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The Tattered Dress

The Tattered Dress
Tattered dress poster small.jpg
Directed by Jack Arnold
Produced by Albert Zugsmith
Written by George Zuckerman
Starring Jeff Chandler
Jeanne Crain
Jack Carson
Gail Russell
Elaine Stewart
Music by Frank Skinner
Cinematography Carl E. Guthrie
Edited by Edward Curtiss
Production
company
Universal Pictures
Distributed by Universal Pictures
Release date
  • March 14, 1957 (1957-03-14) (United States)
Running time
93 minutes
Country United States
Language English
Box office $1.43 million (US rentals)

The Tattered Dress is a 1957 CinemaScope film noir crime film directed by Jack Arnold starring Jeff Chandler, Jeanne Crain, Jack Carson, Gail Russell and Elaine Stewart.

In a California resort community, the wealthy Michael Reston is charged with the murder of a man he claimed attacked his wife, Charleen.

Reston hires a high-priced lawyer, James Gordon Blane, a man known to do anything it takes to win a case. Blane makes few friends in the community because the victim was a popular figure while the Restons are not popular with anyone. But his skillful cross-examination of a sheriff, Nick Hoak, results in Blane's client being found not guilty.

Hoak decides to get even. He claims to have evidence that Blane bribed a woman on the jury. Now it is Blane who goes on trial, with only his estranged wife, Diane, coming to his aid. While defending himself, Blane begins to feel remorse over having won acquittals for so many guilty clients.

Blane ultimately is vindicated when the juror, Carol Morrow, turns out to be romantically involved with Hoak, the sheriff. Enraged by the outcome, the sheriff watches Blane going down the Court-House steps. Standing in the shadows he draws his gun intent on murdering Blane in cold blood. He is stopped when Morrow gets some revenge of her own by shooting him. As she is arrested for her actions, the Blanes reconcile and leave town for good.

Chandler's casting was announced in June 1956.

Filming started 13 August 1956. Shooting took place in Palm Springs.

The Los Angeles Times said that Chandler "does the best acting job of his career" in the film.


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