Guilty as Sin

Guilty as Sin

Year: 1993

Runtime: 107 mins

Language: English

Director: Sidney Lumet

ThrillerDramaThrillers and murder mysteriesSuspenseful crime thrillersTwisted dark psychological thriller

When she finally encounters her perfect match—a handsome, wealthy, and dangerously seductive man—she discovers he is a real lady‑killer. Before the criminal lawyer can fully grasp the situation, she is compelled to defend the murder of his wife, even though she is convinced of his guilt.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Guilty as Sin (1993)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Guilty as Sin (1993). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

Chicago, Illinois

Chicago serves as the bustling backdrop for a high-stakes legal thriller centered on a prominent murder case. The story unfolds within a Chicago law firm, its offices, and crowded courtrooms, highlighting the city’s intense legal environment. The urban setting amplifies the tension between ambition, ethics, and danger as the case evolves. Scenes in the courtroom and the investigator’s world anchor the drama in the city’s professional and social fabric.

🏙️ Urban center ⚖️ Legal drama 🗽 City life

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 15:17

Main Characters – Guilty as Sin (1993)

Meet the key characters of Guilty as Sin (1993), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Jennifer Haines (Rebecca De Mornay)

An up-and-coming Chicago attorney who is drawn to Greenhill's case despite initial reservations. Her confidence and hunger for a top-tier win drive her, even as she grapples with ethical lines and personal risk. She navigates a tense power dynamic with her client and the truth, risking her career in pursuit of justice.

🧭 Ambitious 🗣️ Sharp ⚖️ Ethical tension

David Greenhill (Don Johnson)

A debonair, arrogant killer whose charm masks a dangerous fixation on controlling women. He asserts his innocence, manipulates those around him, and ultimately reveals his own murderous tendencies. His calculated machinations push the plot toward chaos and violence.

🕵️‍♂️ Manipulative ⚖️ Charismatic 💥 Violent

Moe (Investigator)

Longtime investigator to Haines who digs into Greenhill's shady past. He becomes a target as the case escalates, and his eventual murder raises the stakes and shows the price of digging too deep.

🕵️‍♂️ Investigator 🛡️ Loyal 💔 Fatal danger

Phil Garson

Haines's fiancé and law firm colleague who distrusts Greenhill and pushes back against the case. He serves as a counterpoint to Haines's obsessions and experiences physical harm that underscores the risk of obsession.

💼 Partner 💢 Frustrated 🛡️ Protective

Rita Greenhill

David Greenhill's wealthy wife whose murder sparks the central trial. Her death catalyzes Greenhill's criminal world and motivates the investigation and courtroom drama.

💎 Wealth 🧩 Motive ⚖️ Catalyst

Judge Tompkins

An unsympathetic judge who refuses to let Haines abandon the case and maintains courtroom pressure, illustrating the harsh reality of the legal system.

⚖️ Authority 🧭 Legal pressure 🗯️ Unyielding

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 15:17

Major Themes – Guilty as Sin (1993)

Explore the central themes of Guilty as Sin (1993), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

⚖️ Justice vs Ambition

Jennifer Haines is driven by a desire to prove herself in a high-profile case, testing the boundary between duty and personal glory. The narrative probes how the pursuit of justice can collide with professional ego and the pressure to win. Attorney-client privilege and the temptation to bend rules reveal ethical tensions at the heart of the legal system. The outcome suggests that ambition can complicate truth and fairness.

🕵️ Secrets & Deceit

Greenhill’s past is a web of shady relationships and manipulation that jeopardizes the integrity of the case. Haines’s attempts to sabotage the defense expose how deception can infiltrate a courtroom and threaten the pursuit of truth. The story centers on manipulation, stalking, and the lure of blackmail as tools for power. It asks whether ends ever justify the means when lives and careers hang in the balance.

🔥 Obsession & Danger

Greenhill’s fixation on control and his predatory charm push the plot toward violent extremes. The murder of Moe and the threats to Haines illustrate how obsession can escalate into deadly danger. The tension between desire and threat drives the suspense and tests the characters’ resilience. The narrative shows how personal fixation can spill into criminal action with fatal consequences.

🏛️ Ethics Under Pressure

The case forces a direct confrontation with ethical rules, including attorney-client privilege and the duty to the truth. An unsympathetic judge and the relentless pursuit of a high-profile verdict compress ethical choices into a courtroom siege. Haines must navigate professional obligations while facing personal risk and reputational jeopardy. The climax raises questions about accountability when justice and ambition collide.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 15:17

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Guilty as Sin Summary

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Guilty as Sin Summary

Guilty as Sin Timeline

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Guilty as Sin Timeline

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Guilty as Sin (1993) Plot Summary & Movie Recap

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