The one everyone thought would finally win Paul Newman an Oscar (he had to wait another four years to receive one for The Color Of Money), Newman plays washed-up, ambulance chasing lawyer Frank Galvin given a final chance to prove himself in a medical malpractice suit.
With precise direction from Lumet, a hard-hitting screenplay by David Mamet, tremendous courtroom scenes and of course a powerhouse performance from Newman himself its no surprise this was a critical success. A shame really that he missed out.