The Ox-Bow Incident (1943)
Simple to understand concept with a moral problem front and center, yet it never felt like it was artificially constructed to get a point across, as those types of films sometimes can end up being. While the core message is clear and fantastically emotionally well delivered, I think it also goes a bit deeper with the self understanding of the American way of thinking about justice and rule of law. Two viewpoints are in open conflict, with the judicial system and rule of law being held to the highest standard, up against the sort of frontier spirit of solving problems independently. I thought 12 Angry men was the epitome of these sort of justice films, but this can definitely compete.
Rating: 4