The Trial of Mary Dugan is a play written by Bayard Veiller. The 1927 melodrama concerns a sensational courtroom trial of a showgirl accused of killing her millionaire lover. Her defense attorney is her brother, Jimmy Dugan. It was first presented on Broadway in 1927, with Ann Harding in the title role, and in London in 1928 with Genevieve Tobin. Two American films were based on the play, one in 1929 directed by Bayard Veiller and starring Norma Shearer, and one in 1941 directed by Norman Z. McLeod and starring Laraine Day. The play was performed at the Savoy Theatre, Strand, London, during 1958. Presented by Peter Saunders, it featured Betsy Blair, David Knight, Cec Linder and Patricia Burke. During the action, the audience was addressed as if it were the jury.
Adaptations (2)
The Trial of Mary Dugan has been adapted into 2 films, from 1929 to 1941.
The Trial of Mary Dugan1929 · film · 113 min · dir. Bayard Veiller · IMDb ↗IMDb6.3Broadway showgirl Mary Dugan is charged with murder in the knifing death of her wealthy lover and goes on trial for her life. When her defense counsel appears to bungle his job, Mary's brother Jimmy, a newly-licensed attorney, jumps into the case to defend his sister. Jimmy's courtroom style is unconventional, but he seems to be holding his own against the prosecuting attorney—until a surprise testimony changes the course of the trial...
The Trial of Mary Dugan1941 · film · 87 min · dir. Norman Z. McLeod · IMDb ↗IMDb6.5Mary Dugan is a young woman accused of murdering her billionaire lover. In the process, his defense lawyer acts wrongly against them, and is replaced by a young lawyer, the brother of the accused
