An incompetent barrister is assigned to defend an accused wife murderer.An incompetent barrister is assigned to defend an accused wife murderer.An incompetent barrister is assigned to defend an accused wife murderer.
- Nominated for 1 BAFTA Award
- 1 nomination total
Madge Brindley
- Mother Chiding Her Son
- (uncredited)
David Drummond
- Policeman
- (uncredited)
Victor Harrington
- Paper Tearing Man
- (uncredited)
John Junkin
- Dock Brief Barrister
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaAlthough this film has been shown on British television many times in the 21st century, it has always been screened under its American title of "Trial And Error", not as "The Dock Brief", its original and proper title. Furthermore, it has been released on DVD in the UK under its American title as well.
- GoofsWhile Morgenhall is waiting for his "first case," a series of crossword puzzles are shown, as "time passes." Unfortunately, the puzzles are not in numerical order --- their numbers go up and down, never continually increasing, as they should as the months and years go "passing by."
- Quotes
Morgenhall: What is your name?
Fowle: Herbert Fowle.
Morgenhall: The surprise witness.
Fowle: Oh, you... you mean I'd need a different name?
Morgenhall: Yes, precisely.
Fowle: Hmm. That's where we're stuck now..
- ConnectionsReferenced in A Patch of Blue (1965)
Featured review
Worth it for the two leads
This neglected little film is based on a one-act play by John Mortimer, the creator of "Rumpole of the Bailey," and it extends some scenes (particularly the flashbacks to the lives of both the barrister and the accused) in ways that add little but running time. Beryl Reid, a very distinguished British stage actress, is given a role that requires her to do almost nothing but laugh hysterically. Oddly enough, the expansion of the script makes it feel even more theatrical than cinematic.
The real reasons to see this "Trial and Error" (aka "The Dock Brief") are the performances of Peter Sellers and Richard Attenborough. The latter was one of England's great character actors before he became a director and a Lord. Here, hidden behind a putty nose, he delivers an impeccable performance as a mediocre little man who kills his wife for a bit of quiet. And this was the period - just before head-turning international fame struck - when Sellers was offering one miraculous performance after another. His barrister is a subtle blend of self-delusional bluster and frightened awareness of his own inadequacy; the delicacy of this performance, especially the love he seems to feel for this little man who might prove his salvation, is a joy to behold. And the very last shot of the film, just before the final credits, made me laugh out loud - very silly, yet absolutely right.
The real reasons to see this "Trial and Error" (aka "The Dock Brief") are the performances of Peter Sellers and Richard Attenborough. The latter was one of England's great character actors before he became a director and a Lord. Here, hidden behind a putty nose, he delivers an impeccable performance as a mediocre little man who kills his wife for a bit of quiet. And this was the period - just before head-turning international fame struck - when Sellers was offering one miraculous performance after another. His barrister is a subtle blend of self-delusional bluster and frightened awareness of his own inadequacy; the delicacy of this performance, especially the love he seems to feel for this little man who might prove his salvation, is a joy to behold. And the very last shot of the film, just before the final credits, made me laugh out loud - very silly, yet absolutely right.
helpful•132
- david-frieze
- Aug 23, 2006
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Languages
- Also known as
- Sudjenje sa greškom
- Filming locations
- Shepperton Studios, Shepperton, Surrey, England, UK(studio: made at Shepperton Studios, England)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime1 hour 16 minutes
- Color
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