Reel Justice: The Courtroom Goes to the Movies - Softcover

Bergman, Paul; Asimow, Michael

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0836210352 ISBN 13: 9780836210354

Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing, 1996

Synopsis

From the infamous Scopes Monkey Trial, portrayed in Inherit the Wind, to the sensational war crimes trials that inspired Judgment at Nuremberg, celluloid trials have provided a compelling source of entertainment. Now t wo UCLA law professors/trial aficinados go behind the scenes of nearly 70 riveting courtroom movie dramas and comedies to demonstrate how directors make the legal system accessible to moviegoers.

About this title

About the Author

Michael Asimow is professor of law emeritus at UCLA Law School. He specializes in administrative law and has written numerous books and articles about law and lawyers in movies and television, including Law and Popular Culture: A Course Book.

Paul Bergman is a professor of law emeritus at UCLA Law School and frequently lectures to lawyers and judges on how films depict law and legal culture. He has written numerous articles on the depiction of law and lawyers in films, as well as several books on evidence, trial advocacy, legal counseling, and legal processes for non-lawyers.

From Library Journal

In this informative, entertaining, and unique book, the authors, two UCLA law professors, dissect a broad cross section of courtroom films with wit, humor, and professional expertise but without any stilted legal jargon. They organize the films into categories ranging from true stories (Inherit the Wind), comedy (My Cousin Vinny), and military (A Few Good Men) to lawyer/client relationships (Jagged Edge), civil cases (Kramer vs. Kramer), and unusual judges/jurors (The Devil and Daniel Webster). A succinct plot and character synopsis for each film is followed by a legal analysis of the case that discusses evidence, legal procedures, testimonies, juries, validity of actions by the attorneys, and more. The authors raise a number of provocative questions and suggest that arriving at true justice is not always a straightforward affair. Very enjoyable reading, this book will be appreciated by film enthusiasts as well as by those interested in the various legal, social, and ethical dilemmas in the films. For circulating libraries.?Carol J. Binkowski, Bloomfield, N.J.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing
• Publication date: 1996
• ISBN 10: 0836210352
• ISBN 13: 9780836210354
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 288