Law and Film
IL/CJUS/POLI 277 CJ2
Professor Morgan Scott
Department of Public Affairs
Roanoke College
Office: West 208
Classroom: West 127
E-mail: mscott@roanoke.edu
Phone: (540) 375-2228
Office Hours: 1:00-1:30pm
”Daddy's a litigator. That's the scariest type of lawyer. Even Lucy, our maid, is
terrified of him. And daddy's so good he gets $500 to argue with people. But he
argues with me for free because I'm his daughter.”
- Cher, Clueless (1995)
“I don't need tough guys. I need more lawyers.”
- Michael Corleone, The Godfather, Part III (1990)
Introduction
American popular culture has demonstrated an enduring fascinating with
lawyers, the law, and the legal system. Whether it is the latest John Grisham novelturned-movie or yet another television series about hip forensic scientists, we have an
insatiable appetite for stories about good and evil played out against the backdrop of
courtrooms, law firms, and police precincts. More importantly, it is from popular
culture that most individuals develop their opinions about the American legal system.
This course focuses on one aspect of popular culture – the film – to examine how
the different components of the American legal system are portrayed by Hollywood.
The questions we will debate over the semester: Does popular culture exalt or indict the
American legal system? Have these cinematic images changed over time? Does
Hollywood accurately depict the American legal system, and is it from these screen
images that young Americans develop their opinions regarding lawyers and the law?
Readings
Handouts will be distributed from time-to-time. Additionally, you will be
directed to on-line reading assignments. There is no textbook for the course.
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Additional Sources
Paul Bergman and Michael Asimow. 1996. Reel Justice: The Courtroom Goes to the
Movies. Andrews McMeel Publishing.
David A. Black. 1999. Law in Film: Resonance and Representation. University of
Illinois Press.
Anthony Chase. 2002. Movies on Trial: The Legal System on the Silver Screen. New
Press.
Richard K. Sherwin. 2002. When Law Goes Pop: The Vanishing Line Between Law
and Popular Culture. University of Chicago Press.
Picturing Justice: The On-Line Journal of Law and Popular Culture
(/www.usfca.edu/pj)
Journal of Criminal Justice and Popular Culture (/www.albany.edu/scj/jcjpc/)
Law and Popular Culture Collection, Tarlton Law Library, University of Texas
School of Law. http://tarlton.law.utexas.edu/lpop/index.html
Grading
Your final grade will be calculated as follows:
Quizzes:
Class Participation:
Research Paper:
Paper presentation:
Final Examination:
5%
15%
20%
20%
40%
Class Absences
Class participation is a critical component of the course, as indicated by the
weight given to your class participation grade. Moreover, the final course examination
will draw upon class lectures (and those lectures will cover material not contained in
the movies or assigned readings). There is, however, no class attendance policy or class
attendance grade. While I believe that it would be extraordinarily difficult to pass the
course while missing multiple class meetings, you are welcome to test that hypothesis.
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Learning Disability
If you are on record with the College’s Special Services as having special
academic or physical needs requiring accommodations, please discuss this with me as
soon as possible. We need to discuss your accommodations before they can be
implemented. Also, please note that arrangements for extended times on exams and
testing in a semi-private setting must be made at least one week before the exams. Your
disability will be treated confidentially, of course, but I will need sufficient warning to
make the necessary arrangements. If you believe you are eligible for accommodations
but have not yet formally contacted Special Services, contact the Office of Academic
Services (x2248).
Research Paper
You will write a 5-10 page paper analyzing a film that is not included on the class
syllabus but contains important themes or questions involving the American legal
system. My approval regarding the movie selection is required. Not only will you
write a research paper, but each student will present on their selected movie during the
final day of class. The in-class presentation should include, at a minimum, a powerpoint presentation. Short movie clips may also be shown. A separate handout will
provide specific guidelines for the paper. A list of potential movies is listed in
Appendix A. Some of the movies are available in Fintel Library; others will have to be
obtain via inter-library loan.
Academic Integrity
Cheating of any form or degree will not be tolerated. It is your responsibility to
familiarize yourself with Roanoke College’s Academic Integrity System which can be
found in the Student Handbook. Be sure to pay special attention to the discussion
regarding plagiarism. It is your responsibility to know the rules regarding Academic
Integrity. To quote an old legal maxim, “ignorance of the law is no excuse.”
Cell Phones, Pagers, Etc.
All cell phones, pagers, and other electronic communication devices must be
turned off before the start of class. The first time one of these devices interrupts class, or
I catch a student checking his or her text messages, the offending party is buying movie
popcorn and soda for the entire class; the second time, the offending party will be asked
to excuse him/herself from the remainder of class.
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Course Schedule and Reading Assignments
We will meet every day from approximately 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. We will
spend approximately one hour in lecture/discussion before watching the first movie
assigned for the day. After watching the movie, we will spend approximately a half
hour discussing and analyzing the movie before adjourning. You will note that TWO
films are assigned for most days; copies of the second film (designated with asterisks)
will be placed on reserve in the library and you are responsible for watching the second
film. Most of the reserve films are also available at Blockbuster Video.
The second film listed for a date will be made available for viewing in West Hall 127
after the conclusion of class. After this showing the film will be returned to the Library
and placed on reserve.
