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About
A young lawyer defends a black man accused of murdering two white men who raped his 10-year-old daughter, sparking a rebirth of the KKK.
Theatrical
Jul 24, 1996
Box Office
$152.3M
Budget
$40.0M
Return
3.8x
DVD / Blu-ray
Feb 10, 2009
Theaters
3
Director
Joel Schumacher
Writer
Akiva Goldsman
Producers
Michael G. Nathanson, John Grisham, Hunt Lowry
Music
Elliot Goldenthal
Studio
Regency Enterprises, Warner Bros. Pictures
Themes
ku klux klan
rape
mississippi river
jurors
sniper
blackmail
attempted murder
forgiveness
court
murder
lawyer
trial
capital punishment
gang rape
racism
courtroom
racial tension
mourning
racial issues
courtroom drama
legal drama
legal thriller
black community
avenging father
inspirational
attempted hanging
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Whatever you say, ma'am!
Quotes
See all →Legal Dilemmas in a Courtroom Drama
Carl Lee Hailey
Ask if he thinks I should go to jail.
Jake Tyler Brigance
Carl Lee, they amputated his leg because you shot him. He's the prosecution's witness.
Carl Lee Hailey
You're my lawyer ain't ya? Ask him.
Jake Tyler Brigance
Your Honor, one question.
Judge Omar Noose
Make up your mind, Mr. Brigance.
Jake Tyler Brigance
Deputy Looney, do you think Carl Lee shooting you was intentional?
Deputy Dwayne Powell Looney
No sir. It was an accident.
Carl Lee Hailey
Ask him!
Racial Tensions and Violent Threats in Dialogue
Freddie Lee Cobb
You can't blame a nigger for being a nigger, no more than you can blame a dog for being a dog. But a whore like you, co-mingling with mongrels, betraying your own. That makes you worse than a nigger. I'll tell you what I'll do. I'll leave you tied up here naked. First, it'll just be bugs eating at ya. One day, maybe two. That sun's gonna be cooking you. And animals... they're gonna pick on your stink. They'll come looking for something to eat.
Ellen Roark
Carl Lee Hailey should've shot you too.
Medical Update on Injured Daughter
Carl Lee Hailey
What that Memphis doctor say about her?
Gwen Hailey
She's doing good. Her jaw is healing. She can't run and jump yet, but it won't be long.
Carl Lee Hailey
How about the other?
Gwen Hailey
There was too much damage. She ain't never gonna have kids.
Carl Lee Hailey
You know, I think about them too boys. Dead, buried, probably starting to rot. And I remember them walking into court... one proud, the other scared. I remember how they fell. One on top of the other, screaming and squirming and not going nowhere. God help me Gwen, but that's the only thought that give me comfort.
Racial Tensions and Historical Perspectives in Dialogue
Tim Nunley
Sure am sorry about your brother, Freddie. Ol Willard too... good boys both.
Freddie Lee Cobb
Ten years ago, that nigger'd be hanging by the end of a rope with his balls in his mouth. Now you tell me what's wrong with this country.
Winston
Klan would know what to do.
Freddie Lee Cobb
My granddaddy, he was Klan.
Tim Nunley
Ain't been no Klan around here for years.
Winston
Ah they's still some boys around.
Tim Nunley
What you mean them skinheads that want to blow up the government?
Winston
No sir, good god-fearing Klan... I got a friend, used to be active, could give him a call.
Cast
Full credits →M
Matthew McConaughey
Jake Brigance
S
Sandra Bullock
Ellen Roark
Samuel L. Jackson
Carl Lee Hailey
K
Kevin Spacey
Rufus Buckley
A
Ashley Judd
Carla Brigance
D
Donald Sutherland
Lucien Wilbanks
O
Oliver Platt
Harry Rex Vonner
C
Charles S. Dutton
Ozzie Walls
B
Brenda Fricker
Ethel Twitty
K
Kiefer Sutherland
Freddie Lee Cobb
P
Patrick McGoohan
Judge Omar Noose
R
Rae'Ven Larrymore Kelly
Tonya Hailey
T
Tonea Stewart
Gwen Hailey
J
John Diehl
Tim Nunley
C
Chris Cooper
Dwayne Looney
N
Nicky Katt
Billy Ray Cobb
D
Doug Hutchison
Pete Willard
K
Kurtwood Smith
Stump Sisson
T
Tim Parati
Winston
B
Beth Grant
Cora Mae Cobb
