THIS HONORABLE COURT
THIS HONORABLE COURT
Unedited version of "This Honorable Court". Regards the history of the Supreme Court of the United States. Originally shot on film.
THIS HONORABLE COURT
Series of oil paintings and drawings from colonial and early republican period of United States landscapes and towns. CU/ECUs of the United States Consititution; VO discusses adoption of the document in unitingthe States, the formation of the Supreme Court, brief and sketchy mandate for Judicial Branch. VO discusses decentralized operation of early Court. Engraved drawings and paintings of taverns, coaches, horses, circuit riding, etc. CUs oil painting of New York City circa 1793, pop. 20,000. CU drawing of Chief Justice JOHN JAY. VO discusses meetings of first Supreme Court. CUs drawings of building where meeting took place. ECU handwritten minutes of the session.
THIS HONORABLE COURT
TLS of midday traffic near Wall Street; tilt D to MS host PAUL DUKE crossing intersection with pedestrians, talking to camera. Low angle panning shot of NYC skycrapers, buildings from ground level. MCU street sign for Wall Street & Broad Street intersection. Low angle MS of statue on Wall Street, pan L to pedestrians on Wall Street. MS people on sidewalk, American flag in BG. VO says John Jay et al could not have imagined this, but would have approved of the idea of commerce as the national goal; over time, the Supreme Court would have great role in building a nation.
THIS HONORABLE COURT
Shots of painting of Philadelphia street scene, circa 1791. VO says that at this point, Supreme Court was handling only five cases annually. Shot of painting of early Capitol building and other small houses rising out of swamps in Washington. VO says that no provision to house the Court, which resided in Capitol for 135 years. Illustration of colonial crowds on Capitol grounds. Illustration (profile) of Chief Justice JOHN MARSHALL. Oil painting of College of William & Mary campus, site of Marshall's six-week training in law. ECU of Marshall's rather distracted notes from classes. Illustration of Marshall arguing in court, detail shows torn breeches and dirty boots. Illustrations and engravings of John Marshall. MS unidentified African-American woman discussing Marshall's judicial legacy, rule of law, Federal sovereignty. MS bronze statue of John Marshall in hall of Supreme Court building, zoom in to face; MS base of statue, engraving of Marshall's declaration of Judicial Review from MARBURY vs. MADISON (1803) is engraved. VO says Marshall's court established Judicial Review of laws, first to strike a Federal law as unconstitutional.
THIS HONORABLE COURT
07.09 CU oil portrait painting of THOMAS JEFFERSON. VO describes of Jefferson's horror at the Court's drawing power to the Federal gov't. CU oil portrait of Justice SAMUEL CHASE, subject of impeachment. MS unidentified white man discussing Chase's acquittal by Senate, result that Court would be independent of politics.
THIS HONORABLE COURT
INT shots of baroque-styled chamber in Capitol, erstwhile home of the Supreme Court; detail of frieze of "Justice" holding sword and scales, writing desks, ornate carved railing in front of bench. MS unidentified white woman commenting that the 1800's Court chamber was regarded as an excellent place for Washington Society ladies to meet gentlemen. MSs of clock, desks, bench books, quills, chairs in old Court. VO woman discussing the backroom-style decision making of court in the period. CUs paintings of large boarding house, colonial street scenes. VO discusses Marshall's leadership, achieving unanimity. CUs old State-issued banknotes (money, currency). VO describes State/Federal conflict over banking prerogatives. CUs paintings of Courthouse, travelers in horse-drawn carriages on road, old Capitol, etc. VO describes decision of McCULLOCH v. MARYLAND, expansion of Federal powers beyond explicit. CU portrait of JOHN MARSHALL, older, period sideburns, sans wig.
THIS HONORABLE COURT
TLSs of Staten Island Ferry sailing New York Harbor; great MS white boy leaning against rail of ferry, Statue of Liberty in BG; high angle MS several people near rail of ferry, tilt U to WLS of downtown Manhattan skyline (famous, well-known sight, including World Trade Center Twin Towers). MS PAUL DUKE, on ferry, discusses of NY/NJ rivalry over steamship transportation. VO discussion of Suprme Court case of OGDEN vs. GIBBONS, result in stronger Federal powers over interstate commerce. CUs oil paintings of New York Harbor, AARON OGDEN, THOMAS GIBBONS, the old Capitol, DANIEL WEBSTER, and an aged JOHN MARSHALL. Engraving of 1820s steamship landing at port. MS unidentified white man discussing import of the decision, public acclaim for the Court. Shots of panoramic view of early New York City, NY Harbor jammed with ships- whole painting shows extreme vanishing-perspective view north from lower Manhattan. Man in office discusses the importance to entire national economy of GIBBONS decision.