The scene where Colman brings a gun into the courtroom AND shoots it off (!) shocked me. I expected the bailiff to pounce on him and the cop to pull his gun on Colman. Nope. I know it's only a movie, but wasn't that pushing the suspension of belief too far? Also, when they basically kidnap the man from Boston, that surely would have been a stain on the professor's chances of getting confirmed!
shareRemember, it's 1942, but what a great entertaining movie. I really impressed by Ronald Colman' s performance.
shareUntil Mayor George Moscone was killed in City Hall of S.F. (1978), you could get into most gov't bldgs with a gun. No searches. The Civic Center shootout in Marin County in 1970 involved MANY guns, and many died. Courtroom security increased where it was 'affordable' (larger cities, etc).
shareActually, in 1978 when San Francisco Mayor Moscone and Supervisor Milk were assassinated, I believe there indeed were metal detectors at City Hall, which is why the assassin Dan White had to sneak in through a basement window.
I have seen enough to know I have seen too much. -- ALOTOshare