One of the not so nice things about Spencer Tracy is that although he was a fine actor, he also was a nasty alcoholic. Stories of his violent and destructive behavior while drunk are many and it's not exactly a well kept Hollywood secret. This is why Tracy starring in "The People Against O'Hara" is so ironic, as he plays an alcoholic whose drinking has ruined his reputation as a defense attorney. You essentially have an alcoholic playing an alcoholic.
The story begins with a man named O'Hara (James Arness) being arrested for murder. His family finds him a lawyer and inexplicably picks James Curtayne (Tracy)....a down and out lawyer who used to be something...until the threw it all away on booze. Supposedly Curtayne is dry now....but it isn't like his alcoholism just vanished. He still struggles with the urge to drink and his confidence in his case is a major problem. What's next? See the film.
I found that although the trial and everything leading up to it was very interesting, the better and more enjoyable portion is the last third or so of the movie...when the film goes from a courtroom drama to a good example of film noir. It looks great....and the shadows and light are amazing And, it even ends much like you'd expect with noir!
Tracy is great, as you'd expect and the film from top to bottom is quite enjoyable and well made. As I mentioned already, it's really almost like two films....and the second portion is just terrific. Well worth seeing and one of Tracy's better films...though, oddly, it's not all that well known and should be.
The story begins with a man named O'Hara (James Arness) being arrested for murder. His family finds him a lawyer and inexplicably picks James Curtayne (Tracy)....a down and out lawyer who used to be something...until the threw it all away on booze. Supposedly Curtayne is dry now....but it isn't like his alcoholism just vanished. He still struggles with the urge to drink and his confidence in his case is a major problem. What's next? See the film.
I found that although the trial and everything leading up to it was very interesting, the better and more enjoyable portion is the last third or so of the movie...when the film goes from a courtroom drama to a good example of film noir. It looks great....and the shadows and light are amazing And, it even ends much like you'd expect with noir!
Tracy is great, as you'd expect and the film from top to bottom is quite enjoyable and well made. As I mentioned already, it's really almost like two films....and the second portion is just terrific. Well worth seeing and one of Tracy's better films...though, oddly, it's not all that well known and should be.