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6.9/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 6.9/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. The Trial of Vivienne Ware remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you like movies that move so fast they almost trip over their own feet, sure. This one clocks in at barely an hour, and honestly, that’s its greatest asset. If you need character development or quiet moments to process what’s happening, skip this one. You’ll probably hate how little time they give anyone to actually talk.
The whole premise of The Trial of Vivienne Ware is that everything is being broadcast live on the radio. It gives the movie this strange, crackling energy. People are constantly rushing around like they’re trying to catch a train. The courtroom feels like a train station during rush hour.
Joan Bennett is fine, I guess, but she’s mostly just there to look panicked while people yell legal terms at her. The real show is the supporting cast. There’s a guy in the background—I couldn't even catch his name—who just stares at the judge for a solid minute while someone else is screaming about a murder weapon. It’s genuinely distracting.
It’s not as gritty or well-plotted as something like The Doorway to Hell. It lacks that weight. But it has this frantic, messy charm that makes it feel less like a polished production and more like a live disaster happening in real-time.
I kept thinking about how much of this could have been avoided if anyone just sat down and had a cup of coffee. The pacing is relentless. It’s almost exhausting to watch. It feels like the director was trying to beat a world record for most lines of dialogue delivered in the shortest amount of time.
By the time they get to the verdict, I wasn't even sure if I cared who did it. I was just relieved the shouting stopped. It’s a strange, short, and slightly jittery little piece of cinema. Watch it if you want to see a movie that has absolutely no interest in holding your hand.
