Defenseless

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Defenseless
Directed by	Martin Campbell
Written by	James Hicks
Produced by	Renée Missel and David Bombek
Starring	Barbara Hershey Sam Shepard Mary Beth Hurt J. T. Walsh
Cinematography	Phil Meheux
Edited by	Chris Wimble Lou Lombardo (supervising editor)
Music by	Curt Sobel
Production company	New Visions Pictures
Distributed by	Seven Arts (through New Line Cinema)
Release date	August 23, 1991 (1991-08-23)
Running time	104 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Box office	$6,413,375 (USA)

Defenseless is a 1991 American legal thriller film directed by Martin Campbell and produced by Renée Missel and David Bombek. The film stars Barbara Hershey and Sam Shepard in lead roles, with Mary Beth Hurt and J. T. Walsh in supporting roles. The story follows a defense attorney (Hershey) who, after becoming romantically involved with her client (Shepard), is drawn into a murder investigation when his ex-wife is found dead. As her personal and professional lives collide, she uncovers a web of lies and betrayal, forcing her to confront unsettling truths about both the case and her lover.

Defenseless was released on August 23, 1991, to mixed reviews from critics, with praise for Hershey’s performance, but criticism for the film’s plot and pacing. The film emerged as a moderate commercial success at the box-office, grossing over $5 million worldwide against a budget of approximately $1.5 million.