
Broadway showgirl Mary Dugan is charged with murder in the knifing death of her wealthy lover and goes on trial for her life. When her defense counsel appears to bungle his job, Mary's brother Jimmy, a newly-licensed attorney, jumps into the case to defend his sister.


If you have a Sunday afternoon with nothing to do and you actually like seeing how movies used to work when sound was brand new, The Trial of Mary Dugan is worth a look. People who want explosions or fast cutting will absolutely hate this thing. It's basically a filmed play. If you like courtroom dramas where someone y...

still_frame

production_art

still_frame

still_frame

publicity


Comparing the cinematic DNA and archive impact of two defining moments in cult history.

Bayard Veiller

Charles Horan
Community
Log in to comment.
"If you have a Sunday afternoon with nothing to do and you actually like seeing how movies used to work when sound was brand new, The Trial of Mary Dugan is worth a look. People who want explosions or fast cutting will absolutely hate this thing. It's basically a filmed play. If you like courtroom dramas where someone yells "I object!" every five minutes, you'll be fine. Norma Shearer is Mary. She's a showgirl accused of killing her sugar daddy. She spends most of the movie looking like she’s ab..."
Charles R. Moore
Becky Gardiner, Bayard Veiller
United States


Deep dive into the cult classic
Discover similar cinematic experiences
A Directorial Spotlight on Bayard Veiller