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The Verdict poster

The Verdict

year 1982decade 80sdirector Sidney Lumetgenre Drama

129 minutes

Cast

Selected cast credits · Film reference

Paul Newman Frank Galvin
Charlotte Rampling Laura Fischer
Jack Warden Mickey Morrissey
James Mason Ed Concannon
Milo O'Shea Judge Hoyle
Lindsay Crouse Kaitlin Costello Price
Edward Binns Bishop Brophy
Julie Bovasso Maureen Rooney
Roxanne Hart Sally Doneghy
James Handy Kevin Doneghy
Wesley Addy Dr. Robert S. Towler
Joe Seneca Dr. Lionel Thompson
Lewis Stadlen Dr. David Gruber
Kent Broadhurst Joseph Alito
Burtt Harris Jimmy, the bartender
Scott Rhyne Young priest
Susan Benenson Deborah Ann Kaye
Evelyn Moore Dr. Gruber's nurse
Juanita Fleming Dr. Gruber's maid
Jack Collard Bailiff
Gregor Roy Jury foreman
John Blood Funeral director
Dick McGoldrick Manager, second funeral parlor
Edward Mason Widow's son
Patty O'Brien Irish nurse1
Maggie Task Irish nurse2
Joseph Bergman Friedman
J.P. Foley John, cigar stand
Leib Lensky Wheelchair patient
Clay Dear Courthouse lawyer
J.J. Clark Courthouse guard
Greg Doucette Sheraton bar waiter
Tony LaFortezza Sheraton bartender
Marvin Beck Sheraton bar patron
Herb Peterson Sheraton bar patron

The Verdict | The Rewatchables

host Bill Simmonshost Chris Ryanhost Sean Fennesseyproducer Craig Horlbeck
Explore episodeClose episode

Apex Mountain

Sad alcoholic lawyers; multi-film bar; Disco Fever; drinking eggs (shared with Rocky)

In the discussion (18)
Approx. transcript time · 00:02:58Read transcript
  • The bar is floated as Apex for film-location bars because of The Verdict and GodfatherII,without a settled comparative winner.
  • Newman is rejected for Apex.
  • Lumet's Apex goes to Network over Dog Day Afternoon and Serpico,using awards and industry power as the criterion.
  • Warden's Apex is placed at Shampoo because it launches his 1975–82 run.
  • Mamet’s Apex is placed at Glengarry.
  • Crouse initially gets this film,but the choice moves to House of Games because she stars.
  • Rampling's Apex remains uncertain given her international career; this film is personally striking,but The Night Porter and 45 Years are alternatives.
  • Film-location bars remain an open comparison,with St.Elmo's Fire suggested and audience replies invited.
  • Boston-film Apex goes to Good Will Hunting because it launched Damon and Affleck,unlike this already-established ensemble.
  • Old Sully’s in The Town and unidentified Good Will Hunting/Departed bars enter the discussion.
  • Goodfellas is considered but ruled a single-film location.
  • Once multiple films become the criterion,the Verdict/GodfatherII bar receives affirmative Apex.
  • Trial-film Apex remains unresolved between A Few Good Men and 12 Angry Men,with the latter's jury-room-only setting complicating the comparison.
  • Disco Fever pinball gets affirmative Apex; the same machine appeared in a host's stepfather's home.
  • Drinking an egg is shared between this film and Rocky.
  • Keeping six-packs of Budweiser in office filing cabinets is an Apex proposal without an explicit ruling.
  • Bushmills is an Apex proposal; later advertising and personal Jameson preferences qualify the discussion without a clear affirmative ruling.
  • The alcoholic down-on-his-luck lawyer receives an affirmative early Apex.

