Reply to Topic
Anatomy of a Murder - 1959 courtroom drama that, owing to it's two hours and forty minute long runtime, is meticulously detailed in it's depiction of a murder trial in a small, upper peninsula Michigan, army base town. Lt. Frederick Manion (Ben Gazzara) is accused of shooting and killing the man who raped his wife Laura (Lee Remick). She's a beautiful, bored and flirtatious young housewife who may or may not have known the victim well. Enter ex-DA Paul Biegler, (Jimmy Stewart), now reduced to a private practice. Laura Manion begs him (in her own fashion) to take on her husband's case. With the help of old friend, boozy attorney Parnell Emmett McCarthy (Arthur O'Connell) and loyal secretary Maida (Eve Arden) Biegler takes on the thorny, ambiguous case.
The courtroom proceedings take up most of the film and director Otto Preminger never lets the momentum flag. But that doesn't necessarily mean that it couldn't have done with some judicious editing here and there. George C. Scott also turns up eventually as Claude Dancer, a prosecutor from the State Attorney General's office and he and Stewart's character are responsible for most of the films captivating, tension filled moments. I did wonder though how this film was even allowed to be made and released in 1959 given it's methodical breakdown of the actual act and it's numerous references to rape. This is a very sober and grown up sort of picture and one that simply doesn't jibe with Eisenhower era mores.
The cast is first rate with Gazzara and Remick simultaneously upfront and restrained in suggesting that the Manions aren't your typical young couple. Scott and Arden also do a fine job in their supporting roles and all four actors are so proficient in their work that IMO Stewart as star and protagonist is left with not much to do but Jimmy Stewart it up. There's an outstanding soundtrack by Duke Ellington who makes a cameo as, you guessed it, a musician. Oh and lastly, you also get to see Floyd the Barber say the word "sperm" several times.
The courtroom proceedings take up most of the film and director Otto Preminger never lets the momentum flag. But that doesn't necessarily mean that it couldn't have done with some judicious editing here and there. George C. Scott also turns up eventually as Claude Dancer, a prosecutor from the State Attorney General's office and he and Stewart's character are responsible for most of the films captivating, tension filled moments. I did wonder though how this film was even allowed to be made and released in 1959 given it's methodical breakdown of the actual act and it's numerous references to rape. This is a very sober and grown up sort of picture and one that simply doesn't jibe with Eisenhower era mores.
The cast is first rate with Gazzara and Remick simultaneously upfront and restrained in suggesting that the Manions aren't your typical young couple. Scott and Arden also do a fine job in their supporting roles and all four actors are so proficient in their work that IMO Stewart as star and protagonist is left with not much to do but Jimmy Stewart it up. There's an outstanding soundtrack by Duke Ellington who makes a cameo as, you guessed it, a musician. Oh and lastly, you also get to see Floyd the Barber say the word "sperm" several times.
This film put George C. Scott on the map. Then he followed it up with a great performance in The Hustler in 1961, and he was off to the races.
It was interesting that they used a real U.S. Senator to play the judge. He had no acting experience, but he was perfect. His "panties" admonitions were memorable..
I still think it's one of the best courtroom drama movies ever made.
so I don't know if I can make time for it, but I'll see if I can sneak it in early April (hope Hulu doesn't sack it before the Oscars!)
Check out my podcast: 
