This movie should be required viewing for every person in the civilized world.

The best moment in the film. Loses a lot when taken out of context.

A fine morality play, where every character personifies a virtue or vice. But terrible jury behavior, with jurors speculating on the motivations/flaws of witnesses and dismissing their testimony based on perceived motivations/flaws.

"What are you trying to do, tell us he [the old man on the witness stand] lied just so he could be important once?"

"No! He wouldn't really lie, but perhaps he made himself believe he heard those words, and recognized the boy's face."

Well, I'm sold.

Just imagine if this had been set in Montgomery, Alabama in 1950, and the crime had been a white-on-black murder. There are at least a couple of arguments of Fonda's that would have looked, for all the world, to be looking for reasons to acquit a nice young man who really didn't do all that much wrong.

That said, as a morality play, it works.

poeTV has me on a classic movie tear, this is more goodness to be had.

The whole movie for those interested:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0NlNOI5LG0

Flawless.