A court drama with interesting surroundings. Bob Weber plays a man accused of killing another guy whom he pointed out to be a bad American, a communist agent whose acts were a threat against the USA. Dick Powell plays the D.A, Ed Begley Webber's counselor, Ed Platt the president of the court. But you are also shown the intimate sequences of Powell's character, with his girl friend. A woman who happens to be the ex accused man's mistress. What I appreciate the most here, is that is not a bad guy vs good guy scheme. The audience has not to feel close to the accused or the prosecutor. This story only leads you to think about the meaning of matters such as for example the true meaning of war and all the side effects that may occur on men. Terrific performance from Dina Merill. Buzz Kulik gave here a pretty good effort. Good job.
The Dick Powell Theatre (TV Series)
The Court Martial of Captain Wycliff (1962)
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The Court Martial of Captain Wycliff
Prismark1027 September 2021
This anthology series was introduced by Robert Wagner. The reason as Dick Powell had died by the time this was broadcast.
Powell plays army prosecutor Major Ed Clayborn. The defendant is Captain John Wycliff (Robert Webber) a former army sniper turned academic.
He has elected a military hearing after being accused of killing Joseph Closter, a German spy who sold nuclear secrets to the Russians.
After serving his sentence Closter was leaving America to go behind an iron curtain country. Then he was shot dead.
Wycliff had talked about killing Closter and regarded him as an enemy of the USA.
Wycliff's lawyer Major George Torsett (Ed Begley) is a ferocious advocate and demolishes the credibility of many of the prosecution witnesses.
Clayborn has a dilemma. The main defence witness is Mrs Eve Emerson, a married woman who confesses to having an affair with Wycliff. She claims that they were in a cheap hotel at the time of the killing.
Emerson also happens to be Clayborn's sister.
Made in 1962, American viewers would had been familiar with courtroom antics on television courtesy of Perry Mason.
This one was full of lawyers moralising, sermonising and leading their witnesses. Maybe it reflected the times. Clayborn using the military courtroom to admonish his sister's morals.
Powell plays army prosecutor Major Ed Clayborn. The defendant is Captain John Wycliff (Robert Webber) a former army sniper turned academic.
He has elected a military hearing after being accused of killing Joseph Closter, a German spy who sold nuclear secrets to the Russians.
After serving his sentence Closter was leaving America to go behind an iron curtain country. Then he was shot dead.
Wycliff had talked about killing Closter and regarded him as an enemy of the USA.
Wycliff's lawyer Major George Torsett (Ed Begley) is a ferocious advocate and demolishes the credibility of many of the prosecution witnesses.
Clayborn has a dilemma. The main defence witness is Mrs Eve Emerson, a married woman who confesses to having an affair with Wycliff. She claims that they were in a cheap hotel at the time of the killing.
Emerson also happens to be Clayborn's sister.
Made in 1962, American viewers would had been familiar with courtroom antics on television courtesy of Perry Mason.
This one was full of lawyers moralising, sermonising and leading their witnesses. Maybe it reflected the times. Clayborn using the military courtroom to admonish his sister's morals.
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