Trial by Jury

Starring:Joanne Whalley, Armand Assante, Gabriel Byrne, William Hurt, Kathleen Quinlan, Margaret Whitton, Ed Lauter, Richard Portnow, Lisa Arrindell Anderson, Jack Gwaltney, Graham Jarvis, William R. Moses, Joe Santos, Beau Starr, Bryan Shilowich, Stuart Whitman, Kevin Ramsey, Fiona Gallagher, Kay Hawtrey, Ardon Bess
Director: Heywood Gould
Studio: Warner Home Video
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Description
He's guilty of murder. The feds have him dead to rights. At last there's no escape for this mob boss, a "Teflon Don" who has slipped free of murder raps so many times before. But something goes wrong in the jury room. Eleven jurors vote guilty. One woman, her life and family threatened by the mob, votes to let the killer walk. And to set things right, that woman will have to fight back with a vengeance.

Amazon.com

There are plenty of things about Law & Order: Trial by Jury, the fourth series and third spinoff (after SVU and Criminal Intent) in executive producer Dick Wolf's popular and reliable franchise, that loyal viewers will find familiar, even comforting. There's the taut, ripped-from-the-headlines storytelling; the Kobe Bryant rape case (in "Pattern of Conduct") and the infamous Amadou Diallo shooting (in "Forty-One Shots") are but two examples among the fourteen episodes in this three-disc set. There are appearances, some of them recurring, by Sam Waterston, Fred Thompson, the late Jerry Orbach (in his final episodes as Det. Lennie Briscoe), and other stalwarts from the original series. There's an SVU "cross-over" episode, and another ("Skeleton") that follows up on the shooting of L & O detective Ed Green (Jesse L. Martin). And then there's the theme music, the intro ("In the criminal justice system")… and that ineffable sound that leads from one scene to another. Yet Trial by Jury also has many aspects that set it apart from the other Law & Order shows. In focusing not on police procedure but on the trial process, it shines a brighter light on the defendants (who in most cases have already been apprehended when an episode starts), the juries (including the selection process, deliberations, and the role of jury consultants), the various lawyers' strategies, and even the judges' personal opinions. All of that leads to some interesting situations, like the scene in "Forty-One Shots" that finds a group of policemen, barred from the courtroom for making a disturbance during the trial of a cop killer, waiting anxiously outside for the verdict. Nevertheless, there are reasons why Trial by Jury failed to connect with viewers, airing for just two months in 2005 before being canceled by NBC. The cast is one of them; for example, A.D.A. Tracey Kibre (Bebe Neuwirth), the lead prosecutor, is tough but not especially likable. More than that, with its predilection for tight close-ups, personal details, melodrama, and such, the series is simply too much like standard nighttime TV fare. Good but not great, Law & Order: Trial by Jury (the set includes a few deleted scenes and a short featurette) will certainly have its adherents, but it falls a little short of its distinguished predecessors. --Sam Graham

Description

The jury is in! From creator Dick Wolf comes the most innovative Law & Order series yet: Law & Order: Trial by Jury - The Complete Series. Partner up with Jerry Orbach, Fred Dalton Thompson and Bebe Neuwirth to explore the judicial system like never before: not only from the point of view of police and prosecutors, but also the defense team, judges, jurors and the defendants themselves. This highly collectible three-disc DVD set contains all 13 original episodes of the entire series, including one never broadcast on network TV! Plus witness exciting deleted scenes, a landmark Law & Order: SVU cross-over episode starring Chris Meloni and Emmy winner Mariska Hargitay, the philosophy behind this unique show presented by the cast members, and powerful guest-star performances from Lorraine Bracco, Peter Coyote and Candice Bergen. You have the right to Law & Order: Trial by Jury!

Customer Reviews:

Good series,but it has it's problems.......2007-06-08

I first became a fan of the Law and Order franchise when I watched the first series of the original.Then came Criminal Intent followed by SVU.I was getting hooked on the real life Crime and Punishment and I wondered why the plug was pulled.Trial by Jury was good,but it had its flaws.I'm more of a fan of the original and SVU.When Dennis Farina was brought in to replace Jerry Orbach,I thought it was a very good decision.But I was sadden Dennis Farina left the series.He and Jesse Martin's character were a good formula.Despite massive cast changes the franchise will survive.There have been a lot of talk the Law and Order franchise is in a big rivalry with the CSI franchise.This would make great TV.I watch Law and Order because I get into the story faster than CSI.When I am writing my novels I watch the Law and Order episodes,it helps with my writers'block.

