Beyond a Reasonable Doubt (1956): Cast & Plot
Beyond a Reasonable Doubt is a 1956 crime drama directed by Fritz Lang, starring Joan Fontaine as Susan Spencer, Sidney Blackmer and Dana Andrews. It runs 1 hour 20 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 20m (80 min)
- Director
- Fritz Lang
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Bert E. Friedlob Productions
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Beyond a Reasonable Doubt About?
The premise of Beyond a Reasonable Doubt without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
A newspaper publisher, determined to show that circumstantial evidence is unreliable, convinces his son‑in‑law Tom to stage a hoax. Tom plants false clues implicating him in the murder of a nightclub dancer, aiming to trap city’s hardline district attorney. After Tom’s conviction, the publisher plans to reveal the ruse and humiliate DA.
Beyond a Reasonable Doubt Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- based on story
- burlesque dancer
- death row convict
- car roll over
- courtroom drama
- death row inmate
- newspaper editor
- ex boyfriend ex girlfriend relationship
- exonerating evidence
- fiance fiancee relationship
- father daughter relationship
- engraved lighter
+38 more Show fewer
- framed for murder
- jealous woman
- writing a book
- state prison
- newspaper reporter
- murder suspect
- burlesque show
- aspiring writer
- strangled woman
- political aspiration
- television camera
- insinuation
- fatal car crash
- race against time
- jail visit
- governor's pardon
- last minute evidence
- name change
- police procedural crime
- legal drama
- gold digger
- blackmail victim
- murder confession
- photograph
- day for night camera shot
- letter from a dead person
- newspaper headline
- pipe smoking
- striptease
- suspense
- lang and andrews
- murder
- dancer
- capital punishment
- circumstantial evidence
- stripper
- district attorney
- electric chair
Beyond a Reasonable Doubt Cast & Characters
Joan Fontaine leads the cast as Susan Spencer, with Sidney Blackmer as Austin Spencer and Dana Andrews as Tom Garrett. Directed by Fritz Lang; 19 actors are credited in all.
- Director Fritz Lang
-
Joan Fontaine as Susan Spencer - Sidney Blackmer as Austin Spencer
-
Dana Andrews as Tom Garrett -
Edward Binns as Lt. Kennedy
Also Starring in Beyond a Reasonable Doubt
· 15 more- John George Newspaper Vendor (uncredited)
- Carleton Young Allan Kirk
- Charles Evans Governor
- Dan Seymour Greco
- Shepperd Strudwick Jonathan Wilson
- Arthur Franz Bob Hale
- Barbara Nichols Dolly Moore
- Joe Kirk Clothing Store Clerk
- Robin Raymond Terry Larue
- Rusty Lane Judge
- Wendell Niles Announcer
- Philip Bourneuf Roy Thompson
- Joyce Taylor Joan Williams
- William F. Leicester Charlie Miller
- Trudy Wroe Hatcheck girl
More from Fritz Lang
More films directed by Fritz Lang: Metropolis (re-release), Giorgio Moroder’s Metropolis, Journey to the Lost City and The Thousand Eyes of Dr. Mabuse.
Beyond a Reasonable Doubt Plot Summary
What happens in Beyond a Reasonable Doubt from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 13 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Austin Spencer, a wealthy newspaper publisher who openly opposes the death penalty, believes the system can convict and execute innocent men based on circumstantial clues. He enlists his daughter Susan’s fiancé, Tom Garrett, a successful novelist and former employee, to participate in a calculated hoax designed to expose what he sees as an overzealous district attorney and a punitive appetite for capital punishment. The plan is simple in concept but dangerous in execution: Tom will plant misleading clues that point to his own guilt in the murder of a nightclub dancer, Patty Gray, with Spencer ready to reveal the set-up publicly to advance his political agenda once Tom is convicted.
Full summary
The whole story of Beyond a Reasonable Doubt, scene by scene
Beyond a Reasonable Doubt Trailers & Videos
The trailer of Beyond a Reasonable Doubt.
How Well Do You Know Beyond a Reasonable Doubt?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Who is the wealthy newspaper publisher who openly opposes the death penalty?
Cars in Beyond a Reasonable Doubt
3 cars on screen, including the 1956 Lincoln Premiere and the 1956 Imperial.
-
1956 Lincoln Premiere Important role -
1956 Imperial Minor role -
1947 White Super Power Minor role
Beyond a Reasonable Doubt Also Known As
22 alternative titles, including “Elektriska stolen väntar” and “Sähkötuoli odottaa”.
- Also known as
-
- Elektriska stolen väntar
- Sähkötuoli odottaa
- Ta ihni itan pseftika
- Kétségtelenül indokolt
- Verdwenen alibi
- Det perfekte alibi
- Ponad wszelka watpliwosc
- Falskt alibi
- Savrseni alibi
- Más allá de la duda
- L'Invraisemblable Vérité
- L'alibi era perfetto
+10 more Show fewer
- Jenseits allen Zweifels
- מעבר לכל ספק סביר
- A Verdade e o Medo
- Отвъд разумното съмнение
- По ту сторону разумного сомнения
- 高度怀疑
- Suplício de uma Alma
- ورای شک معقول
- 이유없는 의심
- Den hårdeste straf
Seen Beyond a Reasonable Doubt?
Movies Like Beyond a Reasonable Doubt
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Reasonable Doubt, Beyond Suspicion and Beyond Suspicion.
Beyond a Reasonable Doubt FAQ: Cast & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of Beyond a Reasonable Doubt, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Beyond a Reasonable Doubt?
Beyond a Reasonable Doubt runs 1 hour 20 minutes (80 minutes).
When was Beyond a Reasonable Doubt released?
Beyond a Reasonable Doubt was released on September 13, 1956.
Who directed Beyond a Reasonable Doubt?
Beyond a Reasonable Doubt was directed by Fritz Lang.
More films by Fritz Lang Who is in the cast of Beyond a Reasonable Doubt?
Beyond a Reasonable Doubt stars Joan Fontaine as Susan Spencer, Sidney Blackmer as Austin Spencer and Dana Andrews as Tom Garrett, among 19 credited actors.
Does Beyond a Reasonable Doubt have a post-credit scene?
No. Beyond a Reasonable Doubt has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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