ANATOMY OF A MURDER -- Otto Preminger, dir

©1959
studio: Sony Pictures
production company: Carlyle Productions, Columbia Pictures Corporation
dir: Otto Preminger
cast: James Stewart,Lee Remick, Ben Gazarra, Arthur O'Connell, Eve Arden, Kathryn Grant, Joseph N. Welch, George C. Scott
based on the book by Robert Traver
160 minutes
B&W

A former prosecuting attorney gets his first crack at being a defense lawyer -- for a soldier who admits killing a man after the man had raped the soldier's wife.

Wow, this was a good movie! All the performances were of the highest calibre. I especially liked real-life judge, Joseph N. Welch, as the judge. Remick was wonderfully sumptuous and demure. Gazarra perfectly misleading. Scott appropriately pompous, and Stewart marvelously "earthy" without looking like a "hick."

I can only image how scandalous this movie must have been back in '59 ... they talk candidly about rape, penetration, ejaculation, semen, and refer to a woman's panties (a missing piece of evidence that comes in to play). Even today one might find this kind of discussion "edgy" or at the very least, used for shock value. Here it was taken in perfect clinical and legal stride.

The movie never felt like it was running long, to me, so I was a bit shocked to see that I sat there for nearly two and a half hours watching it. Preminger moves the film along well.

I also greatly enjoy the cool jazz score. The appearance of Duke Ellington in the film seemed out of place, but I appreciated it nonetheless. Having Stewart be a huge jazz fan was a neat, humanizing touch.

I'm very glad that I took the time to watch this highly recommended movie.