Why did they stop after 1 season???.......2007-02-14

I was saddened by Jerry Orbach's death as well as most of his fans were. I think that they had a strong cast though and would have been able to carry the show. I think it was a much better show than Law and Order Criminal Intent,which just confuses me. LOL. I wonder if they will bring it back? I wish they would.

Jerry Orbach's death and uninspired scripts doomed this show.......2006-12-24

Trial By Jury failed to live up to its potential. The first few episodes held out the promise of an in-depth look at how the legal system works from all angles, including the jury, but this was quickly altered to a focus on the Bebe Neuwirth character and her investigators. In effect, it became an hour-long version of the second half of the original L&O. Still, the show was interesting and entertaining, and its crossovers with other L&O shows were fun. I enjoyed Neuwirth, both her acting and her character. I wasn't put off at all by her terse manner or cynicism, and I think she had pretty good chemistry with her female sidekick. Some of the storylines did seem to be retreads of stories from other L&O shows, but if the writers could have managed to overcome that trend, and stayed true to the show's original potential, then it might have been another strong entry in the L&O franchise.

I do have to say, however, that even though I liked the show, the fact that its creativity started waning after a few episodes caused me to be less disappointed by its cancellation than I might have been. Jerry Orbach, who was intended to be a regular on the show playing Lenny Briscoe, could have been the sympathetic character this show was missing, but his worsening illness and then death put an end to those plans and probably this show. He was only able to show up during the first two episodes, and even then he looked quite ill. These days, networks aren't generally willing to give a series time to come into its own. If you don't produce ratings in the first half dozen outings, its generally cancellation time.

I'd recommend this DVD for those of us who are dyed in the wool L&O fans, but if you're not in this category, you might not really like this show that much.

I Knew This One Would Fail.......2006-10-17

When I saw the previews for this show, I was ecstatic. It was Lilith and Murphy Brown in a new show. Of course, I'm referring to Bebe Neuwirth and Candace Bergen (I apologize if my spelling is inaccurate. Too lazy to look up the proper spellings of their respective names). So, I eagerly tuned into this new series since I love these two actresses and I love Law & Order. The first episode was okay, but I felt there was simply TOO MUCH going on! It was hard to keep pace with the show. Everyone talked too fast about too many complicated legal things. You had the defense, the prosecution, the judge, the jury, the families of the accused, the defendant...just TOO many people, too much information.

As soon as the episode was over, I said to my boyfriend, "Wow. They are going to have to dumb this down for American people." I'm not saying Americans are dumb because I am one, but this was one show that didn't appeal to the O.C./American Idol generation of TV viewers we have now. You really had to want to stick with this show and give it a chance. It was very fast paced and there was a lot to take in.

Still, it's sad that this didn't last. I would've liked to have seen this show develop, just like the other Law & Order shows have.

KILLED BEFORE ITS PRIME.......2006-10-05

This short lived series in the successful L&O franchise wasn't given enough time to connect with the viewers. While not as emotionally engaging as its predecessors, the series nonetheless offered some gripping storylines, and some superb performances from its regulars and guest stars.
While Bebe Neuwirth's character isn't exactly likeable, she nonetheless brought a strong sense of justice and strength to her role. Amy Carlson as her assistant was a little warmer and added a touch of sensitivity. Kirk Acevedo was understated and sincere; Steve Cohen brought a little more volatility to his role. The guest list was impressive: Lorraine Bracco, Alfred Molina, Angela Lansbury, Annabella Sciorra and others all brought class to the series.
Too bad NBC gave up too quickly; I would've enjoyed more episodes.

Gilbert & Sullivan - H.M.S. Pinafore / Trial By Jury - David Hobson, Anthony Warlow, Colette Mann, Tiffany Speight, John Bolton Wood, Richard Alexander, Opera Australia, State Theatre, The Arts Centre Melbourne

Average customer rating:

G & S fan? Don't miss this one.
Interesting interpretations
Delightful HMS Pinafore
Nice Try But Doesn't Measure Up
Sailing the celebrity seas

Gilbert & Sullivan - H.M.S. Pinafore / Trial By Jury - David Hobson, Anthony Warlow, Colette Mann, Tiffany Speight, John Bolton Wood, Richard Alexander, Opera Australia, State Theatre, The Arts Centre Melbourne
Starring: Gilbert & Sullivan , Warlow , Hobson , Greene , and Opera Australia
Manufacturer: Kultur Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

