Trial (1955)

A legal drama about Glenn Ford battling Communists and bigots in an attempt to save a Mexican Boy from the California Gas Chamber. Its notable for Arthur Kennedy's well-deserved supporting actor academy award nomination.  The acting by Ford and everyone else, is also first rate. Unfortunately, the nasty bigots angle is overdrawn and unconvincing. Nobody was lynching Mexicans in post-world war II California*.   But the unusual Communist angle  - and Kennedy - save the movie. Summary: Like most trial dramas  Trial's courtroom shenanigans  are unrealistic and dull. But outside the courtroom its much more interesting.** Overall, its an above-average movie that's been unjustly forgotten - probably due to the Liberal anti-communism***.  At 109 minutes, it kept my interest. Rating 2.5 out of 4

* Mexicans  have been socializing and intermarrying with whites since California joined the Union in 1850.
** - Except for the predictable and silly attempted Lynching.
*** -  the liberal writer/producer cleverly yoke anti-racism with anti-communism.