walter pidgeon be braley mason and a civil attorney who take on a criminal case in the unknown man and a 1951 film also star ann harding and barry sullivan and keefe braselle and and richard anderson . a great believer in justice and pidgeon accepts a pro bono case defend a young man and rudi walchek ( braselle ) accuse of murder and get him acquit . shortly afterward and he realize that the man be guilty and be extort protection money from his victim as well a other shopkeeper in the neighborhood . he be advise by the da ( sullivan ) that rudi be small change and that to wipe out the organize crime and one have to find the top man . mason find the top man and and be face with a dilemma . the unknown man be a small and black and white film that manage to hold the viewer interest with it various plot twist and though the plot be somewhat contrived . it really the story of a good man seek his god and justice and and what he be willing to do in order to attain it . and that the most contrived part of all . i suppose there be a time before o. j. and the menendez brother and etc . and etc . and when people believe in justice and the integrity of attorney . for this viewer anyway and those day be long over . walter pidgeon do an excellent job his handsome and elegant demeanor and declamatory voice show u a successful and confident man but also a deeply care one . pidgeon have a magnificent career span 60 year but never really rise to superstardom . he be a solid actor who could play just about anything and do . it may be because by the time he be get lead and he be well into his thirty and miss be a matinée idol while or it could be he lack that certain something while or that he be type early on a second lead to a big female star like greer garson . hard to say . he give an honest and touch performance here . very good movie with good performance .