Actors - Reversal of Fortune

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	Actors - Reversal of Fortune

Reversal of Fortune is a 1985 book by Alan Dershowitz which tells the true story of the permanent coma of socialite Sunny von Bülow and the trial for attempted murder and subsequent acquittal of her husband, Claus von Bülow. The book was made into a 1990 film starring Glenn Close, Jeremy Irons, Ron Silver, Annabella Sciorra, Uta Hagen, Fisher Stevens, Jack Gilpin and Christine Baranski.

The screenplay was adapted by Nicholas Kazan from the book by Alan Dershowitz (played by Ron Silver in the film). It was directed by Barbet Schroeder. Dershowitz has a cameo role as a judge.

It won the Academy Award for Best Actor (Jeremy Irons), and was nominated for Best Director and Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium.

Memorable quotes

Minnie: Yeah, okay, so, someone's got to defend Claus. But why you, why us?

Alan Dershowitz: Look, you're my student, you, you have a choice. You don't have to do anything you don't want to do; that is your choice. The reason *I* take cases -- and here I'm unlike most other lawyers, who are not professors and therefore have to make a living -- I take cases because I get pissed off. And I am pissed off here. The family hired a private prosecutor: unacceptable! They conducted a private search! Now if we let them get away with that, rich people won't go to the cops any more. You know what they're going to do? They're going to get their own lawyers to collect evidence -- and then they are going to choose which evidence they feel like passing on to the DA. And the next victim isn't going to be rich, like von Bülow -- but it's going to be some poor schnook in Detroit who can't afford, or who can't find, a decent lawyer.

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Alan Dershowitz: This is the most dangerous case I have ever worked on.

Claus von Bülow: You find that exhilarating?

Alan Dershowitz: No, I do not. I am breaking every rule. 'Cause the best way to win is to proclaim your innocence, and I have never done that for anybody. And the problem I got is, I see who you are. You'd do anything to win.

Claus von Bülow: So would you.

Alan Dershowitz: Yeah, but you don't trust the legal system.

Claus von Bülow: You're saying I'd manufacture... witnesses? Affidavits?

Alan Dershowitz: No. But you would sacrifice me.

Claus von Bülow: Oh, please.

Alan Dershowitz: See, the more I believe that you are innocent, the more nervous I am. I go out on a limb for you, you're proven guilty, I look like an asshole. My reputation, my credibility, my career, destroyed.

Claus von Bülow: That's the risk you're taking, isn't it?

Alan Dershowitz: Well, fuck you, fuck you, man... I'm glad we understand one another.

Alan Dershowitz: Why -- why do you think this case fascinates people? 'Cause, one time or other, every man is driven crazy by his wife, and in his secret heart, he wants to do exactly what Claus is accused of: kill her in some sly, silent way that can't be detected. Claus is a scapegoat: someone has to suffer for the sin that we all want to commit.

Team member: Alan... that's ridiculous.

Alan Dershowitz: It's ridiculous, you're right.

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