Dull and overwrought with a ton of outlandish overacting with the performances of Oscar winner Broderick Crawford (playing a less colorful variation of his characters in "All the King's Men" and "Born Yesterday") and young Barry Gordon ("The Spirit is Willing"), contemplating with bizarre dialog over the possibility that he shot and killed his own mother. Detective Ben Gazzara questions Gordon which leads to a very theatrical monologue By Gordon that seems to go on and on...and on.
Another man has been accused of the murder which took place right in front of Crawford at a moment of celebration, and Crawford wants no part of Chuck Connors' legal assistance. Going from being direct and tough on justice to busy body do-gooders, Gazzara and Connors through the writing do detrimental damage to their characters. Crawford could grate on the nerves with his blaring blowhard personality, but that was in films where he was going to be taken down, and that's not the case here, so his bellowing becomes annoying. Veteran character actress Connie Gilchrist gets the best moments as the housekeeper. A misfire that left me with a headache.
Another man has been accused of the murder which took place right in front of Crawford at a moment of celebration, and Crawford wants no part of Chuck Connors' legal assistance. Going from being direct and tough on justice to busy body do-gooders, Gazzara and Connors through the writing do detrimental damage to their characters. Crawford could grate on the nerves with his blaring blowhard personality, but that was in films where he was going to be taken down, and that's not the case here, so his bellowing becomes annoying. Veteran character actress Connie Gilchrist gets the best moments as the housekeeper. A misfire that left me with a headache.