Orson Welles as Clarence Darrow in Compulsion

Welles delivers a stirring plea for the lives of Leopold and Loeb in the climax of the 1959 film Compulsion. The final summation is taken directly from the transcript of the real trial. As good an oration against the death penalty as you'll ever hear.

[@nickkeys656]

When we look back at Orson Welles, maybe the greatest American film director, don't any of us forget that first of all, he was one of the greatest actors that has ever lived.

[@boris.dupont]

He was a giant in every possible way

[@FirstPlace97]

@@boris.dupont yes

[@gastropod557]

Mr. Wells was delivering the closing argument delivered by Clarence Darrow who defended Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb. Mr. Darrow's argument rings true today...that killing the killer is not the answer. Whatever the answer is, killing is not it.

[@FirstPlace97]

@@gastropod557 yes

[@DC-zi6se]

Orson Welles could direct better than anyone and act better than anyone when he tried, he is the closest thing to being Cinema's Shakespeare himself. But at the end of the day he is a big failure. An egotistical snob who left Hollywood for nothing.

[@zriter59escritor33]

This might very well have been Welles' best performance on film. His skill with pacing and vocal dynamics, along with his sheer presence, make this well worth seeing again and again.

[@sthompson4049]

truth

[@DC-zi6se]

All of his performances are memorable. Whenever he's on camera he just seems to eat up the space from the other actors. All other actors seem to be subdued.

[@pagejustin5572]

Your neighborhood friend is correct.... Every Welles performance is his best performance

[@gopherstate777]

I can't argue with that. Except he makes such a great Falstaff!

[@Viewer-ld5rc]

He livens this very boring movie.

[@Joshualbm]

That is one of the greatest performances by any actor I've ever seen. There wasn't one untrue moment for him. Spectacular, heroic and very moving. Orson was a titan of so many aspects in the performing arts. But his greatest triumph was his humanity and desire to make this world a better place through great art. While most Americans cynically and stupidly remember him for being overweight and doing TV commercials in later years, it is a sad testament to the courageous force of will he bestowed throughout his life to lift and transcend the performing arts into the greatness it deserves. Yet these arts are now poorly realized and made dumber and dumber by each passing year. Comic book garbage fills the money making enterprise of cinema, Harry Potter idiocy is on Broadway, Stephen King is taught as literature... God help us.

[@bobthebear1246]

How the hell did Orson Welles NOT get nominated for Best Supporting Actor for this performance? What an absolute travesty. This is among the most incredible 11 minutes of film ever. Take note.

[@Telstar62a]

+Bob Schneider This was after he'd made Touch of Evil and before he made his film of Kafka's The Trial. All three of these are excellent performances and well worth checking out.

[@tomnovak9658]

Or The Third Man or Touch of Evil or Chimes At Midnight.

[@matheusvillela9150]

I guess because Hollywood hated him. Man, fuck the oscars.

[@tomnovak9658]

And when he was finished, the IRS showed up to take his entire paycheck. "The world has been one long slaughterhouse from the beginning until today. What are we all crazy!"

[@janethockey9070]

Hearst screwed him

[@tamibrandt]

Orson Welles has never turned in a bad performance, but this as Clarence Darrow is one of his best performances on screen.

[@bak-mariterry5180]

Don't forget his part in MOBY DICK as the preacher. Also great .

[@Shadowx011]

I just started watching movies with Orson Welles and Oliver Reed…I am speechless. These movies are phenomenal.

[@hassanshayegannik155]

There will never be one like him again. Thanks!

[@victoriarutherford2685]

I am a very proud member of the Darrow family. We even have had attorneys and Superior court judges in our recent history to carry on the tradition he laid the groundwork for.

[@spenner3529]

you're to be commended for all you did to be born into such an illustrious family

[@jmd26]

@@spenner3529 nothing wrong with having pride in one's family. spenner would you do me a favor? Consider what I said here, and maybe take back your comment? There's so much cynicism and division in the world. Wouldn't it be nice to do away with one tiny bit of it?

[@jmd26]

Very neat, Victoria! If the rest of your family is anything like Clarance Darrow, they.must be impressive.

[@ryanjavierortega8513]

'You can chase the truth like hell, but you'll never touch its coattails.' - Good old Darrow.

[@edercorrales6195]

I would have enjoyed to be an extra in this film to hear this speech in person. I marvel at the exquisite delivery and I imagine that this was back when actors actually had to be good at acting to get a role, and not just famous.

