Twilight of Honor (DVD), Warner Archives, Drama

Richard Chamberlain turns in a smooth and persuasive performance (The Motion Picture Guide) in a riveting courtroom drama that was nominated for two 1963 Academy Awards: Best Supporting Actor (Nick Adams) and Best Art Direction (B&W). Appointed to defend a drifter who's confessed to killing a small town's leading citizen, local attorney David Mitchell (Chamberlain) has no doubt that Ben Brown (Adams) is guilty as charged. But when the state attempts to put a lid on the truth by refusing to call his client's young wife (Joey Heatherton), Mitchell fights to expose the evens that would exonerate Brown and justify the murder. Also starring Claude Rains as Mitchell's mentor and friend, Twilight of Honor features two future stars in their big-screen debut: Heatherton (whose performance earned her a 1962 Golden Globe nomination as New Star of the Year) and Dynasty's Linda Evans.