Gideon's Trumpet

In 1961, Clarence Earl Gideon (Henry Fonda) is arrested on charges of petty theft. Unable to afford an expensive lawyer to defend him, he is forced to represent himself and receives a five-year prison sentence. He becomes a model inmate and jailhouse scholar, focusing on the Fourteenth Amendment, which guarantees U.S. citizens the right of due process. With the help of an attorney (Jose Ferrer), Clarence makes a startling discovery that changes everything. The film is based on a true story.