[@Telstar62a]

+eder corrales Welles was both. He was famous for his stage and radio productions even before Citizen Kane, and he was only 25 when he made that. Pretty much always worth watching him.

[@russellcampbell9198]

I could listen to a monologue from Orson every day - probably more than once a day.

[@tomryan2195]

what an incredible speech. this is some of the greatest film writing in history

[@greggh]

"what an incredible speech. this is some of the greatest film writing in history" It's often a good idea to read the description. "Uploaded on Jul 6, 2010 Welles delivers a stirring plea for the lives of Leopold and Loeb in the climax of the 1959 film Compulsion. The final summation is taken directly from the transcript of the real trial. As good an oration against the death penalty as you'll ever hear."

[@WalterLiddy]

Gregg H In point of fact excerpts were taken from the real speech which lasted for hours. It was edited and material added. It's perfectly legit to call it a product of film writing. The description is misleading.

[@eddiebrown687]

Back when actors had to actually act....it was easy for Wells to break free and really let himself go, in his acting and directing. By the time the guy was 20 he had been all over the world, experienced people and things we only dream of. The man didn't fear failing...

[@WalterLiddy]

Judge: "I'm sorry, I wasn't listening."

[@jansdoe6963]

You must be a lawyer.

[@bgustinjr]

Stay out of Malibu, Lebowski!!

[@TheRazorroman]

It only, takes a moment.

[@Avidcomp]

Just listened to Kevin Spacey's rendition of this speech. Spacey is a good actor, but Orson Welles as an actor is a giant.

[@vestibulate]

Spacey's performance- what I've seen of it, the summation speech in Leopold/Loeb- is clearly imitative of Henry Fonda's. Spacey is an expert mimic, but that's no reason to base a performance so directly on someone else's. He employed Fonda's speech patterns and vocal mannerisms as well as his distinctive physical style. I found it more than disconcerting- it was bewildering and disappointing in an actor so lauded. Welles, on the other hand, works from his own conception and doesn't steal another man's tools. He does as fine a job here as one could hope for. He even applied the fake nose from his own makeup kit. Welles once said that in every theatrical troupe there is an actor who plays the King. He may not be the best actor in the company, but he has the performance qualities which embody that particular role. "I'm a King actor," he said. He was both modest and regal in his self-assessment, and that was Orson Welles in everything he did.

[@LarryjB53]

Guess Kevin Spacey had a crystal ball that told him his future.

[@boris.dupont]

Orson Welles was one of a kind

[@samuelcollins9052]

Welles' mannerisms; vocal pacing; the organ-like voice; his rambling oratory, as if at times he was only talking to himself; the shuffling gait around the courtroom; the piercing eyes, and the contrasting softness of the same at key moments for emphasis; taken together bring to mind with much more accuracy what witnesses to Darrow's speeches testified were the key ingredients to the brilliance of his delivery. Spacey's oration is much too directed at the judge, and the camera. There's very little of the shuffling around the room, or the rambling mannerisms of the original author of the speech. As someone else mentions, the latter reminds me more of Henry Fonda's approach to the character. This game, set, and match go to Welles.

[@OniLordMiki]

Literally. He was huge

[@wesleypratt221]

Orson was a tremendous actor. This is a great performance.

[@patrickcosgrove886]

Wow! An amazing performance by Orson Welles. I must watch this film. A very moving scene.

[@Music--ng8cd]

Darrow's speech actually lasted 12 hours, after a 32-day trial. He "concluded that a jury trial would almost certainly end in conviction and the death penalty. Thus, he elected to enter a plea of guilty, hoping to convince Cook County Circuit Court Judge John R. Caverly to impose sentences of life imprisonment." en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leopold_and_Loeb

[@Jivanmuktishu]

This great oration abridges the three days of Darrow's oration.

[@NxDoyle]

A man cheated out of his art. How is it possible that a man so gifted and generous was so maligned?

[@SonofSethoitae]

He had a way of rubbing people the wrong way. For example, he often told people who approached him to "go and fuck themselves."

[@bgustinjr]

Amen, friend!

[@terrencepeterritchie3632]

Brilliant and powerful performance and speech. But we've gone backwards since then - in the courts, in our hearts and on the streets.

