A gripping courtroom crime noir, Please Murder Me! (1956) dives into jealousy, love, and deadly deception. With Raymond Burr and a young Angela Lansbury, this taut thriller delivers sharp twists and classic 1950s suspense.
📽️ Plot Summary:
Defense attorney Craig Carlson (Raymond Burr) agrees to defend his friend’s wife, Myra (Angela Lansbury), when she is accused of murder. But as the trial unfolds, Carlson’s own romantic entanglement with Myra turns the case into a deadly web of lies, obsession, and betrayal—leading to a shocking conclusion that proves nobody escapes guilt.
🕰️ Year Released: 1956
🎭 Genre: Film Noir, Crime, Drama
🎬 Directed by: Peter Godfrey
🎞️ Starring: Angela Lansbury, Raymond Burr, Dick Foran
🎯 Why Watch It?
✔️ Angela Lansbury’s riveting femme fatale performance
✔️ Raymond Burr in a pre-Perry Mason courtroom thriller
✔️ A tightly woven noir with sharp dialogue and tension
✔️ Fatal romance, betrayal, and a darkly ironic ending
🔔 Don’t forget to LIKE 👍 | COMMENT 💬 | SUBSCRIBE 🔔 for more classic film noir gems & courtroom thrillers!
👇 Explore More Noir Classics & Vintage Crime Dramas Here:
📺 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLYSxyPafGbnT7hNTlq29mZQJKn7wrNglY
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
🎞️ #PleaseMurderMe #AngelaLansbury #RaymondBurr #FilmNoir #1950sCinema #ClassicCrime #PublicDomainMovies
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
⚖️💔 In a courtroom built on lies, can justice survive love? Discover the shadows of betrayal in Please Murder Me! (1956).
________________________________________
📽️ Plot Summary:
Defense attorney Craig Carlson (Raymond Burr) agrees to defend his friend’s wife, Myra (Angela Lansbury), when she is accused of murder. But as the trial unfolds, Carlson’s own romantic entanglement with Myra turns the case into a deadly web of lies, obsession, and betrayal—leading to a shocking conclusion that proves nobody escapes guilt.
🕰️ Year Released: 1956
🎭 Genre: Film Noir, Crime, Drama
🎬 Directed by: Peter Godfrey
🎞️ Starring: Angela Lansbury, Raymond Burr, Dick Foran
🎯 Why Watch It?
✔️ Angela Lansbury’s riveting femme fatale performance
✔️ Raymond Burr in a pre-Perry Mason courtroom thriller
✔️ A tightly woven noir with sharp dialogue and tension
✔️ Fatal romance, betrayal, and a darkly ironic ending
🔔 Don’t forget to LIKE 👍 | COMMENT 💬 | SUBSCRIBE 🔔 for more classic film noir gems & courtroom thrillers!
👇 Explore More Noir Classics & Vintage Crime Dramas Here:
📺 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLYSxyPafGbnT7hNTlq29mZQJKn7wrNglY
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
🎞️ #PleaseMurderMe #AngelaLansbury #RaymondBurr #FilmNoir #1950sCinema #ClassicCrime #PublicDomainMovies
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
⚖️💔 In a courtroom built on lies, can justice survive love? Discover the shadows of betrayal in Please Murder Me! (1956).
________________________________________
Category
🎥
Short filmTranscript
00:04:16He carried a bullet so close to his lungs, surgery was impossible.
00:04:21During the time the medics patched us up, we became great friends.
00:04:26After the war, I watched him build a home.
00:04:30I watched him become successful.
00:04:34We were closer than... than most brothers.
00:04:38One afternoon, six months ago, I sent for Joe.
00:04:43I knew I was going to break his heart.
00:04:47And all I could think about was whether it wouldn't have been better for both of us...
00:04:53if he had allowed me to die on that beach that day.
00:05:00You know, Craig, you're the only guy in town that could get me out this time of day.
00:05:04But I was coming over to see you anyway.
00:05:06Oh?
00:05:07Yeah.
00:05:08There's a new housing development going up over at Piedmont.
00:05:10What do you think about buying a corner lot and sticking up a new market?
00:05:14Might be an idea.
00:05:18What's the matter with you, boy?
00:05:19You look like you had a problem that was too heavy to carry.
00:05:22It almost is, Joe.
00:05:24Well, after all we've been through, it can't be too serious.
00:05:27Maybe talking an auto help.
00:05:30It's going to mean throwing 15 years of friendship right out the window.
00:05:34Well, if it's a real friendship, it won't bend easy.
00:05:37Okay.
00:05:41Are you happy being married to Myra?
00:05:43And Joe, don't tell me it's none of my business.
00:05:46Oh, I don't know.
00:05:48Happy is a word that means a lot of things.
00:05:50It's a state of being.
00:05:51I never ask myself.
00:05:54I've got a beautiful wife, a lovely home, good business.
00:05:57Guy can't expect anything.
00:05:59I guess being grateful is as good as being happy.
00:06:03Not really, Joe.
00:06:06Perhaps you haven't realized how little time you've been spending at home.
00:06:10How many evenings you've given to the business.
00:06:13Myra is a fine woman, Joe.
00:06:16When she married you, she was in love.
00:06:18But no one wants to be alone all the time.
00:06:21Now she'd like to do something about it.
00:06:24Oh, I see.
00:06:25She told you to talk to me.
00:06:29Did she ask you to represent her too?
00:06:31It was more my idea than hers.
00:06:34I don't follow you.
00:06:38I don't know how to say it without making it sound cheap.
00:06:47People meet with no thought of being anything but friends.
00:06:52Circumstances throw them together.
00:06:55Then they discover in each other many mutual interests.
00:06:59They begin to anticipate their next meeting.
00:07:02And then the next one.
00:07:04Until finally...
00:07:06One day they...
00:07:09They both realize they're very much in love.
00:07:13Okay, don't dress it up.
00:07:14Who's the guy?
00:07:16I'm in love with her, Joe.
00:07:18I want to marry her.
00:07:21That's the way it is.
00:07:25And it's the most difficult thing I've ever had to say to anyone.
00:07:30Are you sure, Craig?
00:07:32Are you sure you know what you're doing?
00:07:34I'm in love with her, Joe.
00:07:43What do you want me to do?
00:07:44I'd like Myra to go away.
00:07:49Get a divorce.
00:07:53You know, Craig, I've always had a lot of respect and admiration for you.
00:07:57Leveling with me like this has taken a lot of guts.
00:08:02Like I said, a real friendship doesn't bend easy.
00:08:10This...
00:08:12This kind of knocked the wind out of me.
00:08:14I...
00:08:16Give me a couple of days of kicking around, will you?
00:08:18Yes, Mr. Carlson?
00:08:19Please cancel the rest of my appointments for the day.
00:08:20Yes, Mr. Carlson.
00:08:21Please cancel the rest of my appointments for the day.
00:08:22Yes, Mr. Carlson?
00:08:23Please cancel the rest of my appointments for the day.
00:08:24Yes, Mr. Carlson.
00:08:25Please cancel the rest of my appointments for the day.
00:08:26Yes, Mr. folks...
00:08:31Please cancel the rest of my appointments for the day.
00:08:47I'm tired, darling. Did you have a rough day in court?
00:08:58I had the roughest day of my life, Myra.
00:09:02What was it, Craig?
00:09:05I...
00:09:09Perhaps you ought to go home. I'm not going to be very good company.
00:09:13Something's wrong. I've got a right to know.
00:09:16I saw Joe today. I told him about us.
00:09:23Oh. What did he say?
00:09:28That's what's so wrong, Myra. He didn't get angry.
00:09:33He just said give him a couple of days to think it over.
00:09:39I guess I helped him die a little today. I know I did.
00:09:50Darling, do you believe that when we first met, we tried to fall in love?
00:09:56Why, no. Certainly not.
00:09:58Haven't we respected my marriage? We tried to walk away.
00:10:02We did everything we could not to let it happen.
00:10:07That doesn't make today any easier.
00:10:09I never wanted to hurt Joe.
00:10:11I didn't think I could possibly fall in love with anyone else.
00:10:15But I have.
00:10:17Craig, darling, I'm not ashamed of my feelings for you.
00:10:21I'm not afraid of the world knowing the truth.
