Anatomy of a Murder (1959)

User Rating:

8.2/10   

Director:

Otto Preminger

Writers:

John D. Voelker (novel)
Wendell Mayes (screenplay)

Release Date:

1 July 1959 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Mystery

Plot:

In a murder trial, the defendant says he suffered temporary insanity after the victim raped his wife. What is the truth, and will he win his case?

Plot Keywords:

Murder | Temporary Insanity | Lawyer | Bartender | Attorney

Awards:

Nominated for 7 Oscars. Another 7 wins & 11 nominations

Cast

James Stewart	...	Paul Biegler
Lee Remick	...	Laura Manion
Ben Gazzara	...	Lt. Frederick Manion
Arthur O'Connell	...	Parnell Emmett McCarthy
Eve Arden	...	Maida Rutledge
Kathryn Grant	...	Mary Pilant
George C. Scott	...	Asst. State Atty. Gen. Claude Dancer
Orson Bean	...	Dr. Matthew Smith
Russ Brown	...	George Lemon
Murray Hamilton	...	Alphonse Paquette
Brooks West	...	Dist. Atty. Mitch Lodwick
Ken Lynch	...	Det. Sgt. James Durgo
John Qualen	...	Deputy Sheriff Sulo
Howard McNear	...	Dr. Dompierre
Alexander Campbell	...	Dr. W. Gregory Harcourt
Ned Wever	...	Dr. Raschid
Jimmy Conlin	...	Clarence Madigan
Royal Beal	...	Sheriff Battisfore
Joseph Kearns	...	Lloyd Burke
Don Ross	...	Duane 'Duke' Miller
Lloyd Le Vasseur	...	Court Clerk
James Waters	...	Army Sergeant 1st Class
Joseph N. Welch	...	Judge Weaver
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Duke Ellington	...	Pie Eye (uncredited)
Irv Kupcinet	...	Distinguished gentleman (uncredited)
Mrs. Joseph Welch	...	Juror (uncredited)

Directed by
Otto Preminger

Writing credits
John D. Voelker		(novel) (as Robert Traver)
Wendell Mayes		(screenplay)

Produced by
Otto Preminger	....	producer

Original Music by
Duke Ellington

Cinematography by
Sam Leavitt

Film Editing by
Louis R. Loeffler

Production Design by
Boris Leven

Makeup Department
Del Armstrong	....	makeup artist
Harry Ray	....	makeup artist
Myrl Stoltz	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Henry Weinberger	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
David Silver	....	assistant director

Art Department
Howard Bristol	....	set dresser

Sound Department
Jack Solomon	....	sound

Camera and Electrical Department
James Almond	....	lighting technician
Leo McCreary	....	key grip
Irving Rosenberg	....	camera operator

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Hope Bryce	....	costume coordinator
Vou Lee Giokaris	....	wardrobe
Michael J. Harte	....	wardrobe (as Michael Harte)

Music Department
Richard Carruth	....	music editor

Other crew
Saul Bass	....	title designer
Kathleen Fagan	....	script supervisor
William T. Hurtz	....	director: animated titles
Otto Preminger	....	presenter
Max Slater	....	assistant to producer
Robert E. Blair	....	dog trainer (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Carlyle Productions

Distributors

• Columbia Pictures (1959) (USA) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1970) (USA) (TV) (original airing)

Runtime:

160 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Australia:M | Canada:R (Nova Scotia) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PA (Manitoba) | Finland:K-16 | Norway:16 (1959) | Sweden:15 | UK:12A (re-rating) (2005) | UK:12 (video re-rating) 2001) | UK:15 (video rating) (1988) | UK:X (original rating) | USA:Unrated | West Germany:16 | Iceland:12

Filming Locations:

2nd Floor, Marquette County Courthouse - 234 W. Baraga Avenue, Marquette, Michigan, USA

Company:

Carlyle Productions

Trivia:

Upon its original release, the film was banned in Chicago, Illinois.

Goofs:

Factual errors: When Biegler first interviews Manion and suggests Manion needs to get a psychiatric examination, Manion says he knows someone at the Pentagon who can get one from the army. Later in the movie he mentions to Biegler that he got a letter from Washington telling him to see someone in Detroit. The Pentagon is in Virginia.

Quotes:

Lt. Frederick Manion: Wanted: the Big Ten. Hey. They've got the ten best-dressed dames, the ten top teams, the ten top tunes, and now the ten most wanted.
Paul Biegler: Well, don't knock it. That's the American Dream. Those boys made The Grade.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "That Girl: Anatomy of a Blunder (#1.5)" (1966)

One of the best courtroom dramas ever

An excellent ballet of film direction and courtroom procedure, Anatomy is one of the best courtroom movies ever produced. With a great cast and three dimensional characters, highlighted by Jimmy Stewart and his usual "likeable everyman" character, the film moves briskly and intelligently, thanks to Premminger's fine direction.

Ben Gazzara plays an army soldier who shoots a man who raped his wife, then pleads insanity. Stewart is his lawyer and Lee Remick is great as the suggestive, somewhat slutty wife who leaves you questioning her motives throughout. Whether or not you agree with the final verdict (personally, I don't), you will agree that this is a great film, worth repeated viewings.