The Soviet spy they caught, we want you to defend him. Here's the indictment. Wow. I'm...
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Lynn Goodnough: The Soviet spy they caught, we want you to defend him. Here's the indictment.
James Donovan: Wow. I'm not sure I wanna pick that up.
Thomas Watters Jr.: The accused doesn't know any lawyers. The federal court tossed it into our lap. The Bar Committee took a vote. You're the unanimous choice.
Lynn Goodnough: It was important to us... well, it's important to our country, Jim, that this man is seen as getting a fair shake. American justice will be on trial.
James Donovan: Well, of course, when you put it that way, it's an honor to be asked. But, Lynn, I'm an insurance lawyer. I haven't done criminal work in years.
Lynn Goodnough: It's like riding a bike, isn't it? You distinguished yourself at Nuremberg.
James Donovan: I was on the prosecution team.
Lynn Goodnough: Not the point. You're no stranger to criminal law. Jim, look at the situation. The man is publicly reviled.
James Donovan: And I will be, too.
Lynn Goodnough: Yes, in more ignorant quarters. But that's exactly why this has to be done, and capably done. It can't look like our justice system tosses people on the ash heap.
James Donovan: [flipping through the indictment paperwork] Suppose I did, what's the evidence look like?
Lynn Goodnough: Pretty overwhelming
James Donovan: Wow. I'm not sure I wanna pick that up.
Thomas Watters Jr.: The accused doesn't know any lawyers. The federal court tossed it into our lap. The Bar Committee took a vote. You're the unanimous choice.
Lynn Goodnough: It was important to us... well, it's important to our country, Jim, that this man is seen as getting a fair shake. American justice will be on trial.
James Donovan: Well, of course, when you put it that way, it's an honor to be asked. But, Lynn, I'm an insurance lawyer. I haven't done criminal work in years.
Lynn Goodnough: It's like riding a bike, isn't it? You distinguished yourself at Nuremberg.
James Donovan: I was on the prosecution team.
Lynn Goodnough: Not the point. You're no stranger to criminal law. Jim, look at the situation. The man is publicly reviled.
James Donovan: And I will be, too.
Lynn Goodnough: Yes, in more ignorant quarters. But that's exactly why this has to be done, and capably done. It can't look like our justice system tosses people on the ash heap.
James Donovan: [flipping through the indictment paperwork] Suppose I did, what's the evidence look like?
Lynn Goodnough: Pretty overwhelming
Full Transcript
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The Soviet spy they caught we want you to defend him
00:00:04.537 --> 00:00:05.805
Here's the indictment
00:00:09.991 --> 00:00:10.003
Wow
00:00:11.878 --> 00:00:13.746
I'm not sure I wanna pick that up
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The accused doesn't know any lawyers
00:00:15.848 --> 00:00:17.784
The federal court tossed it into our lap
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The Bar Committee took a vote
00:00:21.001 --> 00:00:22.855
You're the unanimous choice
00:00:22.889 --> 00:00:24.049
It was important to us
00:00:24.524 --> 00:00:25.825
It's important to our country Jim
00:00:25.858 --> 00:00:27.794
that this man is seen as getting a fair shake
00:00:27.827 --> 00:00:29.829
American justice will be on trial
00:00:29.862 --> 00:00:31.764
Well of course when you put it that way
00:00:31.798 --> 00:00:33.766
it's an honor to be asked
00:00:33.008 --> 00:00:35.701
But Lynn I'm an insurance lawyer
00:00:35.735 --> 00:00:37.067
I haven't done criminal work in years
00:00:37.703 --> 00:00:39.705
It's like riding a bike isn't it
00:00:39.739 --> 00:00:41.808
You distinguished yourself at Nuremberg
00:00:41.841 --> 00:00:43.543
I was on the prosecution team
00:00:43.576 --> 00:00:44.811
Not the point
00:00:44.844 --> 00:00:46.204
You're no stranger to criminal law
00:00:46.946 --> 00:00:48.881
Jim look at the situation
00:00:48.915 --> 00:00:50.095
The man is publicly reviled
00:00:50.983 --> 00:00:51.984
And I will be too
00:00:52.001 --> 00:00:53.853
Yes in more ignorant quarters
00:00:53.886 --> 00:00:55.721
But that's exactly why this has to be done
00:00:55.755 --> 00:00:57.824
and capably done
00:00:57.857 --> 00:00:59.826
It can't look like our justice system
00:00:59.859 --> 00:01:01.998
tosses people on the ash heap
00:01:06.566 --> 00:01:08.999
Suppose I did what's the evidence look like
00:01:10.102 --> 00:01:11.604
Pretty overwhelming
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Movie Summary
During the Cold War, the Soviet Union captures U.S. pilot Francis Gary Powers after shooting down his U-2 spy plane. Sentenced to 10 years in prison, Powers' only hope is New York lawyer James Donovan, recruited by a CIA operative to negotiate his release. Donovan boards a plane to Berlin, hoping to win the young man's freedom through a prisoner exchange. If all goes well, the Russians would get Rudolf Abel, the convicted spy who Donovan defended in court.
