Verdict (film, 1982)

The protagonist is the once successful and then drunk and lowered lawyer Frank Galvin, who has lost his clientele and is practically unemployed. His acquaintance and former senior partner Mickey out of pity gives him a rather ordinary and unpromising case - legal support for the lawsuit of the relatives of a woman who has given birth to a woman in labor against the doctors of the Catholic hospital, which, by all customs, should be resolved out of court. In the event of a successful outcome, the victim’s family will receive compensation, and the hospital will avoid unnecessary publicity.

Having delved into the circumstances of the case, Galvin understands that it can and should be brought to court. It is not known what is behind his determination - a thirst for money (a percentage of the amount claimed), a desire for justice or an obsession with the person who received, perhaps, the last chance to return to society. Initially, Galvin has to convince the plaintiffs of their innocence.

Galvin: How did you determine the amount of compensation?
Bishop: We found her fair ...
Galvin: Did you find her fair?
Bishop: Yes.
Galvin: I was alarmed that the amount is divided into three: 210 thousand. So I get 70 ...

Circumstances of the case: a young woman (sister of the plaintiffs), being quite healthy, during childbirth during preliminary anesthesia for no apparent reason lost consciousness and fell into a coma. By the time the lawsuit was opened, her brain was practically not functioning and she existed only by the grace of the hospital - with the support of artificial respiration apparatus. Relatives of the plaintiffs, people who are not rich, bear excessive expenses for the maintenance of the patient and would like to receive compensation.

Galvin suspects that the accident was due to the fault of the doctors who performed the anesthesia, so they hide the circumstances of the case - however, there is no evidence. And the only possible witness - a self-confident doctor of the hospital, a nonconformist, who openly criticizes his superiors and promised Galvin to speak in court against his employers - suddenly disappears right before the trial. It turns out that the authorities sent him on paid overseas leave, which looks like an elementary bribe to an unwanted insider.

A court hearing is complicated by the fact that the interests of a hospital owned by an influential Catholic church are defended by a team of lawyers from a prestigious law firm. This team breaks into Galvin’s personal details and even bribes a woman he knows to spy on Galvin.

In addition, the judge conducting the trial clearly does not sympathize with Galvin - on the verge, and sometimes beyond the limits of procedural norms, creates advantages for the opposite side.

• Paul Newman - Frank Galvin
• Jack Worden - Mickey Morrissey
• Charlotte Rampling - Laura Fisher
• James Mason - Ed Connennon
• Milo O'Shea - Judge Hoyle
• Lindsay Kraus - Caitlin Costello
• Wesley Eddie - Dr. Towler
• Joe Seneca - Dr. Thompson
• Julie Bovasso - Maureen Rooney
• Roxanne Hart - Sally Donehi
• James Handy - Kevin Donehy
• Edward Binns - Bishop Brophy

In the episodic role of the viewer at the trial, the then-unknown Bruce Willis appeared , not mentioned in the credits.

Initially, the role of Galvin was considered by Frank Sinatra and Dustin Hoffman . Robert Redford was invited to audition, but refused the role after several rehearsals.

The eponymous Verdict (film, 1946) was shot by Don Siegel on a completely different story. The 1982 Verdict is not a remake of the first Verdict.

• Verdict on the Internet Movie Database  
• Verdict on allmovie