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The Unknown Man

Play trailer Poster for The Unknown Man 1951 1h 26m Crime Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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Tomatometer 2 Reviews 43% Popcornmeter 100+ Ratings
Lawyer Dwight Bradley Masen (Walter Pidgeon) successfully defends Rudi Wallchek (Keefe Brasselle), a small-time thug accused of murdering a 19-year-old locksmith's son. Later, Masen learns that Walchek, a foot soldier in an extortion ring against local storeowners, was indeed guilty of the crime. With District Attorney Joe Bucknor (Barry Sullivan) refusing to retry the case, Masen must go to extraordinary measures to assure that the right man is convicted.

Critics Reviews

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Michael E. Grost Classic Film and Television 09/13/2017
Mild, sincere legal drama showing upright hero gradually discovering cesspool of corruption in his town. Go to Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews 03/07/2005
C+
A contrived morality lesson. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Steve D 06/23/2023 Lame courtroom drama with little surprise. See more 06/02/2010 Pretty good courtroom drama with an interesting twist. Walter Pidgeon (he of the fabulous authoritative voice from Forbidden Planet) is great as the naive civil attorney whose innocence is spoiled when he takes on a criminal case. The film is noir only by the broadest of definitions, but it's a good watch anyway. See more 10/13/2009 A story about justice that Johnny Cochrane would be proud of!! Walter Pidgeon finds out the hard way that justice is not blind and is shaken up by the events he has put into motion. See more 07/28/2009 This film is provocative and engrossing--quite ahead of its time. See more Read all reviews
The Unknown Man

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Cast & Crew

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Richard Thorpe

Director

Walter Pidgeon

Dwight Bradley `'Brad'` Masen

Ann Harding

Stella Masen

Barry Sullivan

District Attorney Joe Bucknor

Keefe Brasselle

Rudi Wallchek
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The Unknown Man

The Unknown Man (1951) The Unknown Man (1951) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Lawyer Dwight Bradley Masen (Walter Pidgeon) successfully defends Rudi Wallchek (Keefe Brasselle), a small-time thug accused of murdering a 19-year-old locksmith's son. Later, Masen learns that Walchek, a foot soldier in an extortion ring against local storeowners, was indeed guilty of the crime. With District Attorney Joe Bucknor (Barry Sullivan) refusing to retry the case, Masen must go to extraordinary measures to assure that the right man is convicted.
Director
Richard Thorpe
Production Co
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Genre
Crime, Drama
Original Language
English
Runtime
1h 26m