The Tattered Dress

The Tattered Dress is a 1957 American CinemaScope film noir crime film released by Universal Pictures and directed by Jack Arnold. It stars Jeff Chandler, Jeanne Crain, Jack Carson, Gail Russell and Elaine Stewart.[2]

The Tattered Dress
Film poster by Reynold Brown
Directed byJack Arnold
Written byGeorge Zuckerman
Produced byAlbert Zugsmith
StarringJeff Chandler
Jeanne Crain
Jack Carson
Gail Russell
Elaine Stewart
CinematographyCarl E. Guthrie
Edited byEdward Curtiss
Music byFrank Skinner
Distributed byUniversal-International Pictures
Release date
  • March 14, 1957 (1957-03-14)
Running time
93 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$1.43 million (US rentals)[1]

Plot
Jeff Chandler

In a California resort community, the wealthy Michael Reston is charged with the murder of a man he claimed attacked his wife, Charleen.

Reston hires a high-priced lawyer, James Gordon Blane, a man known to do anything it takes to win a case. Blane makes few friends in the community because the victim was a popular figure while the Restons are not popular with anyone. But his skillful cross-examination of a sheriff, Nick Hoak, results in Blane's client being found not guilty.

Hoak decides to get even. He fabricates evidence that Blane bribed a woman on the jury by pressuring her to perjure herself. Now it is Blane who goes on trial, with only his estranged wife, Diane, and his friend, Billy, coming to his aid. While defending himself, Blane begins to feel remorse over having won acquittals for so many guilty clients.

Blane ultimately is found not guilty due to the obvious possibility that the sheriff framed him in retaliation for his successful defense of Reston. The juror, Carol Morrow, who only lied about the bribery because she was romantically involved with the sheriff, becomes distraught when he rejects her out of fear his manipulation will be discovered. Enraged by the acquittal, the sheriff watches Blane going down the Court-House steps. Standing in the shadows he draws his gun intent on murdering Blane in cold blood. He is stopped when Morrow gets some revenge of her own by shooting him. As she is arrested for her actions, the Blanes reconcile and leave town for good.

Cast

Production

Chandler's casting was announced in June 1956.[3] Zugsmith later recalled Chandler "was becoming a bit difficult and he was their (Universal's) second biggest star at the time. I guess one of the reasons was he was their biggest, and then Rock Hudson came along!"[4]

Filming started on August 13, 1956.[5] Shooting took place in Palm Springs.[6]

Reception

The Los Angeles Times said that Chandler "does the best acting job of his career" in the film.[7]

See also

References
  1. "Top Grosses of 1957", Variety, 8 January 1958: 30.
  2. The Tattered Dress at the American Film Institute Catalog.
  3. Oscar Godbout (July 17, 1956). "Warwick To Make 2 Films In Africa: Company Plans Productions of 'Adamson of Africa' and 'Golden City,' a Musical M-G-M Misses One of Four". The New York Times.
  4. Flynn, Charles; McCarthy, Todd (1975). "Albert Zugmsith". In Flynn, Charles; McCarthy, Todd (eds.). Kings of the Bs : working within the Hollywood system : an anthology of film history and criticism. E. P. Dutton. p. 417.
  5. Thomas M. Pryor (July 25, 1956). "Warners Readies Incentives Policy: Stockholders to Vote on Film Company Plan to Grant Options to Executives M-G-M in Full Swing Of Local Origin". The New York Times.
  6. Dorothy Manners (August 19, 1956). "It's Matter Of Degrees -- 113 Of Them". The Washington Post and Times-Herald.
  7. Philip K. Scheuer (March 3, 1957). "'Tattered Dress' Chandler's Best". Los Angeles Times.
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