Anatomy of a Murder

Classic courtroom drama thanks to a superb cast and straight forward direction that keeps you on the edge of your seat. The actors are excellent, with Jimmy Stewart superb as a defense attorney with some shades of gray (he outright tells his client to come up with a defense for his reason to commit murder) while still staying charming throughout. He gets great support from the rest of the cast, especially George C. Scott as a dogged prosecutor who matches him in the courtroom. Behind the camera, Otto Preminger delivers a superb courtroom drama that is more matter of fact but with plenty of twists and turns. Best of all, you never sure if the defendant is guilty of murder or not, and even leans towards him being guilty. Despite that, you still root for him and his attorneys, making for legal drama at its very best.

It may seem crazy for me to root against Jimmy Stewart and instead look at George C. Scott as the hero of the story. Alas, that is the way I see the story. That isn't what the filmmakers had in mind, but I can't help but see it that way. All the evidence the audience is given in the movie seems to imply that the two people Stewart is defending are guilty. I guess that is the way lawyers work. They are not always defending innocent people, more often than not, they will have to defend the guilty. I knew that this movie was controversial for its time but looking back it is pretty tame by today's standards. I found it amusing to hear the crowd scoff and awe by the mention of the word "panties". As well as hearing the late 50's jargon for "tight" and "masher". Good ol' Jimmy is charming as always, even in his best attempts to be a hard-nosed no-nonsense lawyer. He does a good job, and it is his plight to run a successful law firm that keeps me engaged through the story. Because the people he's defending are definitely guilty. The whole premise of the story is that Fredrick Manion is accused of murdering someone...which he did. But Stewart's defense is that Manion was getting revenge for his wife, so that makes it OK. The rest of the court case is distracted by trying to prove whether or not his anger was justified. Laura Manion claims the victim raped her. I guess they figure if they can prove that he did, the murder is therefore justified...which it isn't but that is what we're going with. The trial is still an interesting one. The lawyers have a fascinating back and forth, and you really get the idea that it is like a verbal chess match. All the actors do a good job at making memorable and interesting characters. I just find it hard to ignore the fact that I don't get behind the main conflict of the story.

Still stunning as it entertaining 60 years since it was first reased. James Stewart is explosive and takes the viewer throughout the journey with precise realism.

A great court room drama. It may be a little dated in the “hip “ style but overall a very good movie. Older movies can sometimes suffer from pacing problems, this might be guilty in the set up to the courtroom scenes but not overly and it does not go to far. Jimmy Stewart and George C Scott battling in the court room is so good.

Great courtroom drama with a superb cast. Its a rarity in that it actual gets most of the law right. Smart engrossing with a great twist at the end that will leave you thinking.

Rating: 8/10. 81/100

Classic and accurate courtroom drama by Otto Preminger with great performances by James Stewart and George C. Scott in his first notable role

As good as any courtroom drama out there. Still great and relevant.

The beginning is a little drawn out and the movie could've been shorter for sure, but otherwise it's a perfect courtroom thriller! The courtroom scenes are all so captivating, with the two equally clever lawyers taking shots at each other non-stop. The case is fairly complex too and all the characters are well written.

Anatomy of a Murder was directed by Otto Preminger and released in 1959. It made my must-see 2023 film list because it is often cited as being one of the best American courtroom dramas ever made. The film starts off with a jazzy upbeat score by the legendary Duke Ellington. The music's lack of intensity and drama establishes a mood that will run throughout the film. You see, this movie isn't really about who's innocent or guilty, this film is about the spinning of narratives that our legal system is predicated upon. While the viewer is firmly vested in finding out what the final verdict will be, the true story is the "sport" of the courtroom. Lieutenant Frederick Manion (Ben Gazzara) is accused of murdering an innkeeper named Barney Quill. Manion had been told by his wife Laura (Lee Remick) that Quill had raped her. District Attorney Lodwick (Brooks West, the only one-note actor in an otherwise outstanding ensemble) wants to convict Manion of first-degree murder. The State of Michigan sends big-city D.A. Claude Dancer (George C. Scott in one of his earliest film roles) to assist Lodwick. Lt. Manion hires a lawyer named Paul Biegler (Jimmy Stewart) to represent him. Once Biegler accepts the challenge of Manion's case, he's determined to fight for Manion's plea of temporary insanity and for the win. Presiding over the game, oops, I mean trial, is Judge Weaver, our referee. (As an interesting side note, Judge Weaver is played by the real-life Judge Joseph N. Welch who was known by many for taking on Senator Joseph McCarthy in the Army-McCarthy hearings.) Anyone having served on a jury knows that real trials do not play out with the same speed and lack of repetition that a movie trial does. But setting that aside, this is a fascinating spectator vantage to the dual of legal machinations. Preminger doesn't make Manion a particularly likable person, so you aren't automatically rooting for him. Laura's rape is never shown so the viewer, like the jury, is left to decide if it was a real event. Most of the central characters (much like each viewer) have differing positions of what is right or wrong given the facts presented. Ethics, showmanship, sportsmanship and credibility are what this legal battle comes down to… not justice. The intensity of this case (based on actual events), through Preminger's guidance, was extremely compelling and immensely rewarding. So much so that one barely notices that the film's full run time is 160 minutes. This movie fully lived up to its reputation and deserves the accolades it still receives.