Compulsion (1959)

Set against the backdrop of 1924 Chicago, "Compulsion" unravels the chilling tale of Artie Strauss and Judd Steiner, two affluent law students entangled in their own web of intellectual superiority. Coming from wealthy families, they view their peers as intellectually inferior, fostering a sense of isolation. In this duo, Artie emerges as the dominant force, with Judd, a seemingly arrogant yet subtly weak character, always in his shadow. Driven by their aim to experience the thrill of everything, they meticulously plan to commit what they perceive as the perfect crime - a cold-blooded kidnapping and murder. Their sinister intentions stretch beyond the thrill of killing; they view their actions as an intellectual exercise, a way to mock the law and assert their superiority. They firmly believe they are above any legal consequences, even when their victim is young Paulie Kessler. However, their facade of perfection begins to crumble when Sid Brooks, a fellow law student and reporter for the Globe newspaper, stumbles upon evidence linking them to the crime. As Artie and Judd scramble to manipulate the mounting evidence against them, their efforts backfire, leading to their arrest and subsequent trial for murder. Renowned trial lawyer Jonathan Wilk takes on their defense, despite his atheistic views clashing with their families' sensibilities. Known for his crafty manipulation of juries, Wilk grapples with the overwhelming evidence against his clients, trying to devise the best possible defense. The potential impact of Ruth Evans' testimony, Sid's girlfriend, adds another layer of suspense to this high-stakes trial. In this gripping narrative, "Compulsion" explores the descent of two young men who, in their pursuit of thrill and intellectual dominance, cross the line of humanity. This sensational case becomes a battleground, not just for their lives, but also for the controversial issue of capital punishment itself.

Compulsion is a crime movie featuring Orson Welles and directed by Richard Fleischer.

It is possible to buy Compulsion on AMC on Demand, Apple TV, DIRECTV, Google Play Movies, Vudu and YouTube.