( G ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Gilbert & Sullivan - The Mikado / Eric Idle, Lesley Garrett, Richard Van Allan, Felicity Palmer, Richard Angas, Bonaventura Bottone, Susan Bullock, English National Opera
Gilbert & Sullivan - Patience / Douglas, Olsen, Warlow, Australian Opera
Gilbert & Sullivan - The Pirates of Penzance / Kline, Ronstadt, Smith, Routledge, Delacorte Theater (Broadway Theatre Archive)
Gilbert & Sullivan - The Mikado / Reed, Adams, Potter, Masterson, Godfrey, D'Oyly Carte Opera Company
Gilbert & Sullivan - The Gondoliers / David Hobson, Roger Lemke, Australian Opera

ASIN: B000FII2F2
Release Date: 2006-06-27

Description

For most of the 20th century, the D'Oyly Carte Opera performed HMS Pinafore with a companion piece, Trial by Jury. Opera Australia re-unites these long-standing stage-mates with two fresh productions and an inspired cast. While HMS Pinafore was Gilbert and Sullivan's first full-length satirical work and first major international success, Trial by Jury was their first collaboration - the show's outrageous antics made it the toast of London.

In this filmed recording, Anthony Warlow, Australia's musical theatre superstar, is at the helm as both the "right good captain" and the "good judge" too. He is joined by a stellar cast featuring David Hobson, John Bolton Wood and Colette Mann as "dear little Buttercup".

Featuring: Anthony Warlow, David Hobson, Colette Mann, Tiffany Speight, John Bolton Wood, Richard Alexander, Opera Australia Melbourne Chorus, Orchestra Victoria.

Customer Reviews:

G & S fan? Don't miss this one........2007-06-13

First, you must be a Gilbert & Sullivan fan. Given that, you will love this video, in spite of its few shortcomings. This is a video made from a live performance in front of an audience. That actually added to my enjoyment of the video, but it may not be true for you.

I had never seen "Trial by Jury" before and didn't realize that the story is just a vehicle for the music, which is excellent. I wish it had a bit more plot to back up the singing.

"HMS Pinafore" was a joy. I followed along with the libretto in Ian Bradley's book, "The Complete Annotated Gilbert & Sullivan" and discovered some places where the performance didn't match the book and some places where lines had been deleted. The total may have amounted to a dozen lines, none of them crucial. I cannot say whether the book is correct or the performance, so I don't consider that a fault.

The only real drawback to "HMS Pinafore" was the terrible singing performance of Colette Mann, who played Buttercup. She is a very good actress, but does not have a singing voice. She's better than Clint Eastwood was in "Paint Your Wagon", but that's not saying much. Her poor singing was overcome by the very good voice of David Hobson (Ralph Rakestraw) and the tremendous voice of Tiffany Speight (Josephine).

The camera and audio work was also top notch. You don't have strain to catch every word, because all the soloists were wearing microphones. The audio is Dolby 5.1, and the picture is widescreen.

I noticed that Opera Australia has made "Pirates of Penzance" for TV also. I hope to see the DVD on Amazon soon.

Highly recommended.

Interesting interpretations.......2007-05-30

I would love a traditional version of "H.M.S. Pinafore" and "Trial By Jury," but I also love seeing different interpretations that bring fresh life to these old favorites. That's what we have here. I have never seen Little Buttercup so bawdy before and at first I thought "What on earth is going on?" Then I caught the joke and found this new interpretation of her as delightful. Of course she should be a little bawdy... she is, after all, a criminal for mixing up those babies, and she is, after all, on board a ship at night long after she should have gone home.

Seeing "Trial By Jury" presented as a modern day Celebrity Scandal Trial was also a brilliant bit of business. All of the old Gilbert bits were in there, plus some new ones that might be fresh out of any modern tabloid.

Delightful HMS Pinafore.......2007-05-25

Wonderfully performed. I'm glad that I chose it. I have not yet viewed the other operetta, Trial by Jury, but am looking forward to it.

Nice Try But Doesn't Measure Up .......2007-05-20

I am an avid G&S fan and I have seen Pinafore performed several times and this isn't the best one. This is well staged and the costumes are excellent. Buttercup screeches her way through some of the best parts. The Sailors are so busy and there is so much business going on that it is distracting. The real culprit here is the music which has been slowed to a crawl. The patter songs and general sprightliness is missing so this production comes across more like an operatic wannabe, than a true G&S. The music virtually drowns out the singers who suffer from poor ennuciation to begin with. If you are not familiar with the libretto much of the humor is lost.