[@Damphouse]

Welles was unrivaled in the art of drama

[@kingamoeboid3887]

"This crime is the most fiendish, cold-blooded, inexcusable case the world has ever known. That's what Mr. Horn has told this court. Your Honor, I've been practicing law a good deal longer than I ought to have, defending now for 45, 46 years, during all that time, I've never tried a case where the State's Attorney did not say that it was the most cold-blooded inexcusable case ever. Certainly there was no excuse for the killing of little Pauly Kessler. There was also no reason for it. It wasn't for spite, or hate, or for money. The great misfortune of this case is money. If your Honor should doom these boys to die, it'll be because their parents are rich. I don't need to mention that I'd fight as hard for the poor as for the rich. If I'd come into this court alone, with two ordinary, obscure defendants who'd done what these boys have done, there hadn't been all this weirdness and notoriety, this sensational publicity, and I said, "Your Honor I want to gather a plea of guilty and let you sentence them to life imprisonment," do you suppose the State's Attorneys would raise their voices in protest? There's never been a case in Chicago where on a plea of guilty a boy under 21 has been sentenced to death -- not one. Yet for some reason, in the case of these immature boys of diseased minds, as plain as day, they say you can only get justice by shedding their last drop of blood. Isn't a lifetime behind prison bars enough for this mad act? And must this great public be regaled with a hanging? For the last three weeks, I've heard nothing but the cry of blood in this room. Heard nothing from the offices of the State's Attorneys but ugly hatred. For God's sake, are we crazy!? If you hang these boys, it will mean that in this land of ours, a court of law could not help but bow down to public opinion. In as cruel a speech as he knew how to make, the State's Attorneys told this Court that we're pleading guilty because we're afraid to do anything else. Your Honor, that's true. So of course, I'm afraid to submit this case to a jury, where the responsibility must be divided by twelve. No, your Honor, if these boys must hang, you must do it. It must be your own deliberate, cool, premeditated act. The State's Attorneys laughed at me for talking about childrens' fantasies, but what does he know about childhood? What do I know? Is there anyone of us who hasn't been guilty of some kind of delinquency in his youth? How many men are there here today, lawyers and congressmen, judges, and even States' Attorneys, who haven't been guilty of some kind of wild act in youth, and if the consequences didn't amount to much, and we didn't get caught, that was our good luck. But this was something different. This was the mad act of two sick children who belong in a psychopathic hospital. Do I need to argue it? Is there any man with a decent regard for human life, and the slightest bit of heart, that doesn't understand it? We're told it was a cold-blooded killing, because they planned and schemed. Yes, but for months, to hear the officers of the State, who for months have planned and schemed and contrived to take these boys' lives. Talk about scheming. Your Honor, I've become obsessed with this deep feeling of hate and anger. I've been fighting it, battling with it until it has fairly driven me mad. What about this matter of crime and punishment, anyway? Through the centuries, our laws have been modified, until now men look back with horror at the hangings and the killings of the past. It's been proven, that if the penalties are less barbarous, the crimes are less frequent. Do I need to argue with your Honor that cruelty only breeds cruelty? That every religious leader who's held up as an example has taught us that if there's any way to kill evil, it's not by killing men, and if there's any way of destroying hatred, and all that goes with it, it's not through evil and hatred and cruelty. It's through charity, love, understanding. This is a Christian community - so-called. Is there any doubt that these boys would be safe in the hands of the founder of the Christian religion? I think anyone who knows me knows how sorry I am for little Pauly Kessler, knows that I'm not saying it simply to talk. Artie and Judd enticed him into a car and when he struggled, they hit him over the head and killed him. They did that. They poured acid on him to destroy his identity and put the naked body in a ditch. And if killing these boys would bring him back to life, I'd say let them go. And I think their parents would say so, too. Neither they nor I would want them released. They must be isolated from society. I'm asking this court to shut them into a prison for life. Any cry for more goes back to the hyena, goes back to the beasts of the jungle. There's no part of man. This court is told to give them the same mercy that they gave their victim. Your Honor, if our state is not kinder, more human, more considerate, more intelligent than the mad act of these two sick boys, then I'm sorry that I've lived so long. I know that any mother might be the mother of little Pauly Kessler, who left home and went to school and never came back. But I know that any mother might be the mother of Artie Strauss, Judd Steiner. Maybe in some ways these parents are more responsible than their children. I guess the truth is that all parents can be criticized. And these might have done better, if they hadn't had so much money. I do not know. The State's Attorney has pictured the putting of the poor little dead body in the ditch. But your Honor, I can only think now of taking these two boys, 18 and 19, penning them in a cell, checking off the days and hours and minutes, until they're wakened in the grey of the morning and led to the scaffold, their feet tied, black caps drawn over their heads, stood on a trap, the hangman pressing a spring. I can see them fall through space, I can see them stopped by the rope around their necks. It would be done, of course, in the name of justice. Justice, who knows what it is? Do I know? Does your Honor know? Can your Honor tell me what I deserve? Can your Honor appraise your self and say what you deserve? Do you think you can cure the hatreds and maladjustments of the world by hanging them? Mr. Horn says that if we hang Artie and Judd, there'll be no more killing. The world has been one long slaughterhouse from the beginning until today, and the killing goes on and on and on. Why not read something, why not think, instead of blindly shouting for death. Kill them because everybody's talking about the case? Because their parents have money? Kill them? Will that stop other sick boys from killing? No. It's taken the world a long, long time to get to even where it is today. Your Honor, if you hang these boys, you turn back to the past. I'm pleading for the future. Not merely for these boys, but for all boys, for all the young. I'm pleading, not for these two lives, but for life itself, for a time when we can learn to overcome hatred with love, when we can learn that all life is worth saving, and that mercy is the highest attribute of men. Yes, I'm pleading for the future. In this court of law, I'm pleading for love."