00:10:27I don't believe what we have is wrong.
00:10:30Don't spoil it, Craig.
00:10:33I just dropped by to tell you of Mr. Swell Wedding, Joe.
00:10:54Faye was a real pretty bride.
00:10:56Funny thing, you were there the night she was born.
00:10:59I kind of hoped you'd be there tonight when I gave her away.
00:11:02Oh, I had a million things to do, Lou.
00:11:04I just hope the kids will be happy.
00:11:06Oh, they're a cinch.
00:11:08You never saw two people better suited for each other.
00:11:11Top's even Mom and me.
00:11:13I know, but sometimes even the best things have a way of going sour.
00:11:16Joe, what's wrong?
00:11:19What makes you think there's something wrong?
00:11:21You can't fool me.
00:11:23Just the other day when I was in here with a peep about the branch store,
00:11:26you hardly even listened to me.
00:11:28You look like you were a thousand miles away.
00:11:31Ever since then, you've been moping around like...
00:11:34like something was bothering you bad.
00:11:39You know, Lou, doing the right thing isn't the easiest thing in the world.
00:11:45You've got to look deep inside of you.
00:11:48Be real honest with yourself.
00:11:50Well, for the past few days, that's just what I've been doing.
00:11:55Looking down deep inside of me.
00:11:59Looking for the right answer, and I finally found it.
00:12:02Sounds like an important decision.
00:12:05It is.
00:12:07And a tough one, too.
00:12:09It'll probably change my whole life.
00:12:11Myra's, too.
00:12:12Something wrong between you and Myra.
00:12:14Well, I don't think anything could be worse.
00:12:18Joe, believe me, every married couple has their ups and downs.
00:12:22Even Mom and me have had some bad moments.
00:12:25But honest, if you just have patience, everything usually works out fine.
00:12:29Sometimes, Lou.
00:12:31Sometimes.
00:12:33Look, do me a favor. Will you mail us on your way home?
00:12:38Yeah, sure thing.
00:12:52Hello, Myra.
00:12:54Just wanted to make sure you were home.
00:12:56I'm going to be home early.
00:12:58I've been thinking about something I want to talk to you about.
00:13:01I'll be there in about 15 or 20 minutes.
00:13:04Just remember, Joe, everything usually works out.
00:13:08Quit living in a dream world, Lou.
00:13:31I'll be decking now, Joe.
00:13:32Why don't you stand the Jastardv allen for us?
00:13:37Eight walks!
00:13:38Hey, boyl.
00:13:39amicia!
00:13:40Let's go!
00:13:41Come on.
00:13:42Joy, Miss Shfter, let's go to me.
00:13:43Let's go.
00:13:44Get up.
00:13:45Come on.
00:13:46You're late.
00:13:47Come on.
00:13:48It's going.
00:13:49Let's go.
00:13:50Evil hombre.
00:13:51You're inbound.
00:13:52It's going to be all weekend.
00:13:53I can't wait till you get anything.
00:13:54We'll be back.
00:13:55Work this way for me.
00:13:56Oh, my fortunate.
00:13:57Let's have plenty.
00:13:58Well, yeah.
00:13:59Let's go.
00:14:29Let's go.
00:14:30Let's go.
00:14:31Let's go.
00:14:32Let's go.
00:14:33Barger.
00:14:34Senator?
00:14:35Body in there?
00:14:36That's right.
00:14:37Ready for us to take over?
00:14:38Sure.
00:14:39Chalk him off.
00:14:40Dust the place good.
00:14:41And Macmillan's already photographed most of the room.
00:14:43What's it look like with any?
00:14:44According to the lady, we got a breeze.
00:14:46She said she shot her husband in self-defense.
00:14:49How come everybody always shoots everybody else in self-defense?
00:14:59Now, Mrs. Leeds, I, uh, I think we got everything pretty well straightened out.
00:15:07Would you mind going over that first part for me just once more?
00:15:11Well, I, I was sitting in bed reading when Joe came in.
00:15:16He, he was wet.
00:15:19He looked furious.
00:15:21I, I couldn't imagine what was wrong.
00:15:25He, he just walked over and pulled me out of bed as if he was drunk or, or crazy or something.
00:15:32Threw me against the dresser.
00:15:35Said he was going to kill me.
00:15:38He started for me again.
00:15:40Then I opened the drawer and took out the gun and shot him.
00:15:46He just stood there and looked at me.
00:15:50Then he fell.
00:15:52It was terrible.
00:15:56It's going to be all right.
00:15:57You just rest there for a minute.
00:15:59All right, let's get off the phone.
00:16:01You know this place is off limits until the lab's through with it.
00:16:04Well, he does it before he uses the gun.
00:16:05Right.
00:16:06And Ellen, I want those papers drawn up first thing in the morning.
00:16:09No, I'll be there before you.
00:16:11I'm going directly to the office and police headquarters.
00:16:13Sergeant, I want this section of the room covered from A to Z.
00:16:17Several shots of that night stand and this dresser here.
00:16:20Get in close.
00:16:21You know the kind of stuff I want.
00:16:22Well, cover the place like air.
00:16:23Planning on a big day in court?
00:16:25The guys did.
00:16:26That makes it a big day in court.
00:16:28Any reason to doubt it with self defense?
00:16:31Enough to hold her off suspicion.
00:16:33Then it's up to you legal eagles to pick her apart.
00:16:36Oh, incidentally, if you want to talk to your client, have at it.
00:16:39Because I'm taking her downtown in about two minutes.
00:16:42I don't understand it.
00:16:57I don't understand it at all.
00:16:59What don't you understand?
00:17:01The police.
00:17:04All these questions.
00:17:06Those men in there taking pictures.
00:17:08Fingerprints.
00:17:10I'm afraid, Craig.
00:17:12Just routine, Myra?
00:17:18Nothing to be alarmed about.
00:17:20But Lieutenant Bradley's questions haven't been routine.
00:17:25They don't believe me, do they?
00:17:27Tell me the truth.
00:17:29Lieutenant Bradley plans to hold you on suspicion of murder.
00:17:37What am I going to do?
00:17:39How can I make them believe me?
00:17:41That'll be my job, darling.
00:17:44Why did he try to kill me?
00:17:47Why couldn't he understand?
00:17:50Mara.
00:17:51I loved Joe as much as anyone could.
00:18:00And I thought I knew him.
00:18:03But Joe's actions weren't caused by sudden anger.
00:18:07He had several days to think about what he was going to do.
00:18:11Had he been successful, it would have been premeditated murder.
00:18:19I'm afraid, Craig.
00:18:21Don't be.
00:18:23I know it's going to be difficult for you.
00:18:26Just remember.
00:18:28I love you.
00:18:38Of course I meant it.
00:18:39I still mean it.
00:18:40Moonlight was invented just for you.
00:18:47Ready desk.
00:18:48Frank, here's your lead line.
00:18:50District attorney asked for Myra Leeds' life.
00:18:52He says he'll prove she killed Joe Leeds in cold blood.
00:18:55I think we'd get a new twist to this story if we quoted Carlson.
00:18:58It claims it was an attack of violence, carefully staged and executed.
00:19:02I tell you, no other woman could interest me anymore.
00:19:05Yeah, it's going to be a beaut.
00:19:06This gal's good copy.
00:19:07If Willis was bugging anybody besides Carlson, I think this Leeds woman wouldn't have a prayer.
00:19:12Uh, court's back in session.
00:19:14I'll call rewrite in time for the three-star edition.
00:19:16Right.
00:19:24Oh, that was just the guys.
00:19:26Yeah, court's back in session again.
00:19:28No, I don't have to be in there.
00:19:30You can't take pictures in the courtroom.
00:19:32You were the first officer to report at the scene of the murder.
00:19:35Yes, sir. My partner and I were cruising that area when we got the call.
00:19:39Would you please tell the jury exactly what you found?
00:19:42Well, Mrs. Leeds and Mr. Carlson were there when we arrived.
00:19:46Mr. Carlson said Mrs. Leeds had called him, and as soon as he got there, he called the police.
00:19:50Were there signs of struggle?
00:19:52No, sir.
00:19:53Mrs. Leeds wasn't marked or bruised in any way?
00:19:56Not that I could tell.
00:19:58Did you see anything about her clothing or her person or anything at all that indicated that there had been a struggle?
