A Fever in the Blood (1961)

Efrem Zimbalist Jr.: Judge Leland Hoffman

Photos 

Quotes 

• Judge Leland Hoffman : As a politician of sorts, I know when to withdraw.

• Judge Leland Hoffman : Judges don't have the same privileges as Senators and District Attorneys. We have to resign before we seek another office.

• Attorney Clem Marker : Your Honor, the crudeness of this scheme shocks me. There was nothing in that room to indicate the commission of any crime, and yet this witness...

  Police Sgt. Michael 'Mickey' Beers : There was plenty!

  Attorney Clem Marker : Plenty? A moment ago you said you had only a hunch!

  Police Sgt. Michael 'Mickey' Beers : Yeah, I had more than that. Thornwall tried to kill his wife once before, and she called the police!

  Attorney Clem Marker : Mistrial! Your Honor, I move for a mistrial! His is the most damaging piece of viciously prejudicial evidence I have ever heard in any courtroom!

  Dan Callahan : There's no ground for a mistrial! If he didn't want the answer, he shouldn't have asked the question!

  Judge Leland Hoffman : Order!

  [Bangs gavel] 

  Judge Leland Hoffman : Order!

  [Bangs gavel again] 

  Judge Leland Hoffman : I'm going to clear this room if we don't have order.

• Judge Leland Hoffman : I may have overruled a good mistrial motion, just to show Alex that he couldn't buy me.

  Cathy Simon : I think Alex had already discovered that.

  Judge Leland Hoffman : Yes, well I guess I was just trying to prove it to myself.

  Cathy Simon : Or maybe there's an element of masochism that goes along with honor.

  Judge Leland Hoffman : Thanks for that word 'honor,' Cathy. 'Vanity' might be more accurate.

• Senator Alex S. Simon : I'm only allowed a minute. So I will try to change the habit of a lifetime, and be brief. I wanted you to hear this, Lee. Itchy, tell the reporters that what Judge Hoffman said about me, and the mistrial motion, was true - from his point of view.

  Judge Leland Hoffman : Thank you, Alex.

  Senator Alex S. Simon : Politicians aren't perfect, Lee. Any more than the people they serve. If they were, it wouldn't be democracy; it would be something else. Sometimes we even have to play a little dirty for the ultimate good. That's why I want all the boys to get behind Callahan. He knows the rules of the game, and he can win. Do you hear me, Itchy?

  Itchy Forst : You don't want me to repeat any of this, Alex. Because you're going to be OK.

  Senator Alex S. Simon : If I could be sure of that, I'd keep my big mouth shut. Now get out of here before you break my heart.

• Attorney Clem Marker : You were formerly Governor of this State?

  Governor Oliver P. Thornwall : Yes.

  Attorney Clem Marker : What is your relation to the defendant?

  Governor Oliver P. Thornwall : Walter Thornwall is my nephew.

  Attorney Clem Marker : When was the last time you saw his wife?

  Governor Oliver P. Thornwall : I saw Paula on the eighth of February.

  Attorney Clem Marker : Two days before she met her death.

  Governor Oliver P. Thornwall : Since that was the last time I saw her alive, I can hardly forget the time or the occasion.

  Attorney Clem Marker : And what was the occasion, Governor?

  Governor Oliver P. Thornwall : Dinner in my home.

  Attorney Clem Marker : Aside from you and Paula Thornwall, who else was present?

  Governor Oliver P. Thornwall : My nephew Walter. I wanted to try to bring them back together.

  Attorney Clem Marker : And what was the result?

  Governor Oliver P. Thornwall : I failed.

  Attorney Clem Marker : From the way they behaved towards one another during the time you were with them, would you say that...

  Dan Callahan : Objection. Leading the witness.

  Judge Leland Hoffman : Sustained.

  Attorney Clem Marker : I'll rephrase that. What was their attitude toward one another during the evening?

  Governor Oliver P. Thornwall : They behaved like two people who understood each other.

• Judge Leland Hoffman : Well, Dan, you win. Being Governor of this State, beating you, they aren't worth a damn if I have to turn myself into another Dan Callahan to get them. For one minute, sitting up there, I felt like a total stranger to my own self. I don't have to tell you what a sick sensation that is.

  Dan Callahan : My conscience doesn't hurt.

  Judge Leland Hoffman : Oh? Well, maybe you've gotten used to it by now.

• Judge Leland Hoffman : Mr. Miller, I understand that, among other things, you tap telephones.

  Earl Miller : Now wait a minute, Judge! There's nothing illegal about that in this State. It's what you do with it that might break the law.

  Judge Leland Hoffman : I'm aware of that. I want you to tap one for me.

  Earl Miller : Oh, now, why didn't you say that in the first place?