[@kingamoeboid3887]

@卓豫婷。 only for people with curiosity. 👍

[@girish325]

Probably one of the greatest monologues delivered in the history of cinema!

[@mauricioduron3193]

THANK YOU...

[@Kendell062]

When Orson Welles is onscreen,you can't take you eyes off him and you want him to speak so much you wouldn't mind him saying everyone's lines. But I wish he had taken better care of himself,so we have could enjoyed him for a longer time.

[@tomnovak9658]

He loved eating as much as Dr. Samuel Johnson, the man he quoted, when he accepted his Life Achievement Award from the AFI.

[@raysmusic49]

Geez! He was an incredible actor…that voice

[@gr8maker]

Wow I personally had a top 10 of movie monologues. Having just seen this for the first time I can say there is a new entry

[@ntobekominiyonke7593]

One of the greatest performances ever

[@michaellazzeri2069]

Well done Mr Welles !

[@anthonycantu8879]

You would think that he was Falstaff, asking and answering all of his own questions, reflecting and projecting, pondering and pondering some more... O.W. has never failed to deliver.

[@larrygoldsby1255]

I saw the movie and to be truthful, this was one of the greatest performances I've ever seen. I cried through it.

[@williamsays]

Inspiring stuff . A great scene by a great actor .

[@josealbinosantosnogueira6013]

Nothing else can top this: "Stella!" by Marlon Brando and "Are we crazy" by Orson Welles!

[@jamesrafferty9048]

Of all of Orson Welles brilliant performances this performance as "The Attorney Of The Damned" might be his finest

[@creamcheese1048]

" For God's sake are we crazy ? " the best line in Darrow's argument.

[@zsedcftglkjh]

Killing men who murder children...no. No we're not crazy.

[@rimfire8217]

Jonathan Wilk This is technically not Clarence Darrow. Historically Darrow was and Agnostic Atheist.

[@oogieobanyon]

@@rimfire8217 An agnostic and atheist are different things, different meanings. Consult dictionary before posting. Lord knows the screenwriter and others involved with the above jewel did.

[@hanno21664]

no cgi, no explosions, no guns shooting, no comic book movie magic here, just straight forward, emotional, powerful real acting here! Orson Welles belongs to the pantheon of the Gods! a master at his craft and i loved watching this. he is passed on but we are left to see the magic he left behind. thank you for uploading this my friend, great movie. take care

[@annoyed707]

But where is my lens flare? ;)

[@spenner3529]

um, it's just a movie

[@hanno21664]

@@spenner3529 sure is, and it is a great movie. I recommend it.

[@pleaseenteraname8211]

I was just thinking how many court case films include cgi and explosions, like give it a rest Hollywood

[@Dropthestate]

Clarence Darrow was a treasure, a true diamond in the rough. He saw something in the world, in us, that few do.

[@jhe9521]

thank you ❀ for acknowledging the person who originally made that speech... the courts, not sating the public's blood lust, not meeting crazy with crazy/ killing with killing; not claiming to be christian while behaving unchristian ...definitely a person worthy of credit ☆

[@eyeonart6865]

Wow! Best time spent all day. Now I need to see the whole movie.

