The courtroom is the common theme for the Henderson Community College Spring Film Series, which kicks off Jan. 28 and includes seven films.
"Screen Trials: Great Courtroom Films" will take place in the Sullivan Technology Center at the college.
The films that are shown on Wednesday nights will be offered in Room 311 and the films that are shown on Thursday nights will be in Room 309.
Show time is 6:30 p.m. There is no admission fee and a discussion follows the film's showing.
Here's the line-up:
Wednesday, Jan. 28 -- "Witness for the Prosecution" (1957, 116 minutes). An accused murderer enlists the skill of England's best trial lawyer but the twist is that his wife is a witness for the other side. This film was nominated for six Academy Awards. Starring: Tyrone Power, Marlene Dietrich, and Charles Laughton; directed by Billy Wilder. Discussion led by Kevin Reid.
Wednesday, Feb. 11 -- "A Time To Kill" (1996, 149 minutes). Samuel L. Jackson plays a father whose 10-year-old daughter is raped. He guns down the two rapists and is on a trial for his life. The case exposes racism, the death penalty and small town complacency. Starring: Samuel L. Jackson, Matthew McConaughey, Sandra Bullock and Donald Sutherland; directed by Joel Schumacher. Discussion led by Bill Dixon.
Wednesday, Feb. 25 -- "Jagged Edge" (1985, 108 minutes). The murder of Jeff Bridges' wife makes him the obvious suspect. His attorney defends him and falls in love. Along the way they discover the real killer. This film was nominated for one Academy Award. Starring: Jeff Bridges, Glen Close and Robert Loggia; directed by Joe Eszterhas. Discussion led by Michele Carson.
Thursday, March 12 -- "Adam's Rib" (1947, 101 minutes). Tracy and Hepburn are attorneys, man and wife, and courtroom opponents. The trial of a woman accused of the attempted murder of her husband's current mistress sets the stage for the war between the sexes. Nominated for one Academy Award, this is one of the best of the Hepburn-Tracy screwball comedies. Starring: Katherine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy; directed by George Cukor. Discussion led by Mike Knecht.
Thursday, March 26 -- "Philadelphia" (1993, 125 minutes). Gay attorney Tom Hanks is fired when the law firm realizes he has AIDS. Denzel Washington, though homophobic, acts as Hanks' attorney for an opportunity to attack the establishment. This was nominated for five Academy Awards and won two. Starring: Tom Hanks, Denzel Washington and Antonio Banderas; directed by Robert Jonathan Demme. Discussion led by Katie Griffis.
Thursday, April 9 -- "A Few Good Men" (1992, 114 minutes). The death of a soldier in the Guantanamo garrison leads to a trial of the men accused of his murder. Defense attorneys Tom Cruise and Cruise Moore face off against Nicholson in one of his most memorable roles. This film was nominated for four Academy Awards. Starring Tom Cruise, Demi Moore, Jack Nicholson and Kevin Bacon; directed by Rob Reiner. Discussion led by Nikki Brotherton.
Thursday, April 23 -- "Runaway Jury" (2003, 114 minutes). John Cusack and Rachel Weisz have a plan to win a trial by tampering with the jury. The problem is that the lead defense attorney, Gene Hackman, is trying to do the same thing. Who will win? Starring: John Cusack, Gene Hackman, Dustin Hoffman, and Rachel Weisz; directed by Gary Fleder. Discussion led by Cary Conley.
