14 Minute Monologue? More like 4 minutes...

From what I understand, I can try to explain a bit. Since many cameras were used simultaneously to shoot the 14 minutes long courtroom scene because of the camera reel's 10 min. limit (mentioned in the trivia), they simply cut back and forth between the different takes in the editing room. But it doesn't change the fact that it's one take of the same action shot at the same time with several angles, much like a small play being recorded. I can certainly understand your concern because when people mention the one take Guinness record, we expect to see a one take shot with no cuts in the final movie. They don't say how many cameras were used though but my guess would be at least 4.

Agreed! I, too, have heard numerous references to the final courtroom scene as being a 14-minute monologue by Barrymore.

After having just viewed the film on TMC, I realize that we have been deceived by the hype.

The 12 minute courtroom scene in its entirety has been conflated into the mythical "14 minute courtroom scene" -most likely because the viewer remembers only Barrymore's big speech and the sheer force and power of his performance is what is remembered; blurs the memory of everything else (along with the additional two minutes of the final fadeout scene afterwards).

This is something akin to the equally mythical length of Greer Garson's Oscar acceptance speech. Apparently no one knows exactly how long she actually spoke (no radio, television or newsreel recordings?). Various sources list it as ranging anywhere from three minutes to half an hour.

From a technical standpoint, the courtroom scene does appear to have been shot in one "take" from several different cameras shooting at the same time from different angles, like a filmed stage play, and then cut together. Viewers expecting a single long, unbroken ROPE-like take will be disappointed.

this does not diminish the strength of the scene or the artistry with which it was created. Barrymore -being Barrymore- was a temperamental star with certain strengths and weaknesses; this manner of filming allowed him to deliver the best possible performance while accommodating his weaknesses.

"If you don't know the answer -change the question."

...For me Paul Muni's famous, but criminally forgotten, courtroom scene as Emile Zola in "The Life of Emile Zola" '37 trumps them all. Zola's letter read in one take is a feat rarely equalled. But this early talkie is a fine attempt at continuous scene playing and everyone acquits themselves superbly.Barrymore was always tops.

KenR