Anatomy of a Murder (1959)

Director:

Otto Preminger

Writers:

Wendell Mayes (screenplay)
John D. Voelker (based on the novel by)

Release Date:

September 1959 (Austria)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Mystery

Plot:

In a murder trial, the defendant says he suffered temporary insanity after the victim raped his wife. What is the truth, and will he win his case?

Plot Keywords:

Attorney | Murder | Rape | Temporary Insanity | District Attorney

Awards:

Nominated for 7 Oscars. Another 9 wins & 11 nominations

Cast

James Stewart	...	Paul Biegler
Lee Remick	...	Laura Manion
Ben Gazzara	...	Lt. Frederick Manion
Arthur O'Connell	...	Parnell Emmett McCarthy
Eve Arden	...	Maida Rutledge
Kathryn Grant	...	Mary Pilant
George C. Scott	...	Asst. State Atty. Gen. Claude Dancer
Orson Bean	...	Dr. Matthew Smith
Russ Brown	...	George Lemon
Murray Hamilton	...	Alphonse Paquette
Brooks West	...	Dist. Atty. Mitch Lodwick
Ken Lynch	...	Det. Sgt. James Durgo
John Qualen	...	Deputy Sheriff Sulo
Howard McNear	...	Dr. Dompierre
Alexander Campbell	...	Dr. W. Gregory Harcourt
Ned Wever	...	Dr. Raschid
Jimmy Conlin	...	Clarence Madigan
Royal Beal	...	Sheriff Battisfore
Joseph Kearns	...	Lloyd Burke
Don Ross	...	Duane 'Duke' Miller
Lloyd Le Vasseur	...	Court Clerk
James Waters	...	Army Sergeant 1st Class
Joseph N. Welch	...	Judge Weaver
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Duke Ellington	...	Pie Eye (uncredited)
Irv Kupcinet	...	Distinguished Gentleman (uncredited)
Mrs. Joseph Welch	...	Juror (uncredited)

Directed by
Otto Preminger

Writing credits
Wendell Mayes		(screenplay)
John D. Voelker		(based on the novel by) (as Robert Traver)

Produced by
Otto Preminger	....	producer

Original Music by
Duke Ellington

Cinematography by
Sam Leavitt		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Louis R. Loeffler

Production Design by
Boris Leven

Makeup Department
Del Armstrong	....	makeup
Harry Ray	....	makeup
Myrl Stoltz	....	hairdresser
Madine Danks	....	hairdresser (uncredited)
Norman Pringle	....	makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Henry Weinberger	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
David Silver	....	assistant director
Hal W. Polaire	....	assistant director (uncredited)
Ray Taylor Jr.	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Howard Bristol	....	set dresser
Saul Bass	....	poster designer (uncredited)
Wallace Carr	....	assistant set dresser (uncredited)
Irving W. Sindler	....	props (uncredited)
Ken Walton	....	props (uncredited)

Sound Department
Jack Solomon	....	sound
Bill Flannery	....	boom operator (uncredited)
Harry Foy	....	recordist (uncredited)
Don Hall	....	sound effects (uncredited)
Al Yaylian	....	cable (uncredited)

Special Effects by
George Harris	....	special effects (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
James Almond	....	lighting technician
Leo McCreary	....	key grip
Irving Rosenberg	....	camera operator
Bert Chaliacombe	....	best boy (uncredited)
Gjon Mili	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Al St. Hilaire	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Bob Uhl	....	assistant camera (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Hope Bryce	....	costume coordinator
Vou Lee Giokaris	....	wardrobe
Michael J. Harte	....	wardrobe (as Michael Harte)
Paula Giokaris	....	wardrobe (uncredited)
Norman Martien	....	wardrobe (uncredited)

