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Storyline
Carolyn Polhemus, an up-and-comer in the Kindle County D.A.'s Office, is found viciously murdered in her home. Immediately her boss, D.A. Raymond Horgan and his chief deputy, Rusty Sabich start an investigation. Horgan, however, is in the middle of a campaign to keep his job, which he ultimately loses to former subordinate Nico Della Guardia. Della Guardia and his new deputy, Tommy Molto, decide to prosecute Sabich for Carolyn's murder when it is revealed that Sabich was a former lover of Polhemus. Horgan also turns against his former subordinate, and Rusty soon realizes he has few friends left - except for Sandy Stern, whom he has often faced on the other side of the courtroom, and who will become his new defense lawyer when he is put on trial for murder. Investigation by Stern and his team leads them to think that Rusty was framed for murder - by Molto, who wanted Sabich's job and was trying to punish him for backing Horgan. Is Rusty Sabich innocent...or is he a murderer? Written by
Derek O'Cain
Plot Summary
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Plot Synopsis
Taglines:
Sometimes it's dangerous to presume.
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Did You Know?
Trivia
Paul Winfield read the novel in the late 80's and loved it, telling his agent if a movie was ever made, he had to have the role of the judge. A few years later when the movie was actually in preproduction, Winfield campaigned hard for the part of the judge, impressing director Alan J Pakula, who auditioned him and subsequently cast him.
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Goofs
When Rusty is discussing the case in Stern's office, there is a small figurine of a deer on the end table holding the lamp. When the camera angle changes to Rusty sitting next to the same table, the figurine is gone.
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Quotes
[
first lines]
Rusty Sabich:
[
voiceover]
I'm a prosecutor. I'm part of the business of accusing, judging and punishing. I explore the evidence of a crime and determine who is charged, who is brought to this room to be tried before his peers. I present my evidence to the jury and they deliberate upon it. They must determine what really happened. If they cannot, we will not know whether the accused deserves to be freed or should be punished. If they cannot find the truth, what is our hope of justice?
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Soundtracks
Let The Drummer Loose
Written by
Richard Wolf, Bret Mazur and Y.C. Smith
Produced by
Richard Wolf and Bret Mazur
Performed by Y.C Smith
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Since it's Harrison Ford on trial for the murder of his coworker/mistress, and most everyone loves Harrison Ford, you want to believe he's innocent. But that belief is never a sure thing in "Presumed Innocent": a gripping, suspenseful whodunit that keeps you guessing mercilessly. All the leads here are right on target, especially Ford as the mumbling, elusive murder defendant. Most importantly, all the main players are ambiguous in one way or another, and while I certainly will not give away the ending (which is a beauty, I promise you) keep that in mind as you watch. Can you trust anyone??
The final scene was shocking and thought-provoking. And I couldn't help but think of the title, "Presumed Innocent." Naturally.