At a disused railway station, three men -- a con artist, a preacher, and a prospector -- discuss the recent trial and sentencing of the outlaw Juan Carrasco for the murder of a man and the rape of his wife. In their recounting, the three explore the conflicting testimonies of the parties involved in the crimes. Disconcerting new questions arise with each different version of the event.
Acting
Paul Newman's smoldering ambiguity vs. Claire Bloom's devastating fragility.
Direction
Ritt stages the same scene three ways without repeating himself.
Writing
Adapted from Rashomon but finds its own cynical American soul.
Director
Martin Ritt
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
This was William Shatner's film debut, playing against type as a trembling preacher years before Captain Kirk.
Ritt adapted this from a Broadway play that was itself adapted from Rashomon—making this a remake of a play of a film, with each version getting more pessimistic about truth.
US
