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Beyond a Reasonable Doubt

Play trailer Poster for Beyond a Reasonable Doubt Released Sep 13, 1956 1h 20m Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
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68% Tomatometer 19 Reviews 57% Popcornmeter 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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Beyond a Reasonable Doubt

Critics Reviews

View All (19) Critics Reviews
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 Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (56) audience reviews
Rich S Entertaining and enjoyable despite its predictable twists and turns. But maybe they weren't all THAT predictable. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 09/27/24 Full Review StephenPaul C The greatest 01 hour: and 20 minutes ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/05/23 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 Read all reviews
Beyond a Reasonable Doubt

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Cast & Crew

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Movie Info

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
Producer
Bert E. Friedlob
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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