MovieChat Forums > They Won't Forget (1937) Discussion > History Explains Parts of the Film

History Explains Parts of the Film


As we all know, this movie is based on the Leo Frank case of 1915. He was convicted of killing a girl named Mary Phagan in Atlanta. Just Google these names and you will find the whole sad story.

I really liked this movie! It is hard hitting and doesn't try to make up a pat ending. Rains was excellent, as were the other main characters. Another excellent movie from that underrated decade, the 1930s.

As I was watching it, two things struck me as unreal and improbable. First, the defendant gives a speech on the witness stand explaining himself. There is no cross examination! As an old Perry Mason fan, I thought, there's no way the DA (Rains) wouldn't cross examine him. But after reading the history of the real case of Leo Frank, I see that that actually was a law in Georgia in those days. The defendant could give such a speech and not be cross examined. Amazing.

Secondly,

*** SPOLER ALERT ***

I couldn't believe that a gang could really get the defendant away from the police and hang him. But that is just what happened in real life. My respect for this movie went up even more. I liked the way they symbolically indicated the hanging.

-- henry

reply

Your spoiler at the end: do you live in the South? From that statement I'd figure not. Happened all the way to the 80's in some parts of the South. Hell, newer ways of doing it is psychological warfare. You get a group of people together (or they come together) and they drive their target to suicide. Happens today, and not just in the South.

-Nam

I'm on the road less traveled...

reply