Anatomy of a Murder (1959)
- Starring:
- James Stewart, Lee Remick, (more)
- Director(s):
- Otto Preminger
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- NR
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My RatingSynopsis of Anatomy of a Murder
Based on the best-selling novel by Robert Traver (the pseudonym for Michigan Supreme Court justice John D. Voelker), Anatomy of a Murder stars James Stewart as seat-of-the-pants Michigan lawyer Paul Biegler. Through the intervention of his alcoholic mentor, Parnell McCarthy (Arthur O'Connell), Biegler accepts the case of one Lt. Manion (Ben Gazzara), an unlovable lout who has murdered a local bar owner. Manion admits that he committed the crime, citing as his motive the victim's rape of the alluring Mrs. Manion (Lee Remick). Faced with the formidable opposition of big-city prosecutor Claude Dancer (George C. Scott), Biegler hopes to win freedom for his client by using as his defense the argument of "irresistible impulse." Also featured in the cast is Eve Arden as Biegler's sardonic secretary, Katherine Grant as the woman who inherits the dead man's business, and Joseph N. Welch -- who in real life was the defense attorney in the Army-McCarthy hearings -- as the ever-patient judge. The progressive-jazz musical score is provided by Duke Ellington, who also appears in a brief scene. Producer/director Otto Preminger once more pushed the envelope in Anatomy of a Murder by utilizing technical terminology referring to sexual penetration, which up until 1959 was a cinematic no-no. Contrary to popular belief, Preminger was not merely being faithful to the novel; most of the banter about "panties" and "semen," not to mention the 11-hour courtroom revelation, was invented for the film. Anatomy of a Murder was filmed on location in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Theatrical Feature Running Time:
- 160 mins
Complete Cast of Anatomy of a Murder
- James Stewart - Paul Biegler
- Ben Gazzara - Lt. Frederick Manion
- George C. Scott - Claude Dancer
- Joseph Welch - Judge Weaver
- Kathryn Grant - Mary Pilant
- Orson Bean - Dr. Smith
- Joseph Kearns - Mr. Burke, Photographer
- Howard McNear - Dr. Dompierre
- Jimmy Conlin - Madigan
- Royal Beal - Sheriff Battisfore
- James Waters - Army Sergeant
- Don Ross - Duane Miller
- Lee Remick - Laura Manion
- Arthur O'Connell - Pamell McCarthy
- Eve Arden - Maida
- Brooks West - Mitch Lodwick
- Murray Hamilton - Alphonse Pacquette
- Alexander Campbell - Dr. Harcourt
- Russ Brown - Mr. Lemon, Caretaker
- Ned Wever - Dr. Raschid
- Ken Lynch - Durgo, Police Sergeant
- John Qualen - Sulo
- Duke Ellington - Pie-eye
- Director(s):
- Otto Preminger
- Writer(s):
- Wendell Mayes, John D. Voelker
- Producer(s):
- Otto Preminger
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- NR(Questionable for Children, Adult Language)
- 1959 - New York Film Critics Circle - Best Actor
- 1959 - New York Film Critics Circle - Best Screenplay
- 1959 - Venice International Film Festival - Volpi Cup for Best Actor
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