Anatomy of a Murder
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Arthur O'Connell, Ben Gazzara, Eve Arden, James Stewart, Lee RemickBrand: STEWART,JAMES
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); Portuguese (Subtitled); Georgian (Subtitled); Chinese (Subtitled); Thai (Subtitled); French (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono; Spanish (Dubbed), Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
Format: Black & White, Closed-captioned, DVD, NTSC, Subtitled
Picture Format: Anamorphic Widescreen, 1.33:1
Running Time: 160 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2000-07-11
Audience Rating: Unrated
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Movie Reviews of Anatomy of a Murder
Movie Review: ANATOMY OF A MURDER IS A FILM THAT IS IMPOSSIBLE NOT TO BE DRAWN INTO
Summary: 5 Stars
IN A NUTSHELL: 'ANATOMY OF A MURDER' IS STILL AN ENVELOPE PUSHER AMONG COURTROOM DRAMAS
For many reasons this film is a terrific cinematic experience, but most of all it is impossible not to be riveted to this film from beginning to end.
WHAT IT IS ALL ABOUT: 1+1 MAY NOT EQUAL 2 --- IN THIS CASE IT MAY EQUAL 3
Essentially, a murder has been committed and the murderer Lt. Frederick Manion, [Ben Gazzara] is in custody after turning himself in for committing the murder. For many films this would be the end, but not for this story, as this is only the beginning, because 1+1 does not equal 2 in this film. More precisely, the murder could possibly be excusable, if not understandable! Proving such a claim after the murder has been admitted is what the story is all about.
With an excellent story, script, and direction, 'Anatomy of a Murder' proceeded to unfold as an exciting, and unusally provocative character driven courtroom drama.
Jimmy Stewart was brilliant as the erstwhile district attorney turned defense attorney. He was a man in a kind of mid-life crisis, whose involvement in this murder case only compounded his own problems. Stewart's intrinsic integrity lent itself well to defense attorney Paul Biegler's task and his own personal inner conflicts which revolved around Laura Manion's overt flirtatious sexuality and the murder her husband Lieutenant Manion committed as a result of it.
Legal reinforcements from the Michigan District Attorney's office were capably embodied by George C. Scott as Claude Dancer. Mister Dancer was a sly, obnoxious and blunt prosecutor who was very much up to the task of making Mister Biegler's job of defending Lt. Manion almost impossible. Lovely explosions in courtroom drama followed one-after-another as Dancer and Biegler mixed it up like oil and vinegar. On top of everything else we have the defendant, Lieutenantt Frederick Manion, a violent and nasty lout who seems hardly worthy of either a defense or any woman's affection.
Keeping all this courtroom dynamite from exploding completely is a supporting cast that includes a real judge, Joseph Welch, as presiding Judge Weaver, and Arthur O'Connell as Mr. Biegler's legal mentor, Pamell McCarthy. Even the individual witnesses at the trial are outstanding, and for good reason -- there are no flashbacks here, everything we the audience learns of the crime comes from the trial. This includes rather lurid and provocative testimony as well as language that includes descriptions of lady's undergarments and much more, all rather taboo in 1959, when the film was released.
-----> THE 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
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
-----> THE PRODUCTION TEAM
Otto Preminger - Director / Producer
Wendell Mayes - Screenwriter
Robert Traver - Book Author
John D. Voelker - Screenwriter
Sam Leavitt - Cinematographer
Duke Ellington - Composer (Music Score)
Louis Loeffler - Editor
Boris Leven - Production Designer
Howard Bristol - Set Designer
Michael J. Harte - Costume Designer
Jack Solomon - Sound/Sound Designer
Del Armstrong - Makeup
Harry Ray - Makeup
-----> THE MAJOR AWARDS [NOMINATED FOR 8 ACADEMY AWARDS -- WINNING NONE!]
Best Actor (nom) James Stewart 1959 Academy
Best Adapted Screenplay (nom) Wendell Mayes 1959 Academy
Best Black and White Cinematography (nom) Sam Leavitt 1959 Academy
Best Editing (nom) Louis Loeffler 1959 Academy
Best Picture (nom) 1959 Academy
Best Supporting Actor (nom) George C. Scott 1959 Academy
Best Supporting Actor (nom) Arthur O'Connell 1959 Academy
Best British Film Otto Preminger 1959 British Academy Awards
Best Director (nom) Otto Preminger 1959 Directors Guild of America
Best Actress - Drama (nom) Lee Remick 1959 Golden Globe
Best Director (nom) Otto Preminger 1959 Golden Globe
Best Picture - Drama (nom) 1959 Golden Globe
Best Supporitng Actor (nom) Joseph Welch 1959 Golden Globe
Best Picture (nom) 1959 National Board of Review
Best Actor (win) James Stewart 1959 New York Film Critics Circle
Best Screenplay (win) Wendell Mayes 1959 New York Film Critics Circle
Volpi Cup for Best Actor (win) James Stewart 1959 Venice International Film Festival
ABOUT THE DVD: DIGITALLY REMASTERED AUDIO & VIDEO BUT FEW FEATURES
Summary of Anatomy of a Murder
This courtroom drama pits a small-town lawyer against a big-city one in the defense of a jealous army lieutenant for the murder of his wife's rapist.Genre: Mystery
Rating: UN
Release Date: 11-JUL-2000
Media Type: DVD
Otto Preminger turned this 1959 courtroom drama, based on the popular novel, into terrific adult drama. James Stewart stars as a small-town lawyer who defends an army officer (Ben Gazzara) accused of murdering a bartender who assaulted his wife (Lee Remick). The taut script, large performance by Stewart, and then-daring elements of the story (words like "panties" are spoken in the context of discussing a sex crime) give the action a certain immediacy--which you don't find very often in today's movies about jurisprudence. Nice work by Remick and Gazzara, as well as George C. Scott, Arthur O'Connell, and real-life judge Joseph N. Welch, who plays the judge in this film. A very good experience all around. --Tom Keogh
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