The Woman Under Oath
Cast & Crew
John M. Stahl
Florence Reed
Hugh Thompson
Gareth Hughes
David Powell
Florida Kingsley
Film Details
Synopsis
After a forward introduces the question of whether women are temperamentally suited for jury duty, Jim O'Neil, a young shipping clerk, is found holding a revolver over his dead employer, Edward Knox. The celebrated novelist Grace Norton, selected to be on the jury at Jim's trial, becomes the first woman juror in New York. Although Jim pleads innocence, he refuses to elaborate until his sweetheart Helen testifies that Knox raped her when she pleaded for Jim, who was fired unjustly, to be reinstated. Jim testifies that he intended to kill Knox, but found him dead already. During an angry all-night deliberation, the jury remains deadlocked eleven-to-one, with Grace voting against a guilty verdict. In the morning, when she learns that her sister Edith has died, Grace confesses killing Knox for seducing Edith and failing to honor his promise of marriage. After the foreman reminds the jury of their oath to keep their proceedings secret, they agree not to reveal Grace's story, and vote to acquit Jim.
Director
John M. Stahl
Cast
Florence Reed
Hugh Thompson
Gareth Hughes
David Powell
Florida Kingsley
Mildred Cheshire
May Mcavoy
Harold Entwistle
Thomas Mcguire
Walter Mcewen
Edward Brennan
Frank De Camp
Edward Elkus
Jane Jennings
Film Details
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
A pre-release screening of this film was held for the Brooklyn Women's Bar Association. At the time this film was produced, only the following six states allowed women to serve on juries: Washington, California, Kansas, Nevada, Idaho and Ohio.