00:20:03No, sir.
00:20:06That's all.
00:20:07Mr. Carlson?
00:20:09No questions.
00:20:11Sergeant Hill, you are connected with the crime lab.
00:20:14That's right.
00:20:15And did you note that it was raining the night of the murder?
00:20:18Yes, sir.
00:20:19Would you please tell the court how that affected your findings?
00:20:21May I have that picture, please?
00:20:23This dark spot was one of the first things we checked out since water probably came from Joe Lee's clothing.
00:20:36From the way we can piece it together, he stood right there and didn't make a move until he fell from the shot.
00:20:42In other words, your deduction is that there could not have been a struggle.
00:20:48I object.
00:20:50This question calls for a conclusion of the witness.
00:20:53Sustained.
00:20:59Did you find any water spots anyplace else in the room?
00:21:01No, sir.
00:21:04Sergeant Hill, what makes you so certain Joe Leeds did not move closer to Mrs. Leeds than the area of the water stay?
00:21:22To wet a wool rug through that way would require quite a concentration of water.
00:21:27That means the victim would have to stand a spell.
00:21:30But Mrs. Leeds said that he came right in and over to her.
00:21:33Just answer the question, Sergeant.
00:21:35The prosecuting attorney is well able to argue his case.
00:21:37Sorry.
00:21:41What about some of the other people in that room?
00:21:43They could have dripped water on that rug, could they not?
00:21:47We checked that out.
00:21:49The rain had stopped by the time the first police unit had arrived.
00:21:52But it hadn't stopped when I arrived.
00:21:54Couldn't I have stood in one spot long enough to dampen that rug?
00:21:58Why, I guess you could have.
00:22:00Thank you, that's all.
00:22:03And then she stated that he knocked her against the dresser.
00:22:06It was then that she opened the drawer, took out the gun and shot him.
00:22:10Mrs. Leeds said the gun was in the dresser drawer.
00:22:12Yes, sir.
00:22:13Did she point out where Mr. Leeds was at the time she shot him?
00:22:17She said that he was rushing toward her from where they had struggled beside the bed.
00:22:21Specifically, where by the bed?
00:22:23On the left side, where Mrs. Leeds was lying.
00:22:26Did your investigation bear to the conclusion?
00:22:28No, sir.
00:22:29Please explain why.
00:22:30Bottles on the dresser.
00:22:32You know, perfume and delight.
00:22:34And had he knocked her against the dresser, well, surely some of these bottles would have been overturned.
00:22:39Hmm.
00:22:40Lieutenant Bradley, is this one of the photographs you ordered taken?
00:22:49Yes, sir, it is.
00:22:50Now, do you see anything, anything at all disturbed on or about that dresser?
00:22:55No, sir.
00:22:56Nothing.
00:23:00Go on, Lieutenant.
00:23:02Well, according to Mrs. Leeds, the spot where Mr. Leeds was standing at the time she shot him was about ten feet from where he fell.
00:23:11Wasn't that possible?
00:23:12No, sir.
00:23:13According to the coroner's report, the victim was shot through the heart and died instantly.
00:23:18In other words, Joe Leeds would have had to walk ten feet after he was dead.
00:23:22That's about it, sir.
00:23:24You witness.
00:23:25Lieutenant Bradley, how many years have you been on the police force?
00:23:41Twenty-two.
00:23:42And during that time, would you say you've witnessed a number of people suffering from hysteria?
00:23:48I'd say so, yes.
00:23:50And what would you say were the first signs of hysteria?
00:23:54Oh, uh, incoherency?
00:23:59Unable to make a decision?
00:24:02Sort of a lapse in common sense?
00:24:05And would you say it was likely for a woman who just killed a man to be suffering from hysteria?
00:24:11Why, yes.
00:24:14And would it not be within the realm of possibility for this woman to mistake her left from her right?
00:24:19Come to a snap judgment of distance and direction that would be entirely incorrect?
00:24:24What?
00:24:25Possibility?
00:24:26And wouldn't it be possible for a woman in such a state of hysteria to think she was thrown against a dresser when in reality she was thrown against a nearby wall?
00:24:34Well, she could be, but...
00:24:35That is all.
00:24:36That is all.
00:24:38Oh!
00:24:39Hello, darling.
00:24:40Hello, Craig.
00:24:41Hello, darling.
00:25:04Hello, Craig.
00:25:06You know you've had a pretty social day?
00:25:08Three visitors?
00:25:09One was from a newspaper.
00:25:11Luke Azarian came over to tell me not to worry.
00:25:14And Carl Holt, he's an artist, an old friend.
00:25:16Wondered if there was anything he could do.
00:25:19Craig, is it going badly for me?
00:25:21There's nothing new to worry about, so don't try to find something.
00:25:24Will it ever be over?
00:25:27Darling, I know it's been a difficult two weeks for you.
00:25:30But tomorrow should see the end of the testimony.
00:25:32How does it look?
00:25:34Willis operates like a field marshal.
00:25:35He doesn't mind losing battles so long as he wins the war.
00:25:39He'll save his big ammunition for later.
00:25:42What can we do then?
00:25:43Oh, I've had several talks with Lou.
00:25:45He's very anxious to help you.
00:25:47I'm sure his evidence will add a lot of weight.
00:25:49And I think I'm going to let you testify, too.
00:25:52All right.
00:25:54Remember, once you're on the stand, Willis will try to cut you to ribbons.
00:25:57I'm not afraid of Willis or the judge or the jurors.
00:26:01All I'm afraid of is if things go wrong, I'd lose you.
00:26:04Not a chance.
00:26:09Oh, Craig.
00:26:11Beautiful.
00:26:11Well, I said, Joe, is there something wrong between you and Myra?
00:26:18He said, I don't see how anything could be worse.
00:26:22Had you ever seen Joe Leeds before when he was quite angry?
00:26:26Yeah, a couple of times.
00:26:29As a matter of fact, he was quite upset the first time I ever saw him.
00:26:32Somebody had accused him of giving a dishonest cop, tried to get him in trouble with the police.
00:26:36Well, Joe hurt him pretty bad.
00:26:40Then Joe Leeds did have a bad temper when he was upset.
00:26:45Yeah, but that wasn't often.
00:26:50Mr. Kazarian, the night of Joe Leeds' death, did he seem normal to you or upset to you?
00:27:01Well, he was upset.
00:27:03He said he'd been doing a lot of thinking and had reached a big decision.
00:27:07Did he tell you what that decision was?
00:27:10No, except that what he had decided would change his whole life and Myra's, too.
00:27:17That will be all, thank you.
00:27:18Marion, we come to that phone conversation Joe Leeds had with his wife.
00:27:22Tell us exactly what you overheard.
00:27:24Well, that was a long time ago.
00:27:27Just tell us those things you can remember.
00:27:29Well, I remember him saying for her to stay home, he'd been doing a lot of thinking, wanted to talk it over with her, and, well, I guess that's about all that happened.
00:27:40In other words, it was Joe Leeds who definitely had something to talk out with his wife.
00:27:44Well, that's the way it sounded.
00:27:45Now, Mr. Kazarian, the defense counsel has spoken much about Joe Leeds' temper.
00:27:55You say you were present when Joe Leeds beat up a man who falsely accused him.
00:27:59Now, would you say that Joe Leeds was quite angry then?
00:28:03Oh, the worst I've ever seen him.
00:28:06But this fellow had it coming to him.
00:28:07He was always sniping at Joe.
00:28:09And if Joe Leeds was more angry on that occasion than you ever saw him, why didn't he kill the man?
00:28:15Did someone stop the fight?
00:28:17Oh, no.
00:28:18We were all glad to see him get it.
00:28:20Anyway, we knew all Joe had in mind was to rough him up.
00:28:24He sure did a good job.
00:28:26And if Joe Leeds was more angered than you had ever seen him, you claim he had no intention of killing.
00:28:31Now, can you say on the oath that you've taken that he was angered enough to kill his wife?
00:28:35No, I guess not.
00:28:40Thank you, Mr. Kazarian.
00:28:48And do you recall any instance, Mrs. Leeds, where your husband displayed a violent temper?
00:28:56Yes.
00:28:57There was the time just before we were married.
00:29:00Joe had an argument with one of his employees.
