MovieChat Forums > Crime of Innocence (1985) Discussion > Andy Griffith is fantastic in this

Andy Griffith is fantastic in this


Andy Griffith breaks out of his nice guy image to play this nasty, sneering overbearing and domineering bully whose first rule is 'My way or the highway.' Hated him from start to finish and that's how good he was, he really played this so that you would hate him, way to go Andy, a fantastic portrayal.

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I agree, this is AG's finest villain since "Lonesome Rhodes" in A FACE IN THE CROWD. My only regret is that he didn't seem to really "get his" at the climactic hearing. Would've been nice to see one or both of the parents spell it out for him:

"You're the Bar Association's answer to Attila the Hun. If the iron fist that rules your courtroom is the same hand that would have raised your children, if you had any, then I believe it's just as well you never did."

That, and to see how the Bar and/or the media and/or the public react to him afterwards. I can almost see him going into a restaurant after that hearing, and getting this:

"Mr. Sullivan, the management has strict orders that you're not to be served. I'm going to have to ask you to leave."

Aside from that, I had trouble believing that the guard who raped the girls got off so easy, without at least some conditions - like dismissal from the police force without pension, severance pay, or benefits of any kind (damages for the victim).

Any thoughts? Over to you.

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@khaosjr Aside from that, I had trouble believing that the guard who raped the girls got off so easy, without at least some conditions - like dismissal from the police force without pension, severance pay, or benefits of any kind (damages for the victim).
Well we're getting off-topic which is a pet hate of mine on IMDb, but seeing as this board's pretty much dead anyway I may as well address it here.

At the end of the movie Jodi says that the guard Cory Yeager "was sentenced to 10 years in jail, but got out after 30 days on something called 'shock parole.'" I think this is the same as shock probation.

So Yeager was on probation for the rest of his 10 year-sentence. I doubt that he could still serve as a guard under those circumstances, but let's say that he could.

I'd expect that his colleagues - not to mention his superior - would make life hell for him. He'd probably quit within a month of getting abuse from the people he has to work with. "Try not to rape anyone today, Cory" etc.

In any case, it was in the papers, so everyone he knew would know he was a guilty man. He'd have to be extra-careful not to get into any trouble for 10 years. I guess that's something.

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@Boogalow Looks I'm in the minority in this thread, but I didn't think Griffith's performance was fantastic.

IMO he overplayed the villain. Any more overacting and he would've been twirling a moustache. But I still like him in this because, hey, it's Andy Griffith. When isn't he worth watching?

I like how Griffith went against his nice-guy image, but imagine if Ralph Waite - Mr. Walton! - had played the judge instead. Now that would've been even more interesting.

Anyways, I'd still say it was a good performance by Griffith, but he was a little over-the-top in this for my liking.

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