I had never seen Trial By Jury performed before so this performance was a real challenge since I never could determine precisely what was going on and the Judge came across as silly. The ennuciation was so poor that I never determined exactly what was going on and who had done what to whom.

The other reviewers all found this to be an outstanding performance so perhaps I am being overly critical. To be fair I did enjoy the performance -- can G&S ever be totally bad? I gave it three stars because it is beautifully staged and remains fun -- and a wonderful satire.

Sailing the celebrity seas.......2007-05-17

The main thing I can away with from this twofer is that Anthony Warlow is the most versitile actor singing Gilbert & Sullivan today. On one hand, he is superb as "Pinafore"'s handsome Captain Corcoran, and grotesquely funny as the half-senile judge in "Trail by Jury".

H.M.S.Pinafore - slightly "updated" to make the Pinafore a contemporary of the Titanic, I'll admit I have seen better. It is well sung, and on the whole well done, and perhaps I am being picky. But it is not easy to find a middle ground between romantic comedy, social satire, and a contrived, uncomfortable ending that for me has always been more worthy of Monty Python than Gilbert & Sullivan. Balancing these elements is never comfortable, and this is yet another well-staged version that doesn't quite do it.

Trial by Jury - on the other hand, I wildly applaud this droll and unique production that has had it coming for years. After all, why would half of London concern themselves over an engagement breakup if it were not involving high-profile personalities referred to only by their first names? In this version, Edwin and Angelina are obviously socialites and celebrities, instantly recognizable to all, especially a Paris Hilton-like Angelina (even though the real money belongs to Edwin). In this modern setting, the little quaint Victorian comedy comes wonderfully to life (only another production with 1920's golddiggers came close) in ways that we cqan all recognize and laugh at. In many ways, "Trail by Jury" is the most timely G&S of all, and in this version, looks as if it popped right off the pages of London trabloids. Fantastic.

Average customer rating:

Horrible
Boring and badly written, no DVD extras
Another unjustly neglected picture-
Great Cast
Predictable

Trial by Jury
Starring: Joanne Whalley , Armand Assante , Gabriel Byrne , William Hurt , and Kathleen Quinlan
Director: Heywood Gould
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Similar Items:

The Juror
Q&A
Class Action
Runaway Jury (Widescreen Edition)
Guilty as Sin

ASIN: 0790750643
Release Date: 2000-08-01

Description

He's guilty of murder. The feds have him dead to rights. At last there's no escape for this mob boss, a "Teflon Don" who has slipped free of murder raps so many times before. But something goes wrong in the jury room. Eleven jurors vote guilty. One woman, her life and family threatened by the mob, votes to let the killer walk. And to set things right, that woman will have to fight back with a vengeance.

Customer Reviews:

Horrible.......2005-07-29

My wife and I had to shut this one off after the first 20 minutes. The characters were uninteresting, the plot slow and whew!!

Boring and badly written, no DVD extras.......2004-05-01

I should have followed my instinct to turn the movie off halfway through. The film was surprising only for its bad writing and lack of suspense (think "Movie of the Week" production of a so-so novel). Joanne Whalley, Armand Assante and Gabriel Byrne are all excellent actors who are completely wasted in these roles. The characters are throroughly uninteresting stereotypes and the finale is simply absurd.

The only redeeming quality in this mess of a film was the role played by John Hurt. He turns in a solid performance as the drunken, ex-cop on the mob payroll who can't bring himself to be the evil thug he's paid to be. However, that role alone doesn't even come close to redeeming the movie as a whole.

The DVD itself has no extras except for the movie's trailer so you're not missing anything special there. Frankly, I'd recommend 'The Juror' instead. That movie has a similar plot, and flaws of its own, but at least I didn't feel cheated when it ended.

Another unjustly neglected picture-.......2002-07-08

--And not because of the script or the premise, which are frankly shlock: the mob gets to one key juror by threatening her son, and she manages to convince the rest of the jurors to let the bad ole mob boss walk, against their better judgement. In real life of course, the bad guys would've hedged their bets by threatening the families of most or all of the jurors, but then we wouldn't have our feisty protagonist who has to safeguard her son AND set things straight, and of course, no movie either.
Nevertheless, IN SPITE of the ridiculousness of the premise and the somewhat dated dialogue the script inflicts on some of the actors*, Joanne Whalley and William Hurt make this film worth watching. Whalley has to create a woman who initially strikes us as meek and unpreposessing, who somehow finds the resources within to first stir the jury to let the mob boss walk, then protect her son from the gangsters-- a tall order. Whalley does have what it takes to do this, the self-assurance to draw the viewer in, with a quiet and understated performance that makes this transition believable. Likewise, William Hurt is convincing as a weak, flawed man who wants to do right, playing both sides and knowing he'll get burned in the end. Whalley and Hurt are quite a contrast from Armand Assante, so good as a gangster in Q&A, but merely content to chew the scenery in a similar role
here.

