*Possible potential spoiler*
It's easy to see why this film was such a big hit when it came out; it deals head-on with issues like murder and rape. However, it doesn't hold up 40 years later.
Lee Remick plays a woman who has allegedly been raped. Four days later, her character is flirting with every man around, even though the much of the entire plot revolves around whether she's been sexually assaulted or not. (Don't worry; this fact is made obvious within the first 10 minutes of the film.)
In addition, a lot of the legal proceedings which occur in the film are flat-out wrong now. There aren't even any depositions! Evidence would not be submitted during the trial on the spur of the moment during questioning; evidence must now be declared before a trial begins. Consequently, there are a number of deus ex machina moments in this film during the trial. No, I'm not a lawyer!
Having said that, George C. Scott does an amazing job as the big city attorney from Lansing, Michigan (!). You can see the roots of "Patton" in his performance. Jimmy Stewart is, well, Jimmy Stewart -- what's not to like? The Duke Ellington score (and cameo!) is also quite wonderful.
If you want to see a really suspenseful courtroom drama, rent "Presumed Innocent". "Anatomy of a Murder" really only works if you look at it in the context of a late 1950's legal drama with some terrific acting.
It's easy to see why this film was such a big hit when it came out; it deals head-on with issues like murder and rape. However, it doesn't hold up 40 years later.
Lee Remick plays a woman who has allegedly been raped. Four days later, her character is flirting with every man around, even though the much of the entire plot revolves around whether she's been sexually assaulted or not. (Don't worry; this fact is made obvious within the first 10 minutes of the film.)
In addition, a lot of the legal proceedings which occur in the film are flat-out wrong now. There aren't even any depositions! Evidence would not be submitted during the trial on the spur of the moment during questioning; evidence must now be declared before a trial begins. Consequently, there are a number of deus ex machina moments in this film during the trial. No, I'm not a lawyer!
Having said that, George C. Scott does an amazing job as the big city attorney from Lansing, Michigan (!). You can see the roots of "Patton" in his performance. Jimmy Stewart is, well, Jimmy Stewart -- what's not to like? The Duke Ellington score (and cameo!) is also quite wonderful.
If you want to see a really suspenseful courtroom drama, rent "Presumed Innocent". "Anatomy of a Murder" really only works if you look at it in the context of a late 1950's legal drama with some terrific acting.