They Won't Forget

They Won't Forget (1937)

**** (out of 4)

Terrific Warner drama about a school teacher (Edward Norris) from the North who's working in the South when one of his students his murdered. The local D.A. (Claude Rains), wanting to rise in the political game, charges the teacher with the murder not because of evidence but because the Southerners think he's guilty due to being from the North. I've been wanting to see this film for many years now after hearing so much about it and it certainly didn't let me down. I think the courtroom drama is probably my favorite genre and this here ranks with the very best out there. What really stands out are the performances, which are all excellent. Norris doesn't stand out in the crowd but he delivers a very somber performance. The real standout is Gloria Dickson as his wife. The final speech she gives is quite chilling and very memorable. Rains also gives a great performance, although I think he goes a bit over the top in a couple of the courtroom scenes. Lana Turner, in her screen debut, also comes off very memorable especially with her "giggle" as she walks down the street in that tight sweater. Mervyn LeRoy does a great job at building all the suspense and anger that surrounds the controversy of the case, which is based on a true story. After watching this film as well as Mississippi Burning this year it's rather amazing to know this stuff happened within the last one-hundred years.