00:29:03The two men fought.
00:29:05Joe beat him so brutally, the other man had to spend the next two months in the hospital.
00:29:10And were there times after your marriage when your husband showed a tendency toward violence?
00:29:16Several.
00:29:18Whenever anything annoyed him, edgy.
00:29:20If someone said something that displeased him, he flew into a temper.
00:29:25We argued often because of this.
00:29:27Then that night when he came home, wet, blind with fury, you had good reason to think he would kill you.
00:29:36You had good reason to think that Joe Leeds was a man of violence.
00:29:40That is what you believed, is it not, Mrs. Leeds?
00:29:43Yes.
00:29:44Do you think any other woman would have reacted as you did?
00:29:49I know they would.
00:29:51No one wants to kill, but no one wants to be killed either.
00:29:56You witness.
00:29:57Yes.
00:29:57Mrs. Leeds, how long had you and your husband been married?
00:30:11Two years.
00:30:13And when you married your husband, what was your financial condition?
00:30:17I don't understand.
00:30:18Oh, I'm sorry.
00:30:18I mean, were you rich, moderately wealthy, had a good job?
00:30:23What?
00:30:24Well, I...
00:30:25I was looking for a job when I met Joe Leeds.
00:30:30And would you say your husband was a man of means?
00:30:32I mean, did he have some property, some insurance perhaps?
00:30:35He had ten supermarkets, some insurance.
00:30:39How much would you say your husband was worth at the time of his death?
00:30:42That is, including insurance.
00:30:45I don't know.
00:30:47Then let me tell you.
00:30:49Your husband, Mrs. Leeds, left an estate of more than three quarters of a million dollars.
00:30:54That's quite an inheritance for you.
00:30:57From unemployment to a neat $750,000 in two years.
00:31:02Wouldn't you say that was a very lucrative two years' work, Mrs. Leeds?
00:31:07Objection!
00:31:09The prosecution will refrain from any more questions of this nature.
00:31:13That last statement will be stricken from the record, and the jury is asked to disregard it.
00:31:17Mrs. Leeds, when you married your husband, were you in love with him?
00:31:21Of course.
00:31:22Were you in love with your husband at the time of his death?
00:31:26No.
00:31:26Then in less than two years, you no longer loved him.
00:31:30Love is a very strong emotion, Mrs. Leeds.
00:31:32How could you turn it off so quickly?
00:31:36I just didn't love him anymore.
00:31:38And you waited until that fatal night to tell him about it.
00:31:41That's not true.
00:31:43Then when did you tell your husband you were no longer in love with him?
00:31:45I don't remember.
00:31:50Did you ask your husband for a divorce?
00:31:54Yes.
00:31:55And what was Mr. Leeds' answer?
00:31:57He just said he wanted to think about it.
00:32:00In other words, Mrs. Leeds, when you suddenly told your husband you wanted a divorce, instead of becoming angry,
00:32:04he answered he wanted to think about it.
00:32:06Now, is that correct?
00:32:07Yes.
00:32:08And yet you ask this court to believe that Mr. Leeds returned home on that fatal evening,
00:32:13and without so much as a single word, tried to kill you?
00:32:16Yes.
00:32:17Then tell us, Mrs. Leeds, how do you explain the fact that when you first, shall we say,
00:32:20shocked your husband by asking him for a divorce, he did nothing?
00:32:27I don't know.
00:32:29I don't know.
00:32:34That will be all, Mrs. Leeds.
00:32:38Myra Leeds would have us believe that when her husband reached their apartment,
00:32:49he immediately made an attempt to kill her, so that she had to kill in self-defense.
00:32:54But what concrete reasons have you been given that Mrs. Leeds felt she was forced to shoot her husband,
00:33:00only that he became furious when she told him she no longer loved him,
00:33:04that she wanted a divorce?
00:33:05And why did Myra Leeds claim to want a divorce in the first place?
00:33:09Just that they were no longer in love.
00:33:11And yet, not one single witness has been brought before this court to indicate that any discord existed between the Leeds.
00:33:19Let me tell you, ladies and gentlemen of the jury,
00:33:22there was no discord in the marriage of Joe Leeds,
00:33:26only in that of her wife, Myra,
00:33:28an ambitious woman.
00:33:29Marriage had bettered her position.
00:33:32And with Joe Leeds' death, her position was still improved.
00:33:37The location of the body,
00:33:40the placement and trajectory of the bullet that killed Leeds,
00:33:43the lack of signs of a struggle,
00:33:45all of these facts,
00:33:47facts,
00:33:49fitted against Myra Leeds' story of self-defense.
00:33:52Could there be an honest doubt in your minds as to the guilt of this woman?
00:33:59Well, if there is, let me dispel them for you.
00:34:02Myra Leeds has given no reason why she would have wanted to divorce Joe Leeds,
00:34:06except that she fell out of love.
00:34:09Now,
00:34:10is love such a fickle thing that one can fall in love one week and out the next?
00:34:15With no apparent reason,
00:34:18could Myra Leeds have awakened one morning
00:34:20and decided to ask her husband of two years for a divorce?
00:34:24No.
00:34:26Let me tell you what Myra Leeds did.
00:34:28She was jobless when she met Joe Leeds.
00:34:31She saw in him a stepping stone to an easy life.
00:34:34And when she was ready to move on,
00:34:36she realized that Joe Leeds could only be of monetary value to her dead.
00:34:40so that when he came home to discuss whatever it was he wished to discuss,
00:34:46she shot him.
00:34:50Myra Leeds shot and killed her husband for a handful of gold.
00:34:55That is why the state charges Myra Leeds
00:34:57with murder in the first degree.
00:35:02Is counsel for the defense ready to address the jury?
00:35:05I am, Your Honor.
00:35:10This has been a long and grueling trial,
00:35:18not only for the defendant,
00:35:20but for the rest of us as well.
00:35:22You have heard arguments and counter-arguments,
00:35:26facts and counter-fact,
00:35:27theory and counter-theory.
00:35:29And for the past hour and 15 minutes,
00:35:31you've heard the prosecution parade before you
00:35:33every piece of circumstantial evidence,
00:35:36innuendo and plain conjecture that he could muster.
00:35:39Conjecture that would bolster his claim
00:35:42that Myra Leeds is guilty of murdering her husband.
00:35:46With all of this conjecture,
00:35:48the end result has been this.
00:35:51The state claims Myra Leeds killed Joe Leeds
00:35:54because her story about the moments of violence
00:35:57she was faced with differed from that of the police.
00:35:59And because she could give no clear reason
00:36:02why she suddenly would want to divorce her husband.
00:36:07If Myra Leeds had a sound reason
00:36:09for suddenly desiring a divorce,
00:36:11a reason that would measurably add to her happiness,
00:36:15even the prosecution knows it would have no case.
00:36:20Well, Myra Leeds did have a reason
00:36:22for asking Joe Leeds for a divorce.
00:36:24Yes, Myra Leeds was in love with another man.
00:36:40Now remember,
00:36:42you of the jury are not here to determine
00:36:44the righteousness of Myra Leeds' emotions as a woman,
00:36:47only to determine if she shot her husband
00:36:50in an act of premeditation.
00:36:53It is not for you to decide
00:36:55whether or not Myra Leeds did the right thing
00:36:58in falling in love with another man.
00:37:00It is for you to decide
00:37:01if in telling her husband about the man she loved,
00:37:06she aroused in him an anger so intense
00:37:08he decided to kill her.
00:37:10So now you ask,
00:37:13who is this man?
00:37:15Bring him forward to confirm this story.
00:37:19Well, I knew Joe Leeds better than anyone.
00:37:23And I know the man his wife is in love with.
00:37:28I am that man.
00:37:29Any further demonstration of this character
00:37:41in this courtroom will be clear.
00:37:46Proceed.
00:37:48My falling in love with Myra Leeds was accidental.
00:37:53But my wanting to marry her
00:37:55was with strong intent.
00:37:58As was Joe Leeds' intent
00:38:01when he decided
00:38:01if he could no longer have his wife,
00:38:04no other man would either.
00:38:06Ladies and gentlemen,
00:38:08there isn't a single one of you
00:38:10who wouldn't have struggled
00:38:11as Myra Leeds did.
00:38:13Her life was at stake.
00:38:14She acted in self-defense.
