DCSIMG
 
 

The Chamber (1996)

The Chamber (1996)
Play Trailer and Clips
Member Rating:  
Based on a novel by John Grisham, this drama deals with a man trying to come to terms with his family and their ugly secrets. Adam Hall (Chris O'Donnell) is a successful attorney based in Chicago who travels to Mississippi to look into the case of Sam Cayhall (Gene Hackman). An outspoken racist and member of the Ku Klux Klan, Cayhall was convicted in the early '60s of the murder of a Jewish civil rights lawyer and his children. Pending a last-minute appeal, it looks as if Cayhall will finally go to the electric chair, and Adam has arrived to see what he can do. It hardly seems like the sort of case Adam would normally be involved with, until we discover Adam's secret: he is actually Cayhall's grandson, and despite his misgivings about the man's racist views, he wants to see if he can spare his life. Cayhall, however, has little use for Adam and even less regard for his legal skills. As Adam spends time with his Aunt Lee (Faye Dunaway), who witnessed Cayhall's execution of a black man years ago, he gets a more complete and disturbing picture of Cayhall's race hatred and the terrible toll it has taken on his family and the community. The Chamber marked the acting debut of former baseball and football star Bo Jackson. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

 Read More


Starring:
Chris O'DonnellGene Hackman, (more)
Director(s):
James Foley
Theatrical MPAA Rating:
R
Format(s):
DVD
View All Versions to rent and buy
 
 
 
 

Synopsis of The Chamber

Based on a novel by John Grisham, this drama deals with a man trying to come to terms with his family and their ugly secrets. Adam Hall (Chris O'Donnell) is a successful attorney based in Chicago who travels to Mississippi to look into the case of Sam Cayhall (Gene Hackman). An outspoken racist and member of the Ku Klux Klan, Cayhall was convicted in the early '60s of the murder of a Jewish civil rights lawyer and his children. Pending a last-minute appeal, it looks as if Cayhall will finally go to the electric chair, and Adam has arrived to see what he can do. It hardly seems like the sort of case Adam would normally be involved with, until we discover Adam's secret: he is actually Cayhall's grandson, and despite his misgivings about the man's racist views, he wants to see if he can spare his life. Cayhall, however, has little use for Adam and even less regard for his legal skills. As Adam spends time with his Aunt Lee (Faye Dunaway), who witnessed Cayhall's execution of a black man years ago, he gets a more complete and disturbing picture of Cayhall's race hatred and the terrible toll it has taken on his family and the community. The Chamber marked the acting debut of former baseball and football star Bo Jackson. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Theatrical Feature Running Time:
113 mins

Complete Cast of The Chamber


Director(s):
James Foley
Writer(s):
William GoldmanChris Reese
Producer(s):
Ron HowardBrian GrazerJohn Davis
Theatrical MPAA Rating:
R(Adult Situations, Not For Children)
Warning:  This product is intended for mature audiences only. It may contain violence, sexual content, drug abuse and/or strong language. You must be 17 or older to purchase it. By ordering this item you are certifying that you are at least 17 years of age.

Looking for special editions of The Chamber?
See All Versions
Subtitles:
Check All Versions
Closed Captioning:
Check All Versions
 
 
 
 

BY MAIL

Monthly Subscription
NEW! 7 - Day Rental
No subscription required. Usually ships in 24 hours.
 

IN-STORE

 

ON DEMAND

Blockbuster Instant Video

Watch thousands of movies instantly on your TV, tablet, mobile phone or computer with no monthly subscription. You pay only for what you watch.
 

What's Your Take?

Add to FavoritesIn Favorites  |  Share:     Email to a friendShare on FacebookShare on Twitter
    YOUR REVIEW
    WRITE A REVIEW
     
    1000 
     
    Member Reviews
     
    Ron C.

    I never heard of this movie and stumbled upon it at the shelves of my local store. We've all seen the "lawyer fights to save death row client" movie many times before, but the story here is fully fleshed out and is compelling. There are several scenes in this movie that just hit you in the gut, and Hackman gives one of his best, and apparently unnoticed, performances.

    Yes   |   No

     
    Steve G.

    This movie is in the same steps as Sean Penn's "Dead Man Walking"...and with powerful performances by Gene Hackman, Chris O'Donnell and Faye Dunaway. You hated Hackman for what he represented and stood for, yet courtroom testimony showed that the seeds of his hatred spawned back 4 generations to the Civil War, at the advent of the Klu Klux Klan. Was he guilty or was the American South and its prejudices truly guilty of poisoning the minds of generations of people ? Chris O'Donnell stole the show in my opinion - he was truly believable in his portrayal of a Northern lawyer, with secrets hidden deep within Mississippi - that he had to confront.

    Yes   |   No

     
    TOM Z.

    Good movie..get it.

    Yes   |   No

     
    Read All 16 Reviews