They Won't Forget

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They Won't Forget

Released Oct 9, 1937

1h 34m

Drama

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2 Reviews

84%

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100+ Ratings

The town of Flodden is in an uproar when a pretty student is found dead on Confederate Memorial Day, but District Attorney Griffin (Claude Rains) sees it as an opportunity. Thinking the case could propel him into the U.S. Senate, he begins an extensive smear campaign against the girl's teacher, Robert Hale (Edward Norris), an outsider who hails from New York. Despite only circumstantial evidence, Hale is convicted, and locals threaten vigilante justice if he isn't executed.

Ann Ross

Maclean's Magazine

It may not be popular with a large circle of movie-goers. But no one who sees it is likely to forget it.

Jul 19, 2019

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Inspired by facts, LeRoy has made a powerful tale of mob violence

Rated: A-

May 7, 2011

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Leo P

Who killed Mary Clay?We have no answer after watching the whole movie.The murderer gets away scot- free.We also learn that anyone can be wrongly prosecuted,jailed,and executed.Very frightening!

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/10/24

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Steve D

Solid story but Rains does some of his worst work.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/09/24

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Audience Member

Feels very much ahead of its time, and a sort of a predecessor to films like Ace in the Hole. Good script and story.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/16/23

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Audience Member

Regional prejudice overshadows this whole film, inspired by events 20 years earlier. An interesting peek into public perceptions in an era before phones & films were common place. Loved the elderly veterans - who were nearly old enough to remember that war.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/25/23

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Audience Member

this movie gets 3 stars plus an extra star 4 the film debut of lana turner and what a debut thru this movie she became USA's sweater grrl!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/21/23

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Audience Member

Mervyn LeRoy directed this film, and considering this was made in 1937, it was probably a really risky film when released. Though a lot of the acting is over the top and the script shoves the prejudice in your face to piss you off, it's actually a very good film. Based on a true story, Lana Turner (in her first big role) gets murdered and her teacher is accused and put on trial. All about the hatred between the North and the South in the U.S., it's amazing that this story actually really happened (though they left out the whole Jewish angle). And yes, while much of the acting is over the top (the janitor and the boyfriend immediately come to mind) others did a very nice, particularly Claude Rains and Otto Kruger as the two lawyers. Worth a look.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/14/23

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Mervyn LeRoy

Director

Claude Rains

Andy Griffin

Edward Norris

Robert Hale

Allyn Joslyn

Bill Brock

Gloria Dickson

Sybil Hale

Otto Kruger

Gleason

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Synopsis

The town of Flodden is in an uproar when a pretty student is found dead on Confederate Memorial Day, but District Attorney Griffin (Claude Rains) sees it as an opportunity. Thinking the case could propel him into the U.S. Senate, he begins an extensive smear campaign against the girl's teacher, Robert Hale (Edward Norris), an outsider who hails from New York. Despite only circumstantial evidence, Hale is convicted, and locals threaten vigilante justice if he isn't executed.

Director: Mervyn LeRoy
Producer: Mervyn LeRoy
Screenwriter: Robert Rossen, Aben Kandel
Distributor: Warner Bros.
Production Co: Warner Bros.
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 9, 1937, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 18, 2016
Runtime: 1h 34m