The Unknown Man
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| The Unknown Man | |
|---|---|
 movie poster |
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| Directed by | Richard Thorpe |
| Produced by | Robert Thomsen |
| Written by | George Froeschel Ronald Millar |
| Starring | Walter Pidgeon Ann Harding Barry Sullivan |
| Distributed by | MGM |
| Release date(s) | November 16, 1951 U.S. release |
| Running time | 86 min |
| Language | English |
| IMDb profile | |
The Unknown Man is a 1951 courtroom drama film starring Walter Pidgeon.
[edit] Plot
Defense attorney Dwight Bradley Mason clears a young man who is accused of knifing to death the 19-year-old son of a local locksmith. When it's all over, however, the man makes a careless comment slip that makes Mason think that he is actually guilty. He also finds out his client is not only guilty but a member of a syndicate extorting money from the scared merchants in the locksmith's neighborhood. Mason, after finding the murder weapon used in the killing wants to have the man retried but a hard-nosed D.A. tells him a man can't be tried for a crime twice.
The lawyer, using the evidence in the case, investigates to find that Andrew Jason Layford, the head of the citizens' crime commission, is also involved in the syndicate. In a rage, Mason kills Layford. The young man, again defended by Mason, who walked free for another killing is accused of this crime and found guilty. Mason feels guilty and tries to confess to the District Attorney, who tells him justice has been served. Mason makes one final visit to the young man now in prison and gives him the murder weapon he used so the man can get revenge on the lawyer that got him put away.
[edit] Featured cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Walter Pidgeon | Dwight Bradley 'Brad' Mason |
| Ann Harding | Stella Mason |
| Barry Sullivan | DA Joe Bucknor |
| Keefe Brasselle | Rudi Walchek |
| Lewis Stone | Judge James V. Holbrook |