00:38:18Now, that is the story.
00:38:22And that is the truth.
00:38:24To bring out the truth,
00:38:27your verdict must be
00:38:28not guilty.
00:38:32She beat it.
00:38:33Not guilty.
00:38:34You know, what gallery chair
00:38:35you thought Navy just made a touchdown?
00:38:37Cross.
00:38:38Cool as winter.
00:38:39Didn't move a muscle
00:38:40when the jury foreman sang out.
00:38:43There's no doubt about it.
00:38:44That guy's the biggest incentive murder's had
00:38:46since the Chinese invented gunpowder.
00:38:48I wish you happiness.
00:39:03Pick this up on the way back from court today.
00:39:05What is it?
00:39:07Cree.
00:39:09As ancient and enchanting
00:39:11as the Mediterranean would surrender.
00:39:13May not be the world's greatest prose,
00:39:15but it sounded good to me.
00:39:16It must be love.
00:39:19I thought we could be married next week,
00:39:21take the boat to Rome,
00:39:22then we're at the Capri.
00:39:24Oh, darling,
00:39:25it'll be a wonderful honeymoon.
00:39:27It sounds wonderful,
00:39:28but do you know next week is almost here?
00:39:30Give me a little bit more time.
00:39:32The sooner we get away,
00:39:33the better it'll be for you.
00:39:36From now on,
00:39:36you're not going to have any reason
00:39:38to think of anything up with me.
00:39:46Oh, hi, Lou.
00:39:48We'd about given you up.
00:39:49I'm sorry I'm late,
00:39:50but Mom wasn't feeling well,
00:39:51and last minute she decided to stay home.
00:39:54Oh, that's too bad.
00:39:55Well, let me hang up to your coat.
00:39:56No, thanks.
00:39:57And, Myra,
00:39:59I'm awfully glad everything turned out okay.
00:40:01Thank you, Lou.
00:40:03Hey,
00:40:03this is supposed to be a happy occasion.
00:40:05Could I talk to you alone for a minute, Greg?
00:40:08Something wrong?
00:40:09It's about Joe.
00:40:13Sure, let's go in to go dance.
00:40:17Hiya, Will.
00:40:18How are you, Lou?
00:40:19Hello, Henry.
00:40:20Good to see you, Lou.
00:40:30What is it, Lou?
00:40:31It's about Joe,
00:40:32and the last night he was alive,
00:40:33the night my daughter was married,
00:40:35and I dropped by to tell him about the wedding.
00:40:37Well, just before I left,
00:40:39he asked me to mail a letter for him.
00:40:41I put it in my pocket,
00:40:42and, well,
00:40:43I forgot all about it
00:40:44until I put my tux on again,
00:40:46and tonight it's addressed to you.
00:40:59Dear Greg,
00:41:00well, like I promised,
00:41:02I've been doing a lot of thinking.
00:41:04I've been trying to figure out
00:41:05the best way for all of us.
00:41:08You see,
00:41:09when I first met Myra,
00:41:10I figured she was out of my league.
00:41:12She was interested in things
00:41:14that I didn't understand,
00:41:15like art and music.
00:41:18But then, like a boat one night,
00:41:20she told me she loved me,
00:41:21and I felt nine feet tall.
00:41:24Right then,
00:41:24I said a million thanks.
00:41:26In a way,
00:41:27it was like the answer to a prayer.
00:41:29We got married right away,
00:41:31and for a couple of months,
00:41:32living was paradise.
00:41:34I didn't love her.
00:41:36I worshipped her.
00:41:38But it began to change.
00:41:41One day, we had an argument.
00:41:43Myra told me she'd never loved me.
00:41:46It goes without saying, Craig,
00:41:48that I walked in circles for days.
00:41:51Finally, I asked her if she wanted a divorce,
00:41:53and she said yes,
00:41:54and asked for half my business.
00:41:58I got mad because I realized
00:42:00that was the only reason
00:42:01she'd ever married me.
00:42:03I told her that no man
00:42:04was going to live off
00:42:05what it had taken me most
00:42:06to accumulate.
00:42:08And that's the way it's been going along
00:42:10for the past few months.
00:42:12Myra's in love, Fred,
00:42:14but not with you.
00:42:16She's in love
00:42:17with some kind of an artist.
00:42:18I can't figure out
00:42:30what she's doing with you,
00:42:31but I know she must have
00:42:32some kind of a plan.
00:42:35I'm going to see her tonight.
00:42:36I'm going to try to keep her.
00:42:38She's no good, Craig,
00:42:39but I do love her.
00:42:42If she decides not to stay with me,
00:42:44I wanted you to know the truth.
00:42:47She is a woman.
00:42:48Myra's a disease.
00:42:51In a way,
00:42:52she's already destroyed me.
00:42:55I just hope she doesn't
00:42:57end up destroying you.
00:43:18Did I cause trouble
00:43:33by forgetting about the letter?
00:43:38I don't know, Lou.
00:43:39Give me a couple of these
00:43:40keep around with you.
00:43:41I never wanted to hurt Jill.
00:43:43I didn't think I could possibly
00:43:44fall in love with anyone else.
00:43:46But I have.
00:43:48Why did he try to kill me?
00:43:50Why couldn't he understand?
00:43:52I'm not afraid of women
00:43:53or the judge or the jurors.
00:43:54All I'm afraid of is if things go wrong,
00:43:56I'd lose you.
00:43:57Myra Leeds shot and killed her husband
00:43:58for a handful of gold.
00:44:00That is why the state charges Myra Leeds
00:44:02with murder in the first degree.
00:44:03Carl Holt, he's an artist, an old friend.
00:44:05Wondered if there was anything he could do.
00:44:11I'm not afraid of women
00:44:12or the judge or the jurors.
00:44:13All I'm afraid of is if things go wrong,
00:44:14I'd lose you.
00:44:15Myra Leeds shot and killed her husband
00:44:16for a handful of gold.
00:44:18That is why the state charges Myra Leeds
00:44:20with murder in the first degree.
00:44:22Carl Holt, he's an artist, an old friend.
00:44:24Wondered if there was anything he could do.
00:44:39Mr. Holt?
00:44:40Yes.
00:44:41My name's...
00:44:42I know.
00:44:43Craig Carlson.
00:44:44Won't you come in?
00:44:49I have to forgive the appearance of the place.
00:44:52My, uh, canvassers have a way of dominating
00:44:55the whole room.
00:44:56Not bad canvassers either.
00:44:58I'm, I'm, I'm a great friend.
00:45:00Because of Myra's acquittal?
00:45:02No.
00:45:03It was back way before that.
00:45:04You see, this is a pretty strange neighborhood.
00:45:07You know what they call it?
00:45:08Cloud Nine.
00:45:10I guess that's because a lot of men
00:45:12are just getting started living around here.
00:45:14Have a lot of dreams, a lot of idols, you know?
00:45:17Now, you take the fellow who lives just, uh,
00:45:19two doors down.
00:45:20He just got out of law school.
00:45:21He thinks you walk right down out of the sun.
00:45:23Hmm.
00:45:24Take some of the cases that you've turned down.
00:45:26According to Charlie, if you didn't care who you got acquitted,
00:45:29you could be living like a Maharaja.
00:45:31No, he must be just out of law school.
00:45:33Oh, he's got a lot of other legal idols, too.
00:45:36But for me, you're my favorite.
00:45:38Ever since you took Myra's case.
00:45:40You've known Myra a long time.
00:45:43Since we were freshmen in college.
00:45:45Myra was a music major, and I was knee-deep in art.
00:45:49Did you ever hear Myra play?
00:45:51Yes.
00:45:52Plays like an angel.
00:45:53Of course, in my book, Myra is an angel.
00:45:55Well, I guess she's told you how I feel about her.
00:45:58No, she hasn't.
00:46:00Nothing earth-shattering for anybody except us.
00:46:03I happen to be very much in love with her.
00:46:06We're going to be married.
00:46:12When was that decided?
00:46:14Two years after we left college.
00:46:19The strange engagement?
00:46:21The marriage in between?
00:46:23Well, that was Myra's one big mistake.
00:46:26We both knew that shortly after she married that fellow.
00:46:29You don't mind if I work while we talk to you?
00:46:31I want to make the most of the sunlight.
