JLRMovieReviews Jack Lemmon stars in this TV telling of a true incident in our history. When a young lady is killed, her employer (Peter Gallagher) is accused, because of circumstantial evidence, supposedly true testimony of others implicating him, his ladies man reputation, but mostly because he is a Yankee and a Jew in the South. He is given a trial, which isn't quite a fair one. When the sentence is hanging until death and a pardon from the Governor is possible, Governor Jack Lemmon feels the prisoner was given a bum deal, considering the community's prejudice and has qualms about letting the man hang. He goes on his own crusade and investigation to delve deeper into the story. Jack Lemmon has never given a bad performance, and in fact, everyone was very good in their role, especially Dutton in his memorable role. This was a very educational, involved and thoughtful film. "They Won't Forget" with Claude Rains and Lana Turner was another film about this, but that was a loose telling of the story, as it took place in a school setting instead a workplace. I've seen it, and it stands on its own as a good example of hard-hitting drama and movie-making if not totally accurate to the basic facts. After seeing this version though, you may not want to see the older version, as this puts the characters and their feelings first rather than serving their problems up for your entertainment.

Hythlodaeus This was a spectacular movie. I don't know where to start. I saw this on TV back in 1988 and taped it and watched it over and over. It is a facinating true story about a Brooklyn born jewish man Leo Frank, who is accused of raping and murdering a young southern girl working in the pencil factory he manages in Atlanta.The true case takes on epic proportions as a firery battle ensuses as political power, prejudice and fallout from the civil war, seek to destroy a man who is almost certainly innocent - and destroy anyone who tries to help him.Even more intersting than the trial is the second half of the story. The Governor (Jack Lemon) tries to give Leo Frank a fair chance at justice and is forced to fight his lifelong friends who have political ambitions of their own - and may destroy his entire life in the attempt.It's an excellent movie to show to children to teach them about character and doing what is right in the face of impossible odds - to show to history class and just for anyone who has any interst in history or drama!

kathi-13 Just finished reading "And the Dead Shall Rise", the book about the murder of Mary Phagan and the Lynching of Leo Frank. I thought the film did a great job at attempting to bring the story to the film medium, even accepting the dramatic license that the film-makers took (had to take, really) to fit the story into 4 hours.Being a transplanted Yankee, and now a resident of Atlanta, I thought the filmakers did a terrific job at trying to get the nuances (sp) of the South across. Atlanta is a wonderful place to live, but the echos of past prejudices can be seen and heard in her history.This film, attempts (and succeeds more often than not) to show the mentality of the almost-next-generation-after-the-civil-war populace. Many of whom disparaged all people of color, races other than white, and (perhaps even more so) Yankees. Then there is poor Leo Frank, a Yank and a Jew. The singing of hymns and the song about Mary Phagan, mentioned in one other review, was believable to me. I've lived in Mississippi, Texas and now Georgia, and I find it historically accurate from what I've experienced of the South. I think it would have added a deal to illustrating this if the producers had included some of the hideously vile comments from Watson's newspapers during the events of the time. There was some incredible stuff printed and bought up - ate up - by the majority of the people of Georgia. Watson had SO much to answer for.I recomend the film, but would add that a reading of the book (mentioned above) before viewing it would add to the viewer's appreciation as well as provide in-depth background to the telling of the tragedy. As well, the book adds more about the identities of the famous and infamous involved in the trial and lynching. Moreover, there are a few 'heroes' who did quite a bit in the interest of justice that seem to have been rolled into single characters for the sake of movie-making. You learn more about all of these people, too. And the rise of the New KKK and Jewish Anti-Defamation League from the results of what happened in Georgia. The worst of the short-cuts that the movie took, IMO, was the way they had the lynch party seem to give Leo Frank dignified treatment after they hanged him. Truthfully, they left him there, and more than 3000 people rushed to the site the next day - many having their pictures taken with his body still hanginh there. Finally, after his shirt sleeves were cut off as souvenirs, (and more attempted) the killers moved him, succeeding only after one rather rabid man had smashed the dead mans's face with his boot heel several times.But all-in-all, a faithful as Hollywood ever gets it, telling of the story.

bob the moo I saw this as a 4 hour movie on UK tv. As it was based on a true story I found it very interesting and most of the 4 hours seemed to go very quick - although some bits did seem to drag on. The acting is excellent in most places and it's fun to see big names back before they were famous (Macy, Gallagher and Spacey). William H Macy doesn't really do very much, Spacey hangs around and does well enough, Lemmon is great but Peter Gallagher does better than I've ever seen him be as the manager of the factory where the murder occurs.All in all, a well acted story that manages to keep you interested but over one 4 hour sitting can be quite hard work at times.