Product reviewsTrial And Error (DVD, 2001)

A Gem

A delight to watch. Peter Sellars, Richard Attenborough and Irene Handl acting at their magnificent best.

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A TERRIBLE FILM TO STAY CLEAR OF

I sat through this film from start to finish. I did not find it funny at all. Miss Reid and companion laughing none stop was very repetitive and boring as was the role play in the cell with the two lead actors. I took this film the next day to the charity shop out of my sight.Read full review...

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Trial and Error is a wonderful comedy drama.

Well structured script by John Mortimer and equally well directed legal comedy drama.
Thank you.

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: musicmagpie

Sellers and Attenborough at their best

British author John Mortimer is best known to television audiences as the creator of Rumpole of the Bailey, the British comedy-drama popular with PBS viewers and starring Leo McKern as an aging barrister fighting the good fight in court but henpecked at home. This 1962 film, Trial and Error, is also based on a Mortimer story and also deals with the decidedly unglamorous lives of people shackled to an imperfect legal system. Richard Attenborough plays an ordinary, quiet fellow who kills his wife after years of listening to her gaudy laughter. He freely admits he did the deed, but the defense counsel assigned to him (Peter Sellers), desperate to be part of a significant trial, tries fruitlessly to mount a compelling case for his innocence. Sellers and Attenborough, perhaps never better than in this film by James Hill (Born Free), brilliantly portray the subtle shift of authority and sympathy between their characters, the way the accused slowly comes to the emotional rescue of his own, depressed advocate. So joined are these two by a common, seemingly pointless destiny that they even pay supernatural visits to one another's pasts--much like Scrooge and his Christmas spirits. Fine stuff, very funny, and ultimately poignant. Also known as The Dock BriefRead full review...

Trial and error

Basically a two hander between Peter Sellers and Richard Attenborough this film shows its stage origins, but as you can imagine with lead actors of such calibre the film is a toure de force. Sellers plays a rather tragic barrister who has waited a lifetime to be given a brief, only to get his first by accident. Attenborough is a placid nobody who has murdered his wife(Beryl Reid). This is a very well written comedey with great central performances and good support from Beryl Reid and David Lodge. Well worth a look.Read full review...

TRAIL AND ERROR

I BOUGHT THIS DVD FOR MY HUSBAND WHO LOVES PETER SELLERS FILMS,HE THINKS THIS IS ONE OF IS TRUE CLASSIC FILMS,GREAT FILM,GREAT QUALITY,GREAT ACTING,GREAT VALUE.THANKS KIND REGARDS,DEBBIE GOMER

Watchable.

I adore the old black + white films. This is Peter Sellers and Richard Attenborough, in a story of a barrister who thinks he can save the murderer from the rope. Sellers is the bumbling barrister, Attenborough is the murderer. The storyline goes between past and present, nicely acted, keeps you guessing to the end.Read full review...