[@wandaburns8075]

Darrow was a man ahead of his time.

[@Billsbob]

Seems deliberately ignorant of what the judicial systems is all about. They claim this speech is from the court transcript and if so it doesn’t reflect highly on Darrow. It’s nice to not want to kill, it’s nice to not be the executioner, but society isn’t built on being nice. Society is built on the fact that at any moment the man next to you can crack your neck and walk off in a split second and there’s nothing that could stop it from happening. There is no cop, FBI, or detective that can stop man from being violent. But we can’t live and cooperated we always have to watch our back. We as a society agreed to give up our right to violence, surrender it to the state, in exchange we get peace of mind not having to check over our shoulder and can instead cooperate and build civilization. The state then has the responsibility to ensure retribution should any person step outside of this agreement and commit violence. If the state does not exercise its monopoly on violence then trust between persons slowly breaks down as little by little the more unscrupulous among us push the lines of decency, until people would rather shoot first and ask questions later. So do you want to live in a society that executes convicted murderers or do you want to live the rest of your life sleeping with one eye open and a gun in your hand? It’s really that basic. 2020 demonstrated how little it takes to cause an imbalance in society and just one more push could have put us over the edge. Sad that it would have started because a fight over toilet paper.

[@benedelbi2878]

My goodness the way he delivers his lines...the pacing...the tone...he gives validity to each word he utters. Outstanding.

[@lisaburns4131]

What a performance bravo orson. It doesn't look like him but oh that voice is something else, there is no mistaking that is him.

[@johnandersen6752]

Check out "Rope" directed by Alfred Hitchcock. I believe it's based on the same events. Jimmy Stewart gives a great performance as well.

[@WalterLiddy]

The Leopold & Loeb case is the basis for a lot of movies, Rope and Compulsion being two of the better ones.

[@boris.dupont]

Phenomenal performance and great script too! Pleading for love is really what's all about. Thanks for sharing, you made my day!

[@motomartinski5672]

Fine English Boria. Crime and punishment is a complex issue - but thankfully justice has progressed in most civilized nations in the past 60 years+. But apportioning blame more widely (Ширша провина) and pleas of mitigation are still something that society finds unpalatable. Hot blood justice and cold blood justice are 2 different things. If you kill my son in front of a crowd when you are somewhat intoxicated and you intended to harm him seriously - then I would have a justifiable (hot blooded) desire to kill you... However, society's justice must be more considered and must not be so influenced by emotion. Unfortunately one of my friends was faced with this situation when his young son was murdered in a bloody and cowardly attack. The attacker, (who could not fight his opponent without a sudden "sucker punch" assault with a weapon) was quickly arrested and is now in prison for a very long time. Yet - his own family feel no shame at all and no sympathy for the murdered boy's parents and family - they have even attempted to taunt the boy's father (and faced the consequences for that). Naturally many people would not be sad if this whole family were hung. That is the sad condition that society has always faced. The cause of, and responsibility for most evil is not concentrated in a few individuals and their acts. Notwithstanding that - death sentences have been proven to be ineffective as a deterrent to murder and are morally wrong. Not least because many people that have been executed were later proven to be innocent. How horrific. \_('︵')_/

[@karlsharrah8135]

My favorite Actor & Director,

[@MichaelSmith-jw8qw]

great movie, still compelling and riveting--well worth watching--this legal case was so incredible

[@howardbloom6974]

When a great word marries a great voice, heaven's message resounds.

[@RandomnessFilms1]

Jesus Christ. I just watched this movie for the first time tonight and this might truly be the greatest monologue I’ve ever heard in my entire life.

[@sixunderground2002]

I.... really haven't been moved by a movie performance, to self reflection of myself. He just did that....I didn't even know he was an actor, but just a great writer. Just wow. I was taken in to a court room and was thinking what if that child was one of mine and my first response was get them myself with my 9mm sidearm, one to the temple and one for good measure...I am reflecting to say the least, but it is still hard today in our world. I still don't know what I would do but at least now I'm thinking about it. Good job Mr. Wells. I hope your words reach many more.

[@60skidd72]

I found this clip on Speakola. Did not recognise his face, but the voice is definitely Welles. Fuck, he's really the greatest filmmaker, and definitely a great actor as well.

[@Tmanaz480]

Just under 11 Minutes...interesting. The length of a single roll of film stock. Even though there are several edits in this finished version, I bet there was at least one complete master take of this scene.

