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Anatomy of a Murder (1959)

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Average Rating: 8.5/10
Reviews Counted: 35
Fresh: 35 | Rotten: 0

One of cinema's greatest courtroom dramas, Anatomy of a Murder is tense, thought-provoking, and brilliantly acted, with great performances from James Stewart and George C. Scott.

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Average Rating: N/A
Critic Reviews: 4
Fresh: 4 | Rotten: 0

One of cinema's greatest courtroom dramas, Anatomy of a Murder is tense, thought-provoking, and brilliantly acted, with great performances from James Stewart and George C. Scott.

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Movie Info

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

G, 2 hr. 40 min.

Drama, Mystery & Suspense, Classics

Directed By: Otto Preminger

In Theaters: Jul 1, 1959 Wide

On DVD: Jul 11, 2000

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

Anatomy of a Murder Trailer & Photos

Cast

James Stewart
Paul Biegler
Lee Remick
Laura Manion
Ben Gazzara
Lt. Frederick Manion
Arthur O'Connell
Pamell McCarthy
George C. Scott
Claude Dancer
Eve Arden
Maida
Joseph Welch
Judge Weaver
Douglas Brooks West
Mitch Lodwick
Kathryn Grant
Mary Pilant
Murray Hamilton
Alphonse Pacquette
Orson Bean
Dr. Smith
Alexander Campbell
Dr. Harcourt
Joseph Kearns
Mr. Burke Photographer
Russ Brown
Mr. Lemon Caretaker
Howard McNear
Dr. Dompierre
Ned Wever
Dr. Raschid
Jimmy Conlin
Madigan
Ken Lynch
Durgo Police Sergeant
Royal Beal
Sheriff Battisfore
John Qualen
Sulo
James Waters
Army Sergeant
Duke Ellington
Pie-eye
Don Ross
Duane Miller

Critic Reviews for Anatomy of a Murder

All Critics (35) | Top Critics (4) | Fresh (36) | Rotten (0) | DVD (12)

At 160 minutes, Anatomy is longer than the subject warrants, but the pace seldom slackens -- thanks to the competence of Director Otto Preminger.

April 24, 2009 Full Review Source: TIME Magazine

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TIME Magazine

Top Critic

Preminger purposely creates situations that flicker with uncertainty, that may be evaluated in different ways. Motives are mixed and dubious, and, therefore, sustain interest.

October 23, 2007 Full Review Source: Variety

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Variety Staff

Variety

Top Critic

As an entertaining look at legal process, this is spellbinding all the way, infused by an ambiguity about human personality and motivation that is Preminger's trademark, and the location shooting is superb.

October 23, 2007 Full Review Source: Chicago Reader

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Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

Top Critic

It is the best courtroom melodrama this old judge has ever seen.

May 20, 2003 Full Review Source: New York Times

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Bosley Crowther

New York Times

Top Critic

Justice appears to be an afterthought in this case in which procedure and self-interest, rather than a pursuit of the truth, control the process.

August 1, 2010 Full Review Source: Slant Magazine

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Dan Jardine

Slant Magazine

The picture is superbly photographed by Sam Leavitt in black and white, though there's nothing black and white about the movie's morality.

October 23, 2007 Full Review Source: Observer [UK]

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Philip French

Observer [UK]

To me Remick's damaged, dysfunctional presence is the really subversive thing about the picture. And Stewart's grandstanding attorney propels this long film to its final verdict.

October 23, 2007 Full Review Source: Guardian [UK]

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Peter Bradshaw

Guardian [UK]

From the stylised Saul Bass credit sequence to Preminger's assured direction, this is a thought provoking, superbly acted drama that simply oozes class.

October 23, 2007 Full Review Source: Film4

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Tom Dawson

Film4

Coolly absorbing, nonchalantly cynical.

June 24, 2006 Full Review Source: Time Out

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Jessica Winter

Time Out

It's simply the best trial movie ever made.

April 1, 2006 Full Review Source: Empire Magazine

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Kim Newman

Empire Magazine

Otto at the top of his game.

February 22, 2006 Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews

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Dennis Schwartz

Ozus' World Movie Reviews

Atypical of Hollywood court dramas of the era, Preminger's masterpiece is marked by moral ambiguity, dark visuals (b/w cinematography), and a great performance from Jimmy Stewart as a "loser" lawyer.

December 2, 2005 Comment

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com Source: EmanuelLevy.Com

The screenplay, from a novel by John D. Voelker, drips with the smoke-drenched taste of 1940s noir, stinging the eyes and lungs.

July 31, 2005 Full Review Source: Arizona Daily Star

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Phil Villarreal

Arizona Daily Star

Time has blunted much of the film's daringly ironic take on notions of guilt and innocence. Yet it still stands as a telling commentary on 50s America.

April 19, 2005 Full Review Source: BBC

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Jamie Russell

BBC

Packed with astonishing dialog and bristly performances, this is essential cinema.

April 18, 2005 Full Review Source: Shadows on the Wall

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Rich Cline

Shadows on the Wall

Courtroom procedurals this nimble don't come along often, but with Anatomy of a Murder, Preminger showed how it could be done.

April 17, 2005 Full Review Source: FilmFocus

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Shay Casey

FilmFocus

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Audience Reviews for Anatomy of a Murder

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I generally loathe courtroom dramas - (so tired!) - but this is a real good one. Terrific use of locations and location sound. One of the goofiest trailers I've ever seen: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0052561/trailers

April 9, 2007

Bob Stinson

Super Reviewer

It's sort of relieving how unpreachy this courtroom drama is. I read that this is one of the best portrayals of a live courtroom case, which if that's the case, I ain't mad.

April 28, 2011

Jennifer Xu

Super Reviewer

Anatomy of a Murder Quotes

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1. Paul Biegler: As a lawyer, I've had to learn that people aren't just good or just bad. People are many things.
– Submitted by Alexandar T (8 days ago)