00:46:33You're right ahead.
00:46:37You say, Myra knew she made a mistake when she married Jolie?
00:46:44People chased different rainbows, Mr. Carlson.
00:46:47For Myra, it was money.
00:46:49I didn't have any.
00:46:51My prospects were terrible.
00:46:53Terrible!
00:46:56Well, we had a scrap on that subject, and then she met this lead fellow.
00:46:59You know the rest of the story.
00:47:01No, not the point about her knowing she'd made a mistake.
00:47:05Well, that was when we, uh, met at that exhibit that afternoon.
00:47:10Hotter was still dry.
00:47:14At this juncture, I'd like to make a point of honor, Mr. Carlson.
00:47:17I refused to see Myra again after that afternoon.
00:47:20I thought she was free, and she felt the same way about it.
00:47:22Quite an impasse, wasn't it?
00:47:24We didn't think so.
00:47:26I was going to ask Leeds for a divorce.
00:47:30I guess he went sort of crazy.
00:47:32That awful night was the capper.
00:47:36You know, Holt, you've been a lot working against you.
00:47:40But in spite of that, I still may get to like you.
00:47:43Well, I want you to, but what have I got working against me?
00:47:45Myra's trial?
00:47:47Why didn't you offer to help?
00:47:49I did.
00:47:51That day I visited Myra.
00:47:53She didn't want me to come to see her again, though.
00:47:55Or even say I knew her.
00:47:57Funny, I couldn't quite figure that out.
00:47:59I guess it was because she was afraid our being in love would sway the jury against her since she was a married woman.
00:48:05Funny, it was the very approach that freed her.
00:48:09That's what makes a lawyer a lawyer. You're just plain smart.
00:48:14Not always.
00:48:15Well, now, I watch that trial every single day, and you never drew amiss.
00:48:22By the way, I would like a crack at improving your impression of me.
00:48:25You got any ideas?
00:48:26Oh, my first sense was right. I do like it.
00:48:29Well, let's be really classical about this friendship then, and toast it and sherry.
00:48:33Cling the glass in the fireplace.
00:48:35I'm sorry, but I'd better go.
00:48:37Oh, too bad.
00:48:39But as far as the toast is concerned, it's just as well. I haven't got any fireplace.
00:48:42I will see you again, then, when I see you.
00:48:44Yes, you will.
00:48:45You know, that last day of the trial, when you said you were the man in Myra's life,
00:48:50I didn't think so kindly of you then.
00:48:52I'm glad Myra straightened me out on it.
00:48:54Oh?
00:48:55What did she say?
00:48:56Well, that it was a piece of courtroom strategy.
00:48:58Boy, I sure was a beaut. That was the best piece of dramatics I've ever seen.
00:49:01I guess Myra and I really owe you an awful lot growing out on a limb like that.
00:49:04Well, good-bye, Mr. Holt.
00:49:07Good-bye, Mr. Garthlin.
00:49:09Darling?
00:49:10I was expecting you.
00:49:25Be ready in three minutes.
00:49:26Darling! I was expecting you. Be ready in three minutes. In the meantime, how about making one of your very special Manhattans?
00:49:40I'm not quite sure I know how to make a Manhattan.
00:49:44Craig! You startled me. I was expecting a friend.
00:49:50Who knows how to make a special Manhattan?
00:49:53That's right. If you like, I can...
00:49:57No, thanks. I just wanted to talk to you, Myra, about our engagement.
00:50:04Let's not make it tonight, Craig.
00:50:06Why not tonight? Why not this very minute?
00:50:09Two people in love can't wait, Myra. That's the way with people in love, isn't it?
00:50:13I explained, Craig. Someone...
00:50:15Well, isn't it? Oh, say it, Myra. Say you love me. Say you're hopelessly, irretrievably in love with me.
00:50:22Let go of me.
00:50:24I want to hear you say it, Myra. I'm all you have.
00:50:28Or have you suddenly remembered there was someone else?
00:50:31I said let go of me.
00:50:32Someone like Carl Holt.
00:50:35All right. You know.
00:50:39I met him today. He seems very much in love. Two men in love with you. Awkward arrangement, Myra.
00:50:58Craig, what happened to us? It was a mistake.
00:51:04I don't think so. In fact, I don't think you ever made a mistake before in your life.
00:51:10I don't want to see him, Craig.
00:51:12Neither do I. Just the truth.
00:51:14The truth is I am in love with Carl Holt. And I'm going to marry him.
00:51:17And you were in love with Carl Holt and you were going to marry him the day I met you.
00:51:21I don't want to talk about it.
00:51:23Then let's have someone talk about it for us.
00:51:28I received this letter yesterday. It's from Joe.
00:51:32What kind of a trick is this?
00:51:34Sit down, Myra.
00:51:37Sit down!
00:51:39Dear Craig, like I promised, I've been doing a lot of thinking. I've been trying to figure out the best way for all of us.
00:51:55You see, when I first met Myra, I figured she was out of my league. She was interested in things I didn't understand, like art and music.
00:52:03Myra's in love, Craig, but not with you.
00:52:06She's in love with some kind of an artist.
00:52:09I can't figure out what she's doing to you,
00:52:11but I know she must have some kind of a plan.
00:52:13I'm going to see her tonight, and I'm going to try and keep her.
00:52:17She's no good, Craig, but I do love her.
00:52:20And if she decides not to stay with me,
00:52:22I wanted you to know the truth.
00:52:24If she isn't a woman, Myra's a disease.
00:52:27The way she's already destroyed me,
00:52:29I just hope she doesn't end up destroying you.
00:52:32Joe.
00:52:34I don't believe Joe wrote that letter.
00:52:37You should be able to recognize his writing.
00:52:45What does it prove?
00:52:48Only that Joe was a miserable, jealous man?
00:52:51No, Myra. It proves something much different.
00:52:53Joe offered you a divorce, but without any money.
00:52:56You didn't want it that way,
00:52:58and you knew there was only one way to get it.
00:53:00You'll have to do more than say it.
00:53:01You'll have to prove it.
00:53:03I'm free now.
00:53:04I can do what I want with my life.
00:53:07You had it planned very carefully, didn't you, Myra?
00:53:10To get Joe's money, you had to kill him.
00:53:13To guarantee your freedom, you made me fall in love with you.
00:53:16I wonder if Carl Holt would want a murderess for a wife.
00:53:20I was tried and acquitted.
00:53:22Your brilliant defense freed me.
00:53:24No one can hurt me anymore.
00:53:27Not even you.
00:53:28This time you're wrong, Myra.
00:53:30Very wrong.
00:53:31What do you mean, this time?
00:53:33You're going to commit another murder.
00:53:36Totally ridiculous.
00:53:38Yes, you are.
00:53:39You're going to murder me.
00:53:42You're insane.
00:53:43No one wants to die.
00:53:44Not even you.
00:53:45My whole life has meant just three things.
00:53:59My love for Joe, my work, and my love for you.
00:54:06You've destroyed them all.
00:54:09How much is there left of me to die?
00:54:11Well, there it was, Ray.
00:54:26An ugly little package.
00:54:29Myra had killed Joe Leeds, and I was an accessory.
00:54:34Joe Leeds was dead when Myra hadn't paid,
00:54:39just as I'm going to pay.
00:54:46There's not much time left, so I'd better bring you up to date.
00:54:51I had made plans to give up my practice.
00:54:54I was spending every available moment keeping Myra constantly aware
00:54:58that sooner or later I proved to Carl Holt she was a murderer.
00:55:04Then I learned that Myra and Carl were planning to leave for Europe.
00:55:08Great!
00:55:09Good to see you again.
00:55:10Good, sir.
00:55:11Come on in.
00:55:12Hey, we were just about to have a drink.
00:55:13Want to join us?
00:55:14Oh, no thanks.
00:55:15Well, what a pleasant surprise.
00:55:16Are you sure you're surprised, Craig?
00:55:17What do you mean by that?
00:55:18Oh, just a private little joke.
00:55:19Myra is certain attorneys know what people are going to do before they do it.
00:55:20In some cases, I'd say you're going to be surprised.
00:55:23Oh, no thanks.
00:55:24Well, what a pleasant surprise.
00:55:26Are you sure you're surprised, Craig?
00:55:29What do you mean by that?