Monday, May 11:
Introduction to the Course and the American Legal System
Movies: Visions of Light: The Art of Cinematography (1993); The Cutting
Edge: The Magic of Movie Editing (2004).
Kit R. Roane. 2005. “Special Report: The CSI Effect.” U.S. News and
World Report. April 25, 2005.
Tuesday, May 12:
Let’s Go to the Movies: Lawyers, Judges, and Hollywood
Movie: My Cousin Vinny
Wednesday, May 13:
Legal Education
Movie: The Paper Chase (1973)
Movie: Legally Blonde (2001)***
Thursday, May 14:
The Lawyer as Hero
Movie: To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)
Movie: The Verdict (1982)***
Michael Asimow. 1996. “When Lawyers Were Heroes.” University of
San Fransisco Law Review 30 (Summer): 1131-1138.
John Jay Osborn. 1996. “Atticus Finch – The End of Honor: A
Discussion of To Kill a Mockingbird.” University of San Francisco Law
Review 30 (Summer): 1139-1142.
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Friday, May 15:
The Modern Lawyer
Movie: The Devil’s Advocate (1997)
Movie: Regarding Henry (1991)***
Michael Asimow. 2000. “Bad Lawyers in the Movies.” Nova Law Review
24 (Winter): 533-591.
Monday, May 18:
Judges and Judging
Movie: The Star Chamber (1983)
Movie: Judgment at Nuremberg (1961)***
Sundermann, J. Howard. 2002. “Judges in Film.” Picturing Justice: The
Online Journal of Law and Popular Culture.
http://www.usfca.edu/pj/index.html
Tuesday, May 19:
The Jury System
Movie: Twelve Angry Men (1957)
Movie: The Runaway Jury (2003)***
Clover, Carol J. 1999. “Movie Juries.” DePaul Law Review 48: 389.
Wednesday, May 20:
Women and the Law
Movie: Adam’s Rib (1949)
Movie: The Accused (1988)***
In-class Examination
Miller, Carolyn Lisa. 1995. “’What a Waste. Beautiful, Sexy
Gal. Hell of a Lawyer": Film and the Female Attorney.’”
Columbia Journal of Gender and Law 4: 204.
Papke, David Ray. 2003. “Cautionary Tales: The Woman as Lawyer in
Contemporary Hollywood Cinema.” University of Arkansas Little Rock
Law Review 25 (Spring): 485.
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Thursday, May 21:
Legal Ethics:
Movie: Body Heat (1981)
Movie: Cape Fear (1962)***
Burkoff, John M. 1997. “If God Wanted Lawyers to Fly, She Would
Have Given Them Wings: Life, Lust & Legal Ethics in Body Heat.”
Oklahoma City University Law Review 22:187.
Haddad, Tonja. 2000. “Silver Tongues on the Silver Screen: Legal Ethics
in the Movies.” Nova Law Review 24: 673.
Friday, May 22:
The Death Penalty
Movie: The Green Mile (1997)
Movie: Dead Man Walking (1999)***
Harding, Roberta M. 1996. “Celluloid Death: Cinematic Depictions of
Capital Punishment.” University of San Francisco Law Review 30: 1167.
Shapiro, Carole. 1996. “Do or Die: Does Dead Man Walking Run?”
University of San Francisco Law Review 30: 1143.
Monday, May 25:
Memorial Day. No class
Tuesday, May 26:
Tort Litigation
Movie: A Civil Action (1999)
Movie: Erin Brockovich (2000)***
Reel Justice, Chapter 8
Asimow, Michael. “And Now for the Heroic Paralegal.” Picturing
Justice: The Online Journal of Law and Popular Culture.
Herman, Justyna. “A Civil Action: Is There Room for Apology in the
Adversary System?” Picturing Justice: The Online Journal of Law and
Popular Culture.
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Wednesday, May 27:
In-class Presentations on Law and Film
In-class Final Examination
Thursday, May 28:
In-class Presentations on Law and Film
Friday, May 29:
In-class Presentations on Law and Film
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Appendix A
The Ox-Bow Incident (1943)
The Caine Mutiny (1954)
Witness for the Prosecution (1957)
I Want to Live! (1958)
Anatomy of a Murder (1959)
Inherit the Wind (1960)
A Man of All Seasons (1966)
In Cold Blood (1967)
Bananas (1971)
Kramer vs. Kramer (1979)
First Monday in October (1980)
Gideon’s Trumpet (1980)
Absence of Malice (1981)
Irreconcilable Differences (1984)
Jagged Edge (1985)
Legal Eagles (1986)
Presumed Innocent (1990)
Reversal of Fortune (1990)
Class Action (1991)
Defending Your Life (1991)
A Few Good Men (1992)
The Firm (1992)
The Pelican Brief (1993)
Philadelphia (1993)
In the Name of the Father (1994)
The Client (1994)
Disclosure (1994)
A Time to Kill (1996)
The Chamber (1996)
The Rainmaker (1997)
Amistad (1997)
Rules of Engagement (2000)
The Hurricane (2000)
I am Sam (2002)
Friends of Eddie Coyle (1973)
The Green Mile (1999)
Ghost of Mississippi (1996)
The Life of David Gale (2003)
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