Solemplex To me, this movie is perfection.

Onlinewsma Absolutely Brilliant!

BelSports This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

Rosie Searle It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

JLRMovieReviews Jack Lemmon stars in this TV telling of a true incident in our history. When a young lady is killed, her employer (Peter Gallagher) is accused, because of circumstantial evidence, supposedly true testimony of others implicating him, his ladies man reputation, but mostly because he is a Yankee and a Jew in the South. He is given a trial, which isn't quite a fair one. When the sentence is hanging until death and a pardon from the Governor is possible, Governor Jack Lemmon feels the prisoner was given a bum deal, considering the community's prejudice and has qualms about letting the man hang. He goes on his own crusade and investigation to delve deeper into the story. Jack Lemmon has never given a bad performance, and in fact, everyone was very good in their role, especially Dutton in his memorable role. This was a very educational, involved and thoughtful film. "They Won't Forget" with Claude Rains and Lana Turner was another film about this, but that was a loose telling of the story, as it took place in a school setting instead a workplace. I've seen it, and it stands on its own as a good example of hard-hitting drama and movie-making if not totally accurate to the basic facts. After seeing this version though, you may not want to see the older version, as this puts the characters and their feelings first rather than serving their problems up for your entertainment.

Michael_Elliott Murder of Mary Phagen, The (1988) **** (out of 4)Extremely powerful drama about the murder of 13-year-old Mary Phagen in the factory she worked out in Atlanta, 1913. A determined prosecutor (Richard Jordan) pins the crime on a Jewish manager (Peter Gallagher) who claims his innocence. He's eventually found guilty due in large part to the testimony of a black janitor (Charles S. Dutton) who would normally seem like an unlikely person to get to testify. All of this eventually ends up in the lap of Gov. John Slaton (Jack Lemmon) who will be leaving office soon but must decide whether or not to overturn the conviction, which looks to have been made because the man was Jewish. This story was altered and told in 1937 masterful THEY WON'T FORGET with Claude Rains but this version here is just as good and just as powerful. The movie clocks in at four hours if you include the commercial breaks so it's a long movie but it never felt that way as I was so caught up with what was going on that the movie seemed to run just a few short minutes. The masterful performances make this a must see but so does the story, which is as powerful as an courtroom drama that I've seen. I wasn't overly familiar with the case so I was really hanging on the edge of my seat all through the original case, the Governors investigation as well as the aftermath that followed. I was really shocked to see what type of racism was being used and how much of the bitterness of Atlanta went back to the Civil War days. From what I've read, this film was pretty faithful to the actual events, which makes one scratch their head and question everything that was done. I won't ruin the ending but how everything plays out is just incredibly sad and pathetic.This made-for-TV drama certainly has the drama down as the thing will leave you in suspense from the opening moments to the very final scenes. The performances are great from the veterans but we also get some fresh faces who would become quite famous over time. Kevin Spacey plays an alcoholic reporter who brings the case the media attention. William H. Mac has a small bit as a relative to the dead girl. Gallagher is extremely laid back in his role and delivers a marvelous performance as you can't help but feel sorry for him. The actor certainly digs deep and manages to bring out a lot of emotions without screaming or going over the top. Jordan is equally as great as the seedy prosecutor who might be hiding a few secrets of his own and Dutton nearly steals the film as the man with too many questions of his own to be a so-called witness. Robert Prosky and Kathryn Walker also turn in fine work. Then there's the legend Lemmon who turns in one of the best and most powerful performances of his career. I know that's saying a lot considering how many great roles he has had but he really delivers some strong emotion here and his final speech is extremely touching even if he doesn't say too much. The pain and anger in Lemmon's eyes is all we have to see to know what he feels. The way Lemmon invests himself into the role and the character's motives for trying to bring justice to this case was very believable and heartfelt.

cmts I feel this movie is exceptional in the true life account of the death of little Mary Phagan. It truly depicts the working of children in factories prior to child labor laws. It shows the poverty of the time. It depicts how the lack of education and open mindedness can lead people to do deeds not in line with their professed beliefs. It depicts various cultures and shows how everyone can enjoy music, dance, celebrate and enjoy life. And, that life goes on even after great tragedy. It shows how little children are influenced by adults out of fear. It depicts the lack of forensic science now used to solve crime. My father was a child laborer; so, this picture is of great interest to me in learning more about the long hours and little pay he earned during that time period. A great historical epic worth every minute that no one interested in U.S. history should miss.

kathi-13 Just finished reading "And the Dead Shall Rise", the book about the murder of Mary Phagan and the Lynching of Leo Frank. I thought the film did a great job at attempting to bring the story to the film medium, even accepting the dramatic license that the film-makers took (had to take, really) to fit the story into 4 hours.Being a transplanted Yankee, and now a resident of Atlanta, I thought the filmakers did a terrific job at trying to get the nuances (sp) of the South across. Atlanta is a wonderful place to live, but the echos of past prejudices can be seen and heard in her history.This film, attempts (and succeeds more often than not) to show the mentality of the almost-next-generation-after-the-civil-war populace. Many of whom disparaged all people of color, races other than white, and (perhaps even more so) Yankees. Then there is poor Leo Frank, a Yank and a Jew. The singing of hymns and the song about Mary Phagan, mentioned in one other review, was believable to me. I've lived in Mississippi, Texas and now Georgia, and I find it historically accurate from what I've experienced of the South. I think it would have added a deal to illustrating this if the producers had included some of the hideously vile comments from Watson's newspapers during the events of the time. There was some incredible stuff printed and bought up - ate up - by the majority of the people of Georgia. Watson had SO much to answer for.I recomend the film, but would add that a reading of the book (mentioned above) before viewing it would add to the viewer's appreciation as well as provide in-depth background to the telling of the tragedy. As well, the book adds more about the identities of the famous and infamous involved in the trial and lynching. Moreover, there are a few 'heroes' who did quite a bit in the interest of justice that seem to have been rolled into single characters for the sake of movie-making. You learn more about all of these people, too. And the rise of the New KKK and Jewish Anti-Defamation League from the results of what happened in Georgia. The worst of the short-cuts that the movie took, IMO, was the way they had the lynch party seem to give Leo Frank dignified treatment after they hanged him. Truthfully, they left him there, and more than 3000 people rushed to the site the next day - many having their pictures taken with his body still hanginh there. Finally, after his shirt sleeves were cut off as souvenirs, (and more attempted) the killers moved him, succeeding only after one rather rabid man had smashed the dead mans's face with his boot heel several times.But all-in-all, a faithful as Hollywood ever gets it, telling of the story.