The Unknown Man

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The Unknown Man
movie poster
Directed by	Richard Thorpe
Produced by	Robert Thomsen
Written by	George Froeschel Ronald Millar
Starring	Walter Pidgeon Ann Harding Barry Sullivan
Distributed by	MGM
Release date(s)	November 16, 1951 U.S. release
Running time	86 min
Language	English
IMDb profile

The Unknown Man is a 1951 courtroom drama film starring Walter Pidgeon.

[edit] Plot

Defense attorney Dwight Bradley Mason clears a young man who is accused of knifing to death the 19-year-old son of a local locksmith. When it's all over, however, the man makes a careless comment slip that makes Mason think that he is actually guilty. He also finds out his client is not only guilty but a member of a syndicate extorting money from the scared merchants in the locksmith's neighborhood. Mason, after finding the murder weapon used in the killing wants to have the man retried but a hard-nosed D.A. tells him a man can't be tried for a crime twice.

The lawyer, using the evidence in the case, investigates to find that Andrew Jason Layford, the head of the citizens' crime commission, is also involved in the syndicate. In a rage, Mason kills Layford. The young man, again defended by Mason, who walked free for another killing is accused of this crime and found guilty. Mason feels guilty and tries to confess to the District Attorney, who tells him justice has been served. Mason makes one final visit to the young man now in prison and gives him the murder weapon he used so the man can get revenge on the lawyer that got him put away.

[edit] Featured cast

Actor	Role
Walter Pidgeon	Dwight Bradley 'Brad' Mason
Ann Harding	Stella Mason
Barry Sullivan	DA Joe Bucknor
Keefe Brasselle	Rudi Walchek
Lewis Stone	Judge James V. Holbrook