Editorial Department
John Loeffler	....	assistant editor (uncredited)
Michael Vittes	....	assistant editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Richard Carruth	....	music editor
Duke Ellington	....	musician: piano (uncredited)
Johnny Hodges	....	musician (uncredited)
Billy Strayhorn	....	musician: piano (uncredited)
Clark Terry	....	musician (uncredited)
Britt Woodman	....	musician (uncredited)

Other crew
Saul Bass	....	title designer
Kathleen Fagan	....	script supervisor
William T. Hurtz	....	director: animated titles
Otto Preminger	....	presenter
Max Slater	....	assistant to the producer
Robert E. Blair	....	dog trainer (uncredited)
Dave Golding	....	publicist (uncredited)
Jim Merrick	....	publicist (uncredited)
Nat Rudich	....	publicist (uncredited)
John D. Voelker	....	technical advisor (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Carlyle Productions (An Otto Preminger Film)

Distributors

• Columbia Pictures (1959) (USA) (theatrical) (distributed by) (as Columbia Pictures Corporation)
• Columbia Film-Verleih (1959) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Columbia International Films (1959) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1970) (USA) (TV)
• RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video (1986) (USA) (VHS)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (1999) (Germany) (VHS)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2001) (Germany) (DVD)
• Criterion Collection, The (2012) (USA) (DVD)
• International DVD Group (2010) (Argentina) (DVD)
• LK-TEL (2003) (Argentina) (DVD)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

160 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PA (Manitoba) | Finland:K-16 | Norway:16 (1959) | Sweden:15 | UK:12A (re-rating) (2005) | UK:12 (video re-rating) 2001) | UK:15 (video rating) (1988) | UK:X (original rating) | USA:Unrated | West Germany:16 (f) | Iceland:12 | Australia:M | Canada:R (Nova Scotia) | Netherlands:18 (original rating) | Germany:16 (DVD rating) | USA:TV-PG | Spain:13 | Australia:PG (TV rating)

Filming Locations:

2nd Floor, Marquette County Courthouse - 234 W. Baraga Avenue, Marquette, Michigan, USA

Company:

Carlyle Productions

Trivia:

The part played by Lee Remick was first offered to Lana Turner, who agreed to take it on the condition that she would wear gowns designed exclusively by her personal couturier, Jean Louis. When director Otto Preminger objected that such gowns were not suitable for the role, Turner turned down the part. Columbia was ready to give in to Turner's demands but Preminger resisted and gave the role to Remick, then almost a beginner.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: In the opening shot, the camera-car's shadow is visible on Biegler's car.

Quotes:

[Judge Weaver has stopped the testimony by Detective Sergeant James Durgo, State Police, and called the lawyers to his bench]
Judge Weaver:Mr. Biegler, you finally got your rape into the case, and I think all the details should now be made clear to the jury. What exactly was the undergarment just referred to?
Paul Biegler:Panties, Your Honor.
Judge Weaver:Do you expect this subject to come up again?
Paul Biegler:Yes, Sir.
Judge Weaver:There's a certain light connotation attached to the word "panties." Can we find another name for them?
Mitch Lodwick:I never heard my wife call 'em anything else.
Judge Weaver:Mr. Biegler?
Paul Biegler:I'm a bachelor, Your Honor.
Judge Weaver:That's a great help. Mr. Dancer?
[...]

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Maltin on Movies: Wrath of the Titans (#1.69)" (2012)

One of the best courtroom dramas ever

An excellent ballet of film direction and courtroom procedure, Anatomy is one of the best courtroom movies ever produced. With a great cast and three dimensional characters, highlighted by Jimmy Stewart and his usual "likeable everyman" character, the film moves briskly and intelligently, thanks to Premminger's fine direction.

Ben Gazzara plays an army soldier who shoots a man who raped his wife, then pleads insanity. Stewart is his lawyer and Lee Remick is great as the suggestive, somewhat slutty wife who leaves you questioning her motives throughout. Whether or not you agree with the final verdict (personally, I don't), you will agree that this is a great film, worth repeated viewings.