00:55:30Oh, just a private little joke.
00:55:32Myra is certain attorneys know what people are going to do before they do it.
00:55:36In some cases, I'd say she was right.
00:55:37Let's talk about lawyers.
00:55:38I've got news for you.
00:55:39Oh?
00:55:40Should we tell them, honey?
00:55:41No, I don't think you'd be interested.
00:55:42Of course I'd be interested.
00:55:43We're going to get married?
00:55:44No.
00:55:45Surprised again, Craig?
00:55:46We're sailing for Paris on Friday.
00:55:47We're going to be married as soon as we get there.
00:55:48And it was all Myra's idea.
00:55:49She wants to live there.
00:55:50In a way, I'm sorry.
00:55:51Sorry?
00:55:52For what?
00:55:53Well, this wasn't exactly a social visit.
00:55:54I came up with permission of painting.
00:55:55Painting?
00:55:56For whom?
00:55:57Myself.
00:55:58I know this is going to sound a little vain, but I've always wanted a portrait.
00:56:01You know, something very flattering.
00:56:03Well, I'm sorry.
00:56:04I'm sorry.
00:56:05I'm sorry.
00:56:06I'm sorry.
00:56:07I'm sorry.
00:56:08I'm sorry.
00:56:09I'm sorry.
00:56:10I'm sorry.
00:56:11I'm sorry.
00:56:12I'm sorry.
00:56:13I'm sorry.
00:56:14I'm sorry.
00:56:15Very flattering.
00:56:16Oh, it's a shame you didn't mention it before.
00:56:19We sail on Friday.
00:56:20Well, how long does it take to do it for you?
00:56:23Well, it varies.
00:56:24I usually like two, three weeks.
00:56:26Well, couldn't you put your trip off for that length of time?
00:56:30No.
00:56:31I like your work, Carl.
00:56:33I'd be willing to pay as much as, oh, $2,500.
00:56:37Hey, I'm not Whistler, you know.
00:56:40What about it?
00:56:41$2,500 for those two weeks.
00:56:44We don't need money.
00:56:45We have plenty.
00:56:46Now, hold on, honey.
00:56:47I mean, you have plenty.
00:56:49Well, you're my husband.
00:56:51What I have belongs to you.
00:56:53Well, I am afraid where money is concerned, I'm going to be a little old fashioned.
00:57:00I'll do it.
00:57:01When can you make the sitting?
00:57:03Well, what about tomorrow?
00:57:04That's fine.
00:57:05Between three and five, that's where my life's been.
00:57:07Good.
00:57:08I'm going to be here.
00:57:09Two weeks.
00:57:10Give us a chance to get very well acquainted.
00:57:12I'm looking forward to it.
00:57:13Oh, my.
00:57:14Well, Myra, it seems as if you're one weakness in picking men with moral strength.
00:57:19Well, I'll see you tomorrow.
00:57:21Come on, Craig.
00:57:23I expected you, but not quite as soon.
00:57:36Leave us alone, Craig.
00:57:37Don't push me too far.
00:57:39Is that all you came here for?
00:57:42I came to offer you $100,000.
00:57:45Will you take it?
00:57:47Let him go to Paris?
00:57:48No.
00:57:49$125,000.
00:57:50Not for all the money in the world.
00:57:53I need those two weeks.
00:57:55I need the time to finish what I've started.
00:57:58I promise you, Myra, you're not going to have Carl Holt or Jolie's money.
00:58:03I never realized how much I could hate a man until now.
00:58:07But not enough to kill me.
00:58:09Not yet.
00:58:10What kind of a man are you?
00:58:11One who believes in the honesty and integrity of our court?
00:58:14Well, that's something you would never be able to understand.
00:58:17I understand what you're trying to do to me.
00:58:19Do you really?
00:58:20Do you understand what you did to me when I learned you killed Joe?
00:58:24Do you understand in winning you an acquittal I became as guilty as you?
00:58:28I want you to understand, Myra.
00:58:30I want you to fully understand that we'll have to pay for what we've done.
00:58:33I'm not going to pay for anything.
00:58:36You pay, Myra.
00:58:37We'll both pay.
00:58:38I got it.
00:58:39Better or for worse?
00:58:40It's finished.
00:58:41It's excellent.
00:58:42It's been a very patient subject.
00:58:47Oh, don't forget tonight.
00:58:48I'll be on room about seven.
00:58:52Craig?
00:58:53A few times you've seen Myra here.
00:58:55I know as how nervous and jumpy she seems.
00:58:58The trial was very taxing for her and I guess she's anxious to get to Europe.
00:59:01It's been a very patient subject.
00:59:05Oh, don't forget tonight.
00:59:06I'll be on room about seven.
00:59:11Craig?
00:59:12A few times you've seen Myra here.
00:59:17I know as how nervous and jumpy she seems.
00:59:21The trial was very taxing for her and I guess she's anxious to get to Europe.
00:59:26Both natural reactions.
00:59:27I don't think you should have any worries about her.
00:59:28I guess not.
00:59:29Maybe her party will be just a prescription that will snap her out of her.
00:59:30By the way, what are we celebrating?
00:59:31We'll find out in exactly three hours.
00:59:33Okay, man of mystery.
00:59:34I will not press you for an answer.
00:59:35I'll stay on tenor hook.
00:59:36I'll see you at death.
00:59:37Right.
00:59:38I'll see you at death.
00:59:39Right.
00:59:40You wish to order now, sir?
00:59:41No, we have another part of that.
00:59:42I'll see you at death.
00:59:43Right.
00:59:44Okay, man of mystery. I will not press you for an answer.
00:59:49I'll stay on Tenderhooks.
00:59:51I'll see you, sir.
00:59:52Right.
01:00:07You wish to order now, sir?
01:00:08No, we have another party coming along.
01:00:10Why didn't you tell me, Craig?
01:00:12What's the matter, Myra?
01:00:14There's so much to do. It's bail day after tomorrow.
01:00:16You think you're the only one who's busy?
01:00:18Move over. I haven't even packed yet.
01:00:42I tell you what, Carl, let's leave.
01:00:46Leave?
01:00:47We could give a message to the captain.
01:00:48Have him tell Craig that something had come up.
01:00:50We can't do that.
01:00:51You know that Craig's been counting on this.
01:00:52He's looking forward to it.
01:00:54What's so important about it?
01:00:56We'll talk about that after dinner, Myra.
01:01:00Hello, Charles.
01:01:01Good evening, Mr. Carlson.
01:01:02Good evening, Mr. Carlson.
01:01:03Hi, Craig.
01:01:09For dessert, may I suggest cherry jubilee?
01:01:11It's excellent.
01:01:12No, no, thank you.
01:01:13How about you, Myra?
01:01:17That'll be all, Charles.
01:01:19Well, Craig, that was a delicious dinner.
01:01:21French food couldn't be any better.
01:01:23Myra, did you enjoy your dinner?
01:01:26You told us you'd tell us what this was all about after dinner, Craig.
01:01:29Myra.
01:01:30Oh, it's all right.
01:01:31She's just anxious.
01:01:32What do you mean, anxious?
01:01:33A trip to Paris, and she's about to become a bride.
01:01:36Craig, I want to know why you brought us here.
01:01:39All right.
01:01:50Here you are, Carl.
01:01:56Well, Craig, our deal was for $2,500.
01:02:06I thought I'd double it.
01:02:08That's my surprise.
01:02:09But why?
01:02:11By helping me achieve an important ambition.
01:02:18Well, I...
01:02:21I certainly hope, through the years, the painting continues to please you, Craig.
01:02:26I'm certain it will.
01:02:29You see...
01:02:32To me, the portrait reflected not only a friendship,
01:02:37but a great understanding you felt for the subject.
01:02:41I hope you're never disappointed.
01:02:44Well, I must run.
01:02:45I have a lot of work to do at the house.
01:02:48You got that one important case you mentioned?
01:02:50That's the one.
01:02:52Thank you for coming, Myra.
01:02:54We will see you again before we leave.
01:02:57Yes, you will.
01:02:59By the way, Carl, there's something I've been wanting to ask you.
01:03:04Suppose the portrait of me had turned out badly.
01:03:08Suppose you'd realized you'd made a mistake in the manner in which you'd handled it.
01:03:14What would you have done?