*especially Gabriel Byrne and Armand Assante; at least we're spared them referring to Whalley as a dame.

Great Cast.......2001-07-31

I get the sense that there were a lot of scenes that were left out of the final cut of this movie that might explain some character development. If you can suspend belief to get past some of the roughnesses, this will keep you interested.

Armand Assante and Gabriel Byrne have an electrifying, riveting chemistry in the scenes they are in together and I found myself returning to the moral premise of the movie long after the actual run time was over.

Predictable.......1999-11-30

As is all too common with movies this one offers slick hype, but with little substance. I found myself "seeing" the next scene and the movie's conclusion before each occurred. A real yawner.

Average customer rating:

Power/Trial by Jury
Starring: Joanne Whalley , Armand Assante , Gabriel Byrne , William Hurt , and Kathleen Quinlan
Director: Heywood Gould , and Sidney Lumet
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $14.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( P ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
ASIN: B000094J9X
Release Date: 2004-03-02

Description

Two great movies, "Power" and "Trial by Jury", starring the hottest stars (Denzel Washington, Richard Gere, and more) at one low cost!

[2 DVD Set] FEMME FATALE (Antonio Banderas, Rebecca Romijn-Stamos) / TRIAL BY JURY (Joanne Whalley-Kilmer, Armand Assante)

Average customer rating:

[2 DVD Set] FEMME FATALE (Antonio Banderas, Rebecca Romijn-Stamos) / TRIAL BY JURY (Joanne Whalley-Kilmer, Armand Assante)

ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video
ASIN: B000CFCEMU

Average customer rating:

A flop
Trial By Jury - The Short-Lived Law & Order . . . unfortunately

Law & Order: Trial by Jury
Starring: Bebe Neuwirth , Amy Carlson , Kirk Acevedo , Scott Cohen , and Fred Dalton Thompson
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

( L ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Customer Reviews:

A flop.......2005-09-29

I don't know why people keep saying there are only 3 other Law and Orders - Crime and Punishment lasted twice as long as this spin-off over a few years. This show was canned pretty early I hope it somehow DOESN'T get preference over a show which actually made it into a second year. Bring on quicker NYPD Blue and Simpsons rather than flops like this.

Trial By Jury - The Short-Lived Law & Order . . . unfortunately.......2005-07-24

Law & Order; Trial By Jury wss a very different type of series from the previous 3 in the series, focusing mainly on the trial, rather than the criminal investigation, which is already completed, by the time these stories begin.

Bebe Neuwirth (Lilith from "Cheers") takes the reins as Assistant District Attorney Tracy Kibre, working under District Attorney Arthur Branch (Fred Dalton Thompson from "Law & Order"). The DA's Police investigators were meant to be headed in this series by Law and Order legend Jerry Orbach, reprising his role as Lennie Briscoe. Tragically, Jerry died after producing only two episodes :-( Personally, I believe it was Jerry's death that led to TBJ's cancellation. People weren't as interested anymore after his death, and the kinda flat Detective Ravell was put in to replace him.
The stories were sharp, through TBJ's 13-episode run, though one of them never made it to air. The series crossed over with the original Law & Order, when Det. Green of that series got shot, and McCoy is unavailable to prosecute, leaving it to Kibre. This crossover also featured appearances on TBJ by Dennis Farina (Det. Fontana, L&O season 15), S. Epatha Merkerson (Lt. Van Buren, L&O), Jesse L. Martin (Det. Green, L&O), and Richard Belzer (Det. John Munch, L&O: SVU). The series later crossed over with Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, when that squad was investigating a rapist, and their ADA was violently assaulted. For Casey Novak's protection, Branch removed her as prosecutor and put Kibre on the case.

This was another excellent series that suffered the fate of good TV falling victim to these horrible reality shows. It's getting to the point where I don't even watch regular TV anymore, except for reruns of my favorite shows.

When this series gets released on DVD, I'm grabbing the first available copy, and I'll be proud to have it in my Crime Drama collection!

Average customer rating:

Trial by Jury

Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

( T ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

4-for-3 Drama | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

4-for-3 All DVDs | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video
ASIN: B000GAKBK8
Release Date: 2005-06-14

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