The Lawyer (1970)

Description

The Lawyer is a 1970 American drama film directed by Sidney Lumet and starring James Stewart, Ben Gazzara, and John Forsythe. The film is about a lawyer who is forced to defend a client he knows is guilty. Stewart plays Andrew Morton, a successful New York City lawyer who is approached by his old friend, Frank Galvin (Gazzara), to defend Galvin in a medical malpractice case. Galvin is accused of negligence in the death of a young woman during childbirth. Morton initially refuses to take the case, but he eventually agrees after Galvin threatens to reveal Morton's role in a previous case in which Morton bribed a witness. The trial is a difficult one for Morton, as he is forced to defend a client he knows is guilty. Galvin is a difficult and uncooperative client, and Morton is also forced to deal with the prejudice of the jury against Galvin. In the end, Morton is able to win an acquittal for Galvin, but the experience leaves him shaken and disillusioned.