Anatomy of a Murder

Genre: courtroom drama (in black and white)

With: James Stewart (Paul Biegler), Ben Gazzara (Lt. Frederick Manion), Lee Remick (Laura, Frederick’s wife), Arthur O’Connell (Parnell Emmett McCarthy), Brooks West (Mitch Lodwick, the D.A.), George C. Scott (Claude Dancer), Eve Arden (Maida Rutledge), Murray Hamilton (Alphonse Paquette), Joseph N. Welch (Judge Weaver), Kathryn Grant (Mary Pilant)

Director: Otto Preminger

Screenplay: Wendell Mayes (based on John D. Voelker’s novel)

Release: 1959

Studio: Carlyle Productions (Otto Preminger Films)

Rating: PA

MBiS score: 8.6/10 

 

See You in Court! 

 

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Story-line: a Michigan lawyer easing his way into retirement is asked to defend an Army officer accused of murder. For Paul Biegler, the veteran barrister, representing Frederick Manion would be quite a challenge since he has never worked for the defence and Manion has clearly caused the death of Barney Quill, a local bar operator.

Pluses: a tremendous turn by James Stewart (notice his voice, his delivery, his looks) and fine support from an awesome cast, a very detailed and wily screenplay filled with suspicious characters, flavourful dialogues and quirky moments, splendid direction and cinematography, credible production values and a swinging musical score by Duke Ellington (who also graces the screen with a cameo).

Minuses: the movie is rather long (2 hours, 40 minutes) but uses every second to develop a complex, intelligent and captivating story. 

Comments: ANATOMY OF A MURDER has a lot to please movie buffs, from admirable performances by older and younger actors to a courtroom duel as intense, messy and disgraceful as you will ever see in cinema. With all its drama, nasty dealings, legal sparring and acrimony, Otto Preminger’s film is everything life shouldn’t be… and everything a great movie should. 

 

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