[@LarryjB53]

Saw Orson Wells delivering a sermon as the preacher in Moby Dick. Didn't think he could top that. I was wrong. Part of the summation by Darrow acknowledges the crimes but these two boys he says should both be put away forever. Loeb was murdered by a fellow prisoner in 1936; Leopold was released on parole in 1958.

[@HEAVYHONEY1]

WOW! An amazing scene of such truth - given by an amazing actor.

[@RussMcClay]

Thank you!!! This is so awesome. Orson was born to play such roles. Too bad he pissed off Hearst who, through his vast communications empire, essentially blacklisted Welle's in Hollywood for making Citizen Kane.

[@therealcoolass]

Thanks for posting this. What a great closing argument.

[@cheyenneasiafoxe292]

a master ---simple and plain---brilliant

[@jimmyl324]

Excellent performance

[@LenHummelChannel]

Orson Welles: THE CONSUMMATE dramatic voice and actor.

[@frannyzooey11]

"ARE WE CRAZY ?"

[@soundgardener4940]

05:54 "Any cry for more goes back to the *_hyena."_*

[@thebeard56]

Brings me to tears every time

[@Jivanmuktishu]

Darrow's speech to a judge without jury lasted three days, of which this is a brief sample. The judge, like you, was brought to tears. As for this performance, I saw it in 1959, from the smoking balcony of my locval theatre. I could see the audience below: they were all literally on the edge of their seats, captured by the combination of a great lawyer and great actor.

[@technodroog]

superb bit of acting

[@oogieobanyon]

And thinking.

[@marksman48]

I have never seen an Orson Welles performance that was not brilliant. This proves my case. I am amazed he never got an acting Oscar. He towers above many men who have won.

[@boris.dupont]

The same way Elvis only got to receive a few awards but everyone dreamed of being him, Orson Welles didn't get an Oscar but every actor and film director knew he was the ultimate best

[@roddyboethius1722]

Probably the best American classical actor

[@dendrzewiecki9170]

WOW!!! Great.

[@jacktheripoff1888]

For anyone who is a fan of Darrow, you may want to give "Ashes Underwater" by Michael McCarthy (2014) a read. Darrow in 1915 whose career had gone a bit hard-luck at that time, defends Joseph Erickson, the Chief Engineer of the SS Eastland that capsized in the Chicago River killing almost 900 people. Erickson was trying to be scapegoated for the years of corruption, greed and mismanagement of the ships owners, and the industry as a whole at that time that led to that disaster. But Erickson was aquitted and Darrow got a much needed boost back upward in his career.

[@mauricioduron3193]

Thank you. Was not familiar with the facts or the situation that you describe.

[@robertm7889]

Beautiful!!!

[@teodelfuego]

Damn, what a performance!

[@troy8485]

Stunning monolog.

[@garrison968]

If he was not nominated for an Oscar it shows just how worthless those awards are. I think this was Welles' best performance since Citizen Kane. He's a better Darrow than Darrow.

[@garrison968]

+Bill Anthony MY comment was not about Clarence Darrow. It was about Orson Welles. That is not Welles giving that speech. That is Welles acting the role he was assigned to do. ANd doing it well.

[@tomnovak9658]

See him in Touch of Evil! See the expression on his face at the end of Chimes At Midnight.

[@garysnett9075]

The.oscars.stink!.

[@paulbrewer2374]

Sheer artistic genius.

[@dildonius]

From Orson Welles, another amazing performance and another amazing false nose...

[@Tmanaz480]

Ironic that even as he aged and put on weight in real life he never got a nose that big,

[@dildonius]

Tmanaz480 Well, one’s nose generally doesn’t grow with age...at least not THAT much.

[@randolphfreedmartz]

"Poor little! Poor little!" Imagine being called this for all of eternity for no other reason that you happened to be murdered.

[@WalterLiddy]

I don't think you'd mind.

[@MrPaulDewdney]

Superb

[@terrybehnke3804]

Sheer brilliance

[@Bessie99Big]

Judging this clip as an excerpt from a movie rather than a political think-piece it is a superb example of an actor showboating.I loved it 50 years ago and I love it now.Mr Welles had a wonderful voice and all the instincts of the great English Actor - Managers of olden days. Whether or not you agree with what he is saying is a bit of a red herring,really.

