The Tattered Dress (1957)

The Tattered Dress (1957). 1h 33m | Approved

“By far the best few minutes in The Tattered Dress occur in its swift, provocative prologue. In filthy-rich Desert Valley, California, thereu0026#39;s an illicit tryst (where a bodice actually gets ripped); a fight between the adulterous blonde and her jealous husband; and the stalking and slaying of the popular young man who cuckolded him. When a hotshot mouthpiece from New York rolls into town to defend the killer, on the grounds that he was only avenging his wifeu0026#39;s rape, it promises to be down-and-dirty fun, like Anatomy of Murder a couple years later.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eNo such luck. The trial is but a plot point, winning lawyer Jeff Chandler not only an acquittal for his client but the everlasting enmity of the town sheriff and political boss (Jack Carson). Chandler finds himself framed for bribing a juror and ill-advisedly chooses to defend himself. To his side rushes Jeanne Crain, playing that most thankless of roles, the loyal ex-wife. Though thereu0026#39;s some welcome noirish violence, the movie has aspirations to being a big courtroom drama where Chandler fights for his reputation, his self-respect, and u0026quot;principle.u0026quot;u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eTurning Chandler into the central character proves a colossal miscalculation. He canu0026#39;t begin to impersonate a legal legend whou0026#39;s been compared to Clarence Darrow; though he sweats and strains to work up a full head of steam in his flat, wide skull, he convinces only the jurors — never us viewers.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eElaine Stewart, as the trampy trophy-wife, and Gail Russell, as the bribed juror, get tossed aside, as does Crain. Only Carson emerges unscathed; once again, as in a long line of supporting roles, he uses his affable, average-joe persona to hide the ruthless schemer inside. When Chandler turns the ripped dress of the original trial into a metaphor for the u0026quot;tatteredu0026quot; garb of the blind statue of Justice, itu0026#39;s clear that this movie is giving itself airs because it has nothing else to give.”