01:03:16Destroyed it, of course.
01:03:18Despite your fee?
01:03:20Despite anything.
01:03:22Strange.
01:03:24I've always felt that the same parallel existed in law.
01:03:30Well, I've... I've got to be going.
01:03:35Good night.
01:03:37Night, Craig.
01:03:38I can't tell you how good it's been having dinner here with you, Craig.
01:03:55Wish we could do it more often.
01:03:57Ray, there's something I want to ask you.
01:04:01Shoot.
01:04:02About the Myra Leeds trial.
01:04:05Oh, my.
01:04:06Well, I talk over yesterday's headlines.
01:04:09You asked the jury to find Myra guilty of first-degree murder.
01:04:14Hmm.
01:04:16At the end of the trial, the jury found her not guilty.
01:04:21How did you find her?
01:04:24It's important to me, Ray.
01:04:26I want to know.
01:04:27All right, Craig.
01:04:33You were very convincing.
01:04:35I can understand you were swearing that jury, but you didn't sway me.
01:04:39At the time, I still thought she was guilty.
01:04:42I was sure you did.
01:04:44You know, I thought about it for a long time.
01:04:47Now I know that the...
01:04:49the jury brought in the correct verdict.
01:04:51I've known you too many years, Craig.
01:04:53You never would have said what you did just for the...
01:04:56dramatic effect.
01:04:57Another attorney might, but...
01:04:59not you.
01:05:01No, I admit it.
01:05:03On the Myra Leeds case...
01:05:05I was way off base.
01:05:10Well, thank you, Ray.
01:05:13Now there's something I'd like you to do for me.
01:05:15Hello, Mrs. Leeds.
01:05:21Mr. Carlson, take a breath in you.
01:05:23Thank you, Jenny.
01:05:29Miss Leeds?
01:05:31Mr. Willis?
01:05:32Now, Myra, glad you could make it.
01:05:34No, it's getting late.
01:05:36I'd better leave.
01:05:38It's been a wonderful evening.
01:05:39Thanks for the talk, Ray.
01:05:40You've been very helpful.
01:05:42Miss Leeds?
01:05:45Why did you send for me?
01:05:55Why were you talking to the district attorney?
01:05:59We were talking about a case.
01:06:01Your case, Myra.
01:06:03This grotesque joke of yours has gone far enough.
01:06:06You still think this is a joke?
01:06:08You've got to stop it, Craig.
01:06:10Every time you talk to Carl, I...
01:06:12The other evening at dinner, I was terrified.
01:06:14What you're doing is inhuman.
01:06:16I can't stand much more of it.
01:06:18You're a murderous, Myra.
01:06:20Anything that happens to you won't be enough.
01:06:22Craig, the jury freed me.
01:06:25They found me innocent.
01:06:27All I want is to go away with Carl.
01:06:30Please understand, for the first time in my life,
01:06:32I want to live decently.
01:06:34You don't know the meaning of the word.
01:06:36Myra.
01:06:38At first, I thought Carl Holt was like you.
01:06:41But it wasn't long before I changed my mind.
01:06:45You fooled him, Myra.
01:06:47Just like you fooled me.
01:06:49He's too fine to be hurt by someone like you.
01:06:53I'm not going to let it happen.
01:06:54No matter what you're telling me, he won't believe you.
01:06:57There's no way of proving that I killed Joe.
01:06:59You're just trying to frighten me with more threats.
01:07:02Understand me, Myra.
01:07:05I never once meant to threaten you.
01:07:08I made you a promise.
01:07:10What I've compiled in this folder is no longer theory.
01:07:18It's proof.
01:07:20The only way you can prevent me from turning it over to Carl...
01:07:24is to kill me.
01:07:26I'm not going to kill you.
01:07:28I'm not going to kill you!
01:07:30It must be maddening to know that in just a little while,
01:07:33you're going to lose everything you've planned and killed for.
01:07:36You see, Myra, you can't win anymore.
01:07:47It was not long before my telephone began to ring.
01:07:51I knew it would be Myra.
01:07:53She was desperate.
01:07:54She wanted to see me right away.
01:07:56But I still had a few things to do,
01:07:58so I told her I'd see her later at my office.
01:08:01I made the appointment for 12.30 sharp.
01:08:04It was now only a matter of waiting.
01:08:07Time took care of the wait.
01:08:09So now the pattern's complete.
01:08:12And it's the same pattern Joe Leeds lived.
01:08:15But this time, Myra won't be acquitted.
01:08:18That's where you're concerned, Ray.
01:08:20Because this time, you're not going to have to guess whether or not Myra is guilty.
01:08:25You'll know.
01:08:26You're going to be a witness.
01:08:27You'll know.
01:08:28You're going to be a witness.
01:08:29You'll know.
01:08:30You're going to be a witness.
01:08:31You're going to be a witness.
01:08:32You're going to be a witness.
01:08:33You're going to be a witness.
01:08:34You're going to be a witness.
01:08:35You're going to be a witness.
01:08:36You're going to be a witness.
01:08:37You're going to be a witness.
01:08:38You're going to be a witness.
01:08:39You're going to be a witness.
01:08:40You're going to be a witness.
01:08:41You're going to be a witness.
01:08:42You're going to be a witness.
01:08:43You're going to be a witness.
01:08:44You're going to be a witness.
01:08:45You're going to be a witness.
01:08:47You're going to be a witness.
01:08:49You're going to be a witness.
01:08:51You're going to be a witness.
01:08:52Thank you for being so prompt.
01:08:57You promised me an answer.
01:09:02Here it is.
01:09:05I'm sorry.
01:09:07Thank you for being so prompt.
01:09:10You promised me an answer.
01:09:15Here it is.
01:09:21My complete file.
01:09:24Now no attorney could get you off, not even me.
01:09:27I told you I can't be tried for the same crime twice.
01:09:31And I told you I'm trying you before Carl Holt.
01:09:34We'll let him determine whether or not you're guilty.
01:09:37Or would you prefer this?
01:09:42I'm not going to kill anyone.
01:09:44Very well.
01:09:46That affords three of us a visit.
01:09:48Carl, you, and...
01:09:50I'm going to call and ask him to come right over.
01:09:53After seeing this, if he still wants to marry a murderess,
01:09:56that's his business.
01:09:58Craig, don't call him.
01:10:05Craig!
01:10:07Don't make me do it!
01:10:10Hello?
01:10:11Craig!
01:10:13Hello?
01:10:14Craig!
01:10:23Hello?
01:10:24Hello?
01:10:25Hello?
01:10:26Hello?
01:10:27Hello?
01:10:35Hello?
01:10:39Hello?
01:10:41Hello?
01:10:42Hello?
01:10:43Hello?
01:10:46Hello?
01:10:47Do you want me to come to the hotel?
01:10:48Hello?
01:10:49Mr. Needs says...
01:10:51Mr. Needs says...
01:11:14Mr. Needs, uh...
01:11:16It's terrible.
01:11:18Craig has committed suicide.
01:11:44What are you doing here?
01:11:50He asked if I could meet him here at 12.30.
01:11:53Strange. He told me to be here at 12.40.
01:12:00Oh, no, no, I...
01:12:02I'd never expect Craig to do a thing like this.
01:12:14This is Ray Willis.
01:12:22The man shot himself.
01:12:24Will you send someone over right away, please?
01:12:26Uh, Chambers Building, room 2407.
01:12:30No.
01:12:32He's dead.
01:12:44There's a tape recorder still running.
01:12:51It must have been dictating when it happened.
01:13:07And it could be Craig's way of giving us an explanation.
01:13:14To Ray Willis, District Attorney.
01:13:26Dear Ray...
01:13:28In exactly...
01:13:3055 minutes...
01:13:32I will be dead.
01:13:34Pardon?
01:13:36First of all, let me explain.
01:13:38...
01:13:42All right, let's go.
01:13:43Let's go.
01:13:44Let's go.
01:13:47I want to do this!
01:13:49Come on.
01:13:50Hold on.
01:13:52Move the wind.
01:13:54I want to do this.
01:13:55There will be a light.
01:13:58You're two night.
01:13:59Come on.
01:14:00Let's go.
01:14:01Come on.
01:14:02Come on.
01:14:03Come on.
01:14:04Come on.
01:14:05Come on.
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