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Illegal

Illegal

Crime · Drama · 1955

A hugely successful DA goes into private practice after sending a man to the chair -- only to find out later he was innocent. Now the drunken attorney only seems to represent criminals and low lifes.

Movie details

Illegal

“He was a guy who marked 100 men for death - until a blonde called 'Angel' O'Hara marked him for life!”

1955 Crime · Drama 1h 28m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.5 / 10

Community rating

A hugely successful DA goes into private practice after sending a man to the chair -- only to find out later he was innocent. Now the drunken attorney only seems to represent criminals and low lifes.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Illegal?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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The Mask of Dimitrios

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Let Him Have It

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Michael Clayton

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Lewis Allen

Written by

W.R. Burnett · James R. Webb · Frank J. Collins

Edward G. Robinson

Edward G. Robinson

Victor Scott

Nina Foch

Nina Foch

Ellen Miles

Hugh Marlowe

Hugh Marlowe

Ray Borden

Jayne Mansfield

Jayne Mansfield

Angel O'Hara

Albert Dekker

Albert Dekker

Frank Garland

Howard St. John

Howard St. John

E.A. Smith

Ellen Corby

Ellen Corby

Miss Hinkel

Court is in session

Put Illegal on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Auteur Devotee

“Form is the argument.”

Every composed frame and deliberate cut is evidence that control can be thrilling in its own right.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Technique in search of a pulse.”

Immaculate construction is still construction. The film may be too busy proving its craft to feel alive.