Most Rewatchable Scene

Judge confrontation; Kaitlin’s testimony; opening

In the discussion (26)
Approx. transcript time · 00:52:44Read transcript
  • The opening pinball,drinking and smoking credits are admired as an economical introduction.
  • The credit graphics are criticized.
  • The opening beer is guessed as Schlitz,Harp or Bud without resolution.
  • The opening funeral crashing,newspaper obituary circles and shaky shot-glass hand establish Galvin without exposition or invented trauma flashbacks.
  • Mason's first preparation meeting explains the case elegantly and includes canceling a subordinate's Bahamas vacation while sending flowers and a tanning bed.
  • Galvin meeting the cardinal and noting that 210,000 divides neatly into his 70,000 fee is admired; whether the moral decision occurs in the room or with developing Polaroids is debated.
  • Concannon and Galvin in the eating judge's chambers reveal the opposing lawyer's connection without heavy exposition.
  • The son-in-law's furious confrontation and line about living with professionals' mistakes are admired; he knocks the briefcase aside rather than slapping Galvin, and is called the most Boston moment.
  • Concannon prepping the anesthesiologist to replace jargon with plain language is another scene candidate.
  • Mason coaching the doctor to dramatize heroic attempts to save mother and child is like an acting class, and receives particular praise; Wesley Addy is identified as a recurring Lumet actor.
  • Galvin attacking the judge after the expert testimony is a major scene candidate,especially the bagman accusation.
  • Mason’s silent reactions during Galvin’s confrontation are admired.
  • The bar-booth first date and jury speech return as a favorite, with the incongruity of staying in the same bar for dinner noted.
  • Concannon paying Laura reveals her betrayal; the line about being paid to win is praised and her apparently implausible interest in Galvin retrospectively explained.
  • Galvin traveling to New York to seek Kaitlin's help is a scene candidate.
  • Kaitlin’s rebuttal testimony is especially loved.
  • The doctor’s standing double take when he hears Kaitlin’s name is admired.
  • Mason’s intimidation gives way to the revelation that Kaitlin kept a copy showing one hour rather than nine.
  • The judge lets the testimony run long enough that the jury cannot unhear it; the family members' silent reactions deepen the scene.
  • Galvin’s final speech is a scene candidate.
  • Lumet’s commentary reportedly says a camera hair spoiled a take and Newman’s repeat was even better.
  • The jury asking to exceed the requested award and Warden looking upward provide a favorite payoff.
  • The judge being forced to relinquish control makes the verdict especially satisfying.
  • Chris's final scene choice is Galvin dressing down the judge in chambers.
  • Kaitlin's testimony is another final scene choice, with Lindsay Crouse's performance and later House of Games praised.
  • The opening two minutes receive the remaining final scene endorsement.

What’s Aged the Best?

Afraid-to-try lawyer; camera work; opening; judge; phone bill; Rampling; dialogue; Church villain; Warden

In the discussion (18)
Approx. transcript time · 01:07:28Read transcript
  • Cheap, unsuccessful lawyers afraid to enter court are praised as an effective dramatic type.
  • The wide stationary camera angles are praised.
  • The opening establishes a broken-down drunk while preserving sympathy.
  • O’Shea’s judge is a memorably hateful villain.
  • The extreme unfairness strains credibility for one viewer,while others accept the depiction.
  • Refusing a nighttime extension is a powerful scene.
  • Ebert's observation that Newman's newly tired appearance reveals his acting and foreshadows older roles is placed in aged best.
  • Galvin finding a witness through a stolen phone bill is admired as clever and plausible despite being a stretch.
  • Concannon's uniformly white legal team and excitement at the opposing expert being Black expose their prejudice.
  • Rampling's performance improves on rewatch once her motives are known.
  • Laura's alluring but damaged presence in Galvin's ordinary bar seems implausibly fortunate until her motives are revealed; Chris expresses particular admiration.
  • Rampling surveying the apartment,keeping her eyes open during a kiss and acknowledging the ex-wife photograph rewards rewatching.
  • Laura’s encouragement manipulates Galvin’s masculinity.
  • Mamet's repeated accusations that people do not care whom they hurt and cigarette requests are admired.
  • The Catholic Church as villain is considered prescient.
  • Warden's age-weary dialogue is almost a parody of his persona but remains enjoyable.
  • Lumet and Bartkowiak reportedly studied Caravaggio paintings for visual references and color.
  • Galvin’s frustration at discovering the broken elevator after using eye drops is admired.

What’s Aged the Worst?

Slapping Laura; sister’s accent; raw egg in beer; vanished shuttle convenience

In the discussion (6)
Approx. transcript time · 01:18:46Read transcript
  • Walk-up Eastern Airlines shuttles between LaGuardia and Boston are admired as a vanished convenience, classed as aged best by one and aged worst by another.
  • Aged worst: the sister's attempted Boston accent is criticized, with joking blame on New Yorker Lumet.
  • Galvin slapping Laura is a principal aged-worst choice.
  • Producers reportedly wanted the slap removed to protect Newman and audience sympathy,but Newman insisted it fit the character.
  • The slap is contextualized by his immediate discovery of betrayal and a period drunk lawyer's plausible behavior, while still condemned as violent misogyny; alternatives such as throwing a drink are suggested.
  • Raw egg in beer as sober-up breakfast is another aged-worst choice, contrasted with modern juice/immunity drinks and connected jokingly to Cool Hand Luke's eggs.

The Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award

Galvin should have lost on the admissible evidence

In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 01:27:10Read transcript
  • Hottest take: Galvin should lose under the legal evidence once testimony is struck; the film's moral answer favors human decency over institutional rules. A Bruins 1979 loss analogy follows.

What Piece of Memorabilia Would You Want From This Movie?

Pinball machine; powdered donut; doctor’s car

In the discussion (4)
Approx. transcript time · 01:53:23Read transcript
  • The actual pinball machine is a memorabilia choice.
  • A1982 powdered donut is another choice.
  • Modern powdered donuts’ continued availability is debated,with Craig identifying packaged ones.
  • The doctor’s car is another memorabilia selection.

The Coach Finstock Award for Best Life Lesson

Counteroffer; pay every witness (joke); do something right

In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:54:51Read transcript
  • Counter the first offer is a life lesson.
  • Pay off every witness is a cynical joking life lesson, extending the complaint about the missing nurse.
  • Doing something right, as expressed in the film’s monologue, is the sincere alternative life lesson.