Anatomy of a Murder
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| Anatomy of a Murder | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical Poster |
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| Directed by | Otto Preminger |
| Produced by | Otto Preminger |
| Written by | Story: John D. Voelker Screenplay: Wendell Mayes |
| Starring | James Stewart Lee Remick Ben Gazzara Arthur O'Connell George C. Scott |
| Music by | Duke Ellington |
| Cinematography | Sam Leavitt |
| Editing by | Louis R. Loeffler |
| Distributed by | Columbia Pictures |
| Release date(s) | July 1, 1959 |
| Running time | 160 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| All Movie Guide profile | |
| IMDb profile | |
Anatomy of a Murder is an American 1959 trial court drama film directed by Otto Preminger and written by Wendell Mayes. It was based on the best selling novel of the same name written by John D. Voelker using the pen name Robert Traver.[1]
The picture stars stars Jimmy Stewart, George C. Scott, Lee Remick, Ben Gazzara, Arthur O'Connell, Eve Arden, Kathryn Grant, Orson Bean, and Murray Hamilton.
Contents |
[edit] Plot
The film tells of a small-town lawyer by the name of Paul Biegler (James Stewart), who is the defense attorney for Lieutenant Frederic Manion (Ben Gazzara).
Lt. Manion is charged with first degree murder for shooting a barkeeper, Barney Quill, because Quill allegedly raped Lt. Manion's wife, Laura (Lee Remick). However, Lt. Manion is eventually acquitted under the defense of irresistible impulse.
The bulk of the film's plot revolves around the drama as it unfolds in court
The film highlights several of the law's shortcomings that stem from the fallibility of the law's human components. These components – the counsel for defense and prosecution, the defendant and his family, and the jury – have different positions on what is right or wrong, and varying regard for the values of integrity and justice.
This variation allows the law to be manipulated in many ways. The most controversial legal issue in this film is the possible unethical witness coaching indulged in by Biegler as he spells out for Lt. Manion the only plausible defense Lt. Manion has – the insanity defense.
Witness coaching is seen as the subornation of perjury to a lesser extent, and prompts the defendant to conceal the truth and manipulate his story in order to obtain the best possible verdict.
[edit] Production
The movie, inspired by a 1952 Big Bay Lumberjack Tavern murder trial in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, was adapted by Wendell Mayes from the novel by Robert Traver (pen name of John D. Voelker, a Michigan Supreme Court judge from 1957-1959).
It was filmed in Big Bay, Marquette, Ishpeming, and Michigamme, Michigan. Some scenes were actually filmed in the Thunder Bay Inn in Big Bay, Michigan, one block away from the Lumberjack Tavern, the site of a murder that had inspired much of the action in the fictional novel.
The movie was directed by Otto Preminger. The film was noted for featuring unusually frank dialogue -- for 1959 -- and was among the first Hollywood films that challenged the Production Code, along with Billy Wilder's Some Like It Hot (1959) and Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho (1960).
The role of the judge was offered to both Spencer Tracy and Burl Ives, but finally was given to Joseph Welch, a real-life lawyer who had made a name for himself when representing the United States Army in hearings conducted by Senator Joseph McCarthy (it was he who uttered the famous line, "Have you no sense of decency, sir?" when addressing Senator McCarthy during the hearings).
[edit] Critical reception
The film was well received by film critics and at the film festivals it was presented. UCLA law professor, Michael Asimow, calls the picture "probably the finest pure trial movie ever made.[2]
Film critic Bosley Crowther thought the film was an excellent example of how trial courtroom dramas should be filmed. He said, "After watching an endless succession of courtroom melodramas that have more or less transgressed the bounds of human reason and the rules of advocacy, it is cheering and fascinating to see one that hews magnificently to a line of dramatic but reasonable behavior and proper procedure in a court. Such a one is Anatomy of a Murder, which opened at the Criterion and the Plaza yesterday. It is the best courtroom melodrama this old judge has ever seen."[3]
[edit] Cast and ratings
| Ratings | |
|---|---|
| Australia: | M |
| Canada (Manitoba): | PA |
| Canada (Maritime): | R |
| Canada (Quebec): | G |
| Finland: | K-16 |
| Germany: | 16 |
| Iceland: | 12 |
| Norway: | 16 |
| Sweden: | 15 |
| United Kingdom: | X |
| United States: | Not Rated |
- James Stewart as Paul Biegler
- Lee Remick as Laura Manion
- Ben Gazzara as Lt. Frederick Manion
- Arthur O'Connell as Parnell Emmett McCarthy
- Eve Arden as Maida Rutledge
- Kathryn Grant as Mary Pilant
- George C. Scott as Asst. State Atty. Gen. Claude Dancer
- Orson Bean as Dr. Matthew Smith
- Russ Brown as George Lemon
- Murray Hamilton as Alphonse Paquette
- Brooks West as Dist. Atty. Mitch Lodwick
- Ken Lynch as Det. Sgt. James Durgo
- John Qualen as Deputy Sheriff Sulo
- Howard McNear as Dr. Dompierre
- Alexander Campbell as Dr. W. Gregory Harcourt
[edit] Soundtrack
The film was also noteworthy for being among the first to extensively feature jazz in the musical score--the entire musical soundtrack was played by the Duke Ellington Orchestra (and credited to Duke Ellington, though his associate Billy Strayhorn composed the music.
The soundtrack, containing thirteen tracks, was released on May 29, 1959. A CD was released on April 28, 1995.
Several of the Ellington band's sidemen, notably Johnny Hodges, Paul Gonsalves, Harry Carney, Russell Procope, and William "Cat" Anderson, are heard prominently throughout the film.
Ellington also appears briefly in a cameo as "Pie-Eye," the owner of a roadhouse which features dancing where Paul Biegler (Stewart) and Laura Manion (Remick) have a confrontation.
[edit] Awards
Wins
- New York Film Critics Circle Awards: NYFCC Award Best Actor, James Stewart, Best Screenplay, Wendell Mayes; 1959.
- Venice Film Festival: Volpi Cup; Best Actor, James Stewart; 1959.
- Grammy Awards: Grammy; Best Soundtrack Album, Background Score from Motion Picture or Television, Duke Ellington; 1959.
- Laurel Awards: Golden Laurel; Top Drama; Top Male Dramatic Performance, James Stewart; Top Male Supporting Performance, Arthur O'Connell; 1960.
Nominations
- Academy Awards: Oscar; Best Actor in a Leading Role, James Stewart; Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Arthur O'Connell; Best Actor in a Supporting Role, George C. Scott; Best Cinematography, Black-and-White, Sam Leavitt; Best Film Editing, Louis R. Loeffler; Best Picture Otto Preminger; Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium, Wendell Mayes; 1960.
- BAFTA Awards: BAFTA Film Award Best Film from any Source Otto Preminger, USA; Best Foreign Actor, James Stewart, USA; Most Promising Newcomer, Joseph N. Welch, USA; 1960.
- Directors Guild of America: DGA Award Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures, Otto Preminger; 1960.
- Golden Globes: Golden Globe; Best Motion Picture - Drama; Best Motion Picture Actress - Drama, Lee Remick; Best Motion Picture Director, Otto Preminger; Best Supporting Actor, Joseph N. Welch; 1960.
[edit] References
- ^ Anatomy of a Murder at the Internet Movie Database
- ^ Asimow, Michael. Picturing Justice, film review from a legal perspective, February 1998.
- ^ Crowther, Bosley. The New York Times, film review, "A Court Classic," July 3, 1959.
[edit] External links
- The Detroit News, "When Hollywood Came to the Upper Peninsula," by Vivian M. Baulch.
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