[@Tmanaz480]

Also a wonderful tribute to the Sound department. The jump in audio quality made possible by magnetic recording and postwar microphones and electronics allowing the actors to use a natural volume range and not have to belt it out. I've seen this whole film and there were very few instances of redubbed lines.

[@nickprohoroff3720]

OMG. The Master and commander.

[@tlee51ftw]

Actually, at that time 21 was considered being an adult. Regardless of your opinion of his oration, it worked. They got life plus 99 years. Loeb was killed in prison and Leopold was eventually paroled.

[@Avidcomp]

Yes, and when there was a value attached to great writing to.

[@truBador2]

Welles the Magnificent.

[@James-pq7nf]

i totally love the line for gods sake are we crazy

[@ryanjavierortega8513]

The real speech was 11 hours. This is pretty cool, though.

[@MichaelChernik-zf2fy]

1:56 Are we crazy!? (The pitch and timber of Orson Welles voice, Orson could narrate along the way like a Beethoven symphony. )

[@ANProductionsOfficialChannel]

Ladies and gentlemen... Orson Welles

[@johngreen3543]

Darrow wrote an autobiography of his life and it is probably out of print by now. But I got an old nearly falling apart paperback by Penguin and read it at least 5 times in my 60 years I had the book in my personal library. If there is two conclusions that Darrow reached in his life time besides the unfairness of the death penalty is that criminal activity is the direct result of poverty and that the profession of law puts way too many criminal and civil laws on the books. Just take a look of all the pointless stupid laws that the governor has forced on the citizens of Florida as a case in point.

[@suze1958]

Bravo! clapping~~

[@tlee51ftw]

Difference of opinion is what makes horse races. Just like spanking is not the way to teach children not to hit, killing is not the way to teach people not to murder. Especially when we know a great many innocent people are convicted in this country. You can correct a life sentence. You can't correct an execution.

[@garrison6863]

Welles' best performance since CItizen Kane. It really does justice to Darrow's great speech. This is acting: understand the character, planning gestures and inflections, priming voice and emotions, and then set it alive with imaginative talent. The film itself is not bad at all. But Welles makes the picture.

[@Gorboduc]

You're forgetting Hank Quinlan...

[@bak-mariterry5180]

@@Gorboduc And his performance in MOBY DICK .

[@frannyzooey11]

"Are we crazy ? " The death penalty does not work. If it worked why do we still have it ?

[@christophermacintyre5890]

It's fairly easy to defeat a death penalty advocate who is employing the deterrence argument, because there is little evidence to bear this out, but good luck trying to argue them out of the position that the death penalty is necessary on an emotional level. They will simply put forward "closure" and "fitting justice" as the true reason.

[@dennymandrake9817]

The last genius.

[@danielpickton-allen8385]

Clarence Darrow was a fine, fine man.

[@jram4617]

Would have loved to have him and Brando work together ❤️

[@DC-zi6se]

They did in theatre but it failed.

[@jram4617]

@@DC-zi6se They did??? Please tell me more

[@Ronald60202]

They never worked in the theatre together. It would have to have been in the 1940s after WWII, when Brando became active. Welles by that time was deep into filmmaking, having done Monsieur Verdoux, Macbeth and The Lady From Shanghai in two years, 1947-48.

[@IloveEricSaenz]

wow

[@Tmanaz480]

This would be a great monologue for an older actor. Along with captain Queeg's courtroom scene.

[@sthompson4049]

bogie did a good job

[@mariusstrmglendrange2411]

Damn….

[@bertonifilms]

I don't see how anyone of good conscience can approve of the death penalty. Particularly Christians, who, finding nothing to support it in the New Testament, have reach back in the Old Testament for quotes that are entirely inconsistent with Jesus' teachings of absolute forgiveness and total love.

[@goback3spaces]

@RogueRotting360 Oh, yeah...watch carefully

[@Tmanaz480]

Would have made a great radio drama.

[@GayRocker81]

🐐🐐 G.O.A.T! 🐐🐐

[@RogueRotting360]

@goback3spaces How so? I can't see it.

[@ricktomlinson5481]

Oh may God Norma, I thought you got 'the chair' !

[@juanmonge8]

Based on the Leopold and Loeb case. One killed for kicks. The other because he had a homosexual crush on the other. Darrow knew that he couldn’t get them off. His argument was do that they wouldn’t get executed. One of them was killed in prison.

[@rimfire8217]

Technically this is not Clarence Darrow, This is a fictional Character named "Jonathan Wilk".