Semi-retired lawyer Paul Biegler (Stewart) is convinced to take the case of Army Lt. Manion (Ben Gazzara), who murdered a local innkeeper after his wife Laura (Lee Remick) claimed that he raped her. Over the course of an extensive trial, Biegler parries with District Attorney Lodwick (Brooks West) and out-of-town prosecutor Claude Dancer (George C. Scott) to set his client free, but his case rests on the victim’s mysterious business partner Mary (Kathryn Grant), who’s hiding a dark secret.

Nominated for seven Oscars, including Best Picture, and with a brooding, evocative soundtrack from Duke Ellington, Otto Preminger’s (Laura) envelope-pushing drama was groundbreaking for its frankness around sex, contraception and rape - but more than anything else, its striking depiction of the power of words.

All rise, for this honourable courtroom season. This summer QFT summons you to become “Judge Judy and executioner” with Objection!, a season of films that cross-examines borders and genres to explore the delivery of celluloid justice.