Sealed Verdict

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• 1948
• 1 hr 23 mins
• Action & Adventure, Drama, Suspense

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Dealing with a very timely subject - the prosecution of war criminals in Germany - "Sealed Verdict" set out to show that democratic justice demands definite proof that a crime has been committed before punishment is imposed. To prove this, Paramount has lined up a somewhat vague story about an American prosecuting officer, played handsomely by Ray Milland, who first obtains the conviction of a German general and then has his doubts on the basis of the lack of documentary evidence and the presence of a very beautiful girl, Florence Marly, accused of collaboration. The film has no humor and comparatively little action, but has a number of elements to draw an audience. Milland's name on the marquee helps. There is the romantic angle - Milland falls in love with Czech screen newcomer Marly - a soldier is shot by his German girlfriend, and his parents come to Germany only to find him dead and his girl giving birth to a baby. There is the hanging of John Hoyt, the German general, who hides poison in a scar, and a fine acting job on the part of Celia Lovsky, playing the general's Nazi-minded mother. All this combines into a film of considerable entertainment value, but of somewhat contrived character. Robert Fellows produced. Direction by Lewis Allen lacks imagination. Little use is made of the scenes that were shot in Europe for this film. Jonathan Latimer wrote the screenplay. Milland, prosecutor in the case of Nazi General Hoyt, is admired by all for "talking" him to the gallows. He is disturbed over this attitude, especially when he encounters Florence Marly, a French girl, who testified for the general. Almost ready to ask for a re-trial, Milland discovers that the general has a mother living and there are indications that the documents needed are in her keeping. He looks her up, only to find that she has burned several incriminating papers. Knowing that the German population is counting on a suicide by Hoyt, Milland interrogates him and finds poison hidden in his scar. The prisoner also confesses, and Milland's conscience is relieved.