The People Against O'Hara (1951)

A recovering alcoholic (Spencer Tracy) has abandoned his career in criminal defense to concentrate on civil cases. But when a poor young Irishman (James Arness) is arrested for murder, he decides to take the case. Based on the novel by Eleazar Lipsky and directed by John Sturges (THE GREAT ESCAPE). This is a good little programmer that should have been so much more than it is. The film's attempt to balance the story of a brilliant attorney so exhausted from his concern for his clients that he turns to alcohol with the whodunit aspects of a murder trial is uneven. Perhaps it would have been better to concentrate on just one aspect of the story. One can appreciate the ambition but the execution is awkward. Four years later, Tracy and Sturges would hit it out of the ballpark with BAD DAY AT BLACK ROCK. Still, for what it is, the film makers have nothing to be ashamed of. Tracy is very good returning to drama after three comedies in a row (ADAM'S RIB, FATHER OF THE BRIDE, FATHER'S LITTLE DIVIDEND) and receives solid support from Diana Lynn as his caring daughter. With John Hodiak, Pat O'Brien, Eduardo Ciannelli, Richard Anderson, Jay C. Flippen, William Campbell (wonderfully oily) and Yvette Duguay.