The People Against O‘Hara

The film, directed by John Sturges, is an adaptation of a novel by Eleazar Lipsky, who in addition to writing worked as a prosecutor and lawyer. In the literary original, he combined his two professional interests and created the story of renowned lawyer James Curtayne, whose long-standing specialization in criminal cases leaves him mentally exhausted and ultimately leads to alcohol addiction. Curtayne switches to the less demanding field of civil law, but at the urging of his acquaintances, he takes on the seemingly hopeless case of a young man accused of robbery and murder. Rather than unraveling the crime plot, the film focuses on portraying Curtayne as an aging man who is no longer up to the high-stakes legal game. The casting of Spencer Tracy seems very fortunate in this regard, as it enhances the film’s powerful effect. The actor, usually associated with authoritative and morally principled characters, plays a weak and broken man who, more than anything else, evokes sympathy in the audience. (mh)