Gideon's Trumpet (1980)
- Starring:
- Henry Fonda, John Houseman, (more)
- Director(s):
- Robert E. Collins
- Category:
- Television
Member Rating
My RatingTheatrical Release Information | See Details About All Versions
In the tradition of his earlier work in Grapes of Wrath and Twelve Angry Men, Henry Fonda played another social-protest role in the Hallmark Hall of Fame TV presentation Gideon's Trumpet. Clarence Earl Gideon (Fonda) is a poor, ill-tempered Florida handyman who is arrested for petty larceny in 1961. Unable to afford a lawyer, Gideon is sentenced to five years in prison. His treatment by the Florida judicial system, a clear violation of the Fourteenth Amendment, is brought to the attention of the Supreme Court. As a result, a landmark decision is reached, assuring free legal representation for anyone accused of a crime in the United States. Also appearing are Jose Ferrer as Gideon's attorney Abe Fortas, John Houseman (who also produced) as the Chief Justice, and Fay Wray as the owner of the lodging establishment where Gideon lived. Gideon's Trumpet premiered on April 30, 1980. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Theatrical Feature Running Time:
- 104 mins
Complete Cast:
- Henry Fonda - Clarence Earl Gideon
- José Ferrer - Abe Fortas
- Paul Benjamin - Artis
- David Clennon - James Fitzpatrick
- Seamon Glass - Prison Guard
- Gary Grubbs - Deputy Hamilton
- Dean Jagger - 6th Supreme Court Justice
- Richard Lineback - Lester Wade
- Clifford A. Pellow - Justin Pike
- Nicholas Pryor - Jacob
- Timothy Scott - Toby
- Lane Smith - Fred Turner
- Gwen van Dam - Mrs. Lawrence
- Sam Jaffe - 1st Sumpreme Court Justice
- Liam O'Brien - Supreme Court Justice
- John Miller - Judge Robert McCrary
- Don Draper - Bailiff
- Henry Proach - Guard
- John Houseman - Chief Justice
- Fay Wray - Edna Curtis
- James Brodhead - Court Crier
- Frederic Cook - Leo Stafford
- Malcolm Groome - John Ely
- Jerry Hardin - Mel Cobb
- Les Lannom - Bobby Earle
- J. Patrick McNamara - Harris
- William Prince - 5th Supreme Court Justice
- Ford Rainey - 2nd Supreme Court Justice
- David Sheiner - Abe Krash
- Dolph Sweet - Charlie
- Michael Cavanaugh - Stocker
- Edmund H. North - Supreme Court Justice
- Allan Rich - Tobias Simon
- Jon Locke - Supervisor
- James O'Connell - Warden
- Director(s):
- Robert E. Collins
- Writer(s):
- David W. Rintels
- Producer(s):
- David W. Rintels
- Categories:
- Television
- Closed Captioning:
- Check All Versions
- Subtitles:
- Check All Versions
