One of the Greatest Criminal Defense Lawyers in American History: Clarence Darrow (2012)

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Clarence Seward Darrow (April 18, 1857 -- March 13, 1938) was an American lawyer and leading member of the American Civil Liberties Union, best known for defending teenage thrill killers Leopold and Loeb in their trial for murdering 14-year-old Robert "Bobby" Franks (1924), for defending Ossian Sweet, and defending John T. Scopes in the Scopes "Monkey" Trial (1925), in which he opposed William Jennings Bryan (statesman, noted orator, and 3-time presidential candidate). Called a "sophisticated country lawyer", he remains notable for his wit, which marked him as one of the most famous American lawyers and civil libertarians. Today, Clarence Darrow is remembered for his reputation as a fierce litigator who, in many cases, championed the cause of the underdog; because of this, he is generally regarded as one of the greatest criminal defense lawyers in American history. Onscreen Darrow, a film starring Kevin Spacey and released by American Playhouse in 1991. Alleged, starring Brian Dennehy and Fred Thompson. The actor Tol Avery played Darrow in the episode, "Defendant: Clarence Darrow" (January 13, 1963), of the CBS anthology series, GE True, hosted by Jack Webb. In the story line, Darrow is charged in 1912 with attempted bribery of a juror. He is defended by Earl Rogers, played by Robert Vaughn. Darrow and Rogers argue passionately over legal procedures.[21] Onstage Darrow, a full-length one-man play created after his death, featuring Darrow's reminiscences about his career. Originated by Henry Fonda, many actors, including Leslie Nielsen and David Canary, have since taken on the role of Darrow in this play. Inherit the Wind, a play (later adapted to the screen) which is a broadly fictionalized account of the Scopes Trial. Though the authors note that the 1925 trial was "clearly the genesis" of their play, they insist that the characters had "life and language of their own." They also mention that the issues raised in the play "have acquired new dimension and meaning", a possible reference to the political controversies of the 1950s. Still, they finish their foreword by inviting a more universal reading of the play: "It might have been yesterday. It could be tomorrow."[22] Malice Aforethought: The Sweet Trials is a play written by Arthur Beer, based on the trials of Ossian and Henry Sweet, and derived from Kevin Boyle's Arc of Justice.[23] My Name is Ossian Sweet is a Docu-drama written by Gordon C. Bennett, based on the Sweet trials in which the black family was defended by Darrow against a charge of murder in Detroit 1925. Published (2011) at www.HeartlandPlays.com. In publications Clarence Darrow: Attorney for the Damned by John A. Farrell was published by Doubleday in June, 2011, and includes a wealth of new material opened to the public in June 2010 by the University of Minnesota Law Library through the Clarence Darrow Digital Collection. The Angel of Darkness, Darrow is a main character in the fictional Caleb Carr novel. Arc of Justice (Owl Books, 2004), Kevin Boyle's book looks in-depth at the Ossian Sweet trial. Clarence Darrow for the Defense, a biography by historical novelist Irving Stone. Compulsion (1956), Darrow was the inspiration for the character of Jonathan Wilk in the novel, a thinly fictionalized account of the Leopold and Loeb case. In 1959, the novel was adapted into a film of the same name, starring Orson Welles as Wilk. Welles, whose closing monologue was the longest ever committed to film at that time, shared the Best Actor award with co-stars Bradford Dillman and Dean Stockwell at that year's Cannes Film Festival. The People v. Clarence Darrow (ISBN 978-0-8129-2179-3), Geoffrey Cowan's book is a penetrating analysis of Darrow, both as a lawyer and as a person. Clarence Darrow is mentioned in The Gift, a 1967 song by Lou Reed as performed by The Velvet Underground on their 1968 album White Light/White Heat. "Is Religion Necessary" HALDEMAN-JULIUS PUBLICATIONS Transcript of the debate between Clarence Darrow and Rev. Robert MacGovern. 1931 Other The Clarence Darrow Memorial Bridge is located in Chicago, just south of the Museum of Science & Industry. The complete collection of Clarence Darrow's personal papers is housed at the University of Minnesota Libraries. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clarence_Darrow