery & Thriller

List

68%

Tomatometer

19 Reviews

56%

Audience Score

500+ Ratings

Novelist Tom Garrett (Dana Andrews) and publisher Austin Spencer (Sidney Blackmer) intend to show how lawyer Roy Thompson (Philip Bourneuf) has been using circumstantial evidence in capital punishment trials. They concoct a scheme in which flimsy evidence will point to Garrett as a murder suspect, but Spencer will exonerate him at the end. Meanwhile, they keep the plan a secret from Spencer's daughter, Susan (Joan Fontaine), who is engaged to Garrett. However, the trial doesn't go as planned.

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Derek Malcolm

Guardian

It is a film of great economy and precision (it lasts only 80 minutes), with the terrifying inevitability of Greek tragedy and a pervading sense that man is his own worst enemy.

Oct 15, 2014

Full Review

Empire Magazine

What this tense thriller lacks in action is more than made for by unpredictable twists in the plot, as well as an eerie atmosphere created by the gothic looking buildings and black and white film.

Rated: 4/5

Oct 15, 2014

Full Review

Variety Staff

Variety

Fritz Lang's direction does what it can to inject suspense and interest but the melodrama never really jells.

Mar 26, 2009

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Beyond a Reasonable Doubt turned out to be a disappointing way for Lang to end his stateside career.

Rated: 2/4

Aug 30, 2021

Full Review

David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

It's a fairly ludicrous premise that is, for the most part, employed to watchable (if decidedly erratic) effect by Lang...

Rated: 2.5/4

May 7, 2020

Full Review

Raquel Stecher

Out of the Past

one of the best plot twists of all time.

Nov 7, 2018

Full Review

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StephenPaul C

The greatest 01 hour: and 20 minutes ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/05/23

Full Review

deke p

Interesting, tho kind of an Antiu-Death Penalty movie. & SPOILER ALERT!: some sharp TWISTS. + DANA ANDREWS. + JOAN FONTAIN (I think she's overrated.) Arthur Franz. & DIRECTED by FRITZ LANG, about 17 years after his 1927 METROPOLIS. Never heard of , or saw, until THE MOVIE CHANNEL, 11.29.2020

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Throw out every horror film and forget every other suspense thriller, I don’t think I’ve ever been as paranoid and on edge as I was with Beyond a Reasonable Doubt. From the moment they establish the plot you can’t help thinking “This is a terrible idea, and I hope nothing goes wrong.” I was nervous each and every moment they spent formulating this plan and putting it into action. All I could do was worry that something might go wrong, and envision the disaster on the horizon. There’s an element of ridiculousness to the actions of the characters, and it’s hard to believe how reckless these men are behaving. But I could also see their motivations and understand why they thought it was a good idea. It’s a risky gambit and I was desperate to see how it would resolve. I used to think feel-good movies were the best, but I’m starting to think there is nothing greater than a movie that can get me nervous. It shows how invested I am in the plot when I can barely breathe because I’m so stressed. I spent so much of Beyond a Reasonable Doubt trying to get ahead of the plot. I had multiple guesses of how things might unfold, and to be honest I was right with one of those guesses. However, what truly astounded me and launched this movie from good to great in my estimation is that it still surprised me. It’s a brilliant script that knows exactly how to manipulate the audience into feeling a particular way. I was under its spell from the first scene, and it never let up. The cast did an amazing job as well. Most notable of the bunch is Dana Andrews, who I think it’s safe to say has become one of my favorite classic actors. Between this, Laura, and The Best Years of Our Lives, he continues to impress me. All the supporting cast was marvelous as well. This is the kind of movie that I want to rave about for hours on end, but it’s also one I’m afraid to talk about too much for fear of spoiling it. Just watch Beyond a Reasonable Doubt for yourself, you will not regret it.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

09/11/20

Full Review

Audience Member

The premise of this Fritz Lang noir is commendable, a reporter sets out to prove that capital punishment is unjustifiable. But, plot lines are implausible and preposterous. Yet, this film is still worthy of a watch as the entire cast delivers.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/13/23

Full Review

Audience Member

The best courtroom movie ever made!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/26/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Not the best movie from Fritz Lang: it is slow, predictable at many moments and quite dull. But the general plot and the theory behind are interesting enough to keep your attention. Years later, another movie (I will not spoil which) too the same idea and represented it brilliantly.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/25/23

Full Review

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Fritz Lang

Director

Dana Andrews

Tom Garrett

Joan Fontaine

Susan Spencer

Sidney Blackmer

Austin Spencer

Philip Bourneuf

Roy Thompson

Shepperd Strudwick

Jonathan Wilson

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Synopsis

Novelist Tom Garrett (Dana Andrews) and publisher Austin Spencer (Sidney Blackmer) intend to show how lawyer Roy Thompson (Philip Bourneuf) has been using circumstantial evidence in capital punishment trials. They concoct a scheme in which flimsy evidence will point to Garrett as a murder suspect, but Spencer will exonerate him at the end. Meanwhile, they keep the plan a secret from Spencer's daughter, Susan (Joan Fontaine), who is engaged to Garrett. However, the trial doesn't go as planned.

Director: Fritz Lang
Distributor: RKO Radio Pictures
Production Co: Bert E. Friedlob Productions
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 13, 1956, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 16, 2016
Runtime: 1h 20m

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