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Anatomy of a Murder

Play trailer 4:49 Poster for Anatomy of a Murder Released Jul 1, 1959 2h 40m Crime Drama Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
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100% Tomatometer 54 Reviews 91% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
Semi-retired Michigan lawyer Paul Biegler (James Stewart) takes the case of Army Lt. Manion (Ben Gazzara), who murdered a local innkeeper after his wife (Lee Remick) claimed that he raped her. Over the course of an extensive trial, Biegler parries with District Attorney Lodwick (Brooks West) and out-of-town prosecutor Claude Dancer (George C. Scott) to set his client free, but his case rests on the victim's mysterious business partner (Kathryn Grant), who's hiding a dark secret.
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Anatomy of a Murder

Anatomy of a Murder

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Critics Consensus

One of cinema's greatest courtroom dramas, Anatomy of a Murder is tense, thought-provoking, and brilliantly acted, with great performances from James Stewart and George C. Scott.

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Critics Reviews

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Myles Standish St. Louis Post-Dispatch Director Preminger has worked out his canvas with minute thoroughness. The film is two hours and 40 minutes long, but so absorbing is it that it seems short. Jun 23, 2021 Full Review Mae Tinee Chicago Tribune The film is lengthy, with an ending that is both enigmatic and ironic, but presented with such finesse and pace that it is guaranteed to hold your interest from start to finish. Jun 18, 2020 Full Review TIME Magazine At 160 minutes, Anatomy is longer than the subject warrants, but the pace seldom slackens -- thanks to the competence of Director Otto Preminger. Apr 24, 2009 Full Review Sukanya Verma Rediff.com Beautiful animation and magical insights ensure there's never a dull moment in its visual feast. Oct 2, 2024 Full Review Noah Gittell Washington City Paper There’s a fresh thrill in seeing the conventions of the courtroom drama trotted out for the first time, and its lingering sense of moral ambiguity is still jarring. Apr 27, 2024 Full Review Jet Staff Jet Magazine The questions, like the suspense, mount explosively... And even as movie-goers file out of the theater, some of the issues remain in doubt. Jan 16, 2024 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (820) audience reviews
Jay W It may seem crazy for me to root against Jimmy Stewart and instead look at George C. Scott as the hero of the story. Alas, that is the way I see the story. That isn't what the filmmakers had in mind, but I can't help but see it that way. All the evidence the audience is given in the movie seems to imply that the two people Stewart is defending are guilty. I guess that is the way lawyers work. They are not always defending innocent people, more often than not, they will have to defend the guilty. I knew that this movie was controversial for its time but looking back it is pretty tame by today's standards. I found it amusing to hear the crowd scoff and awe by the mention of the word "panties". As well as hearing the late 50's jargon for "tight" and "masher". Good ol' Jimmy is charming as always, even in his best attempts to be a hard-nosed no-nonsense lawyer. He does a good job, and it is his plight to run a successful law firm that keeps me engaged through the story. Because the people he's defending are definitely guilty. The whole premise of the story is that Fredrick Manion is accused of murdering someone...which he did. But Stewart's defense is that Manion was getting revenge for his wife, so that makes it OK. The rest of the court case is distracted by trying to prove whether or not his anger was justified. Laura Manion claims the victim raped her. I guess they figure if they can prove that he did, the murder is therefore justified...which it isn't but that is what we're going with. The trial is still an interesting one. The lawyers have a fascinating back and forth, and you really get the idea that it is like a verbal chess match. All the actors do a good job at making memorable and interesting characters. I just find it hard to ignore the fact that I don't get behind the main conflict of the story. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 12/01/24 Full Review harwee h Still stunning as it entertaining 60 years since it was first reased. James Stewart is explosive and takes the viewer throughout the journey with precise realism. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 11/29/24 Full Review Mark B A great court room drama. It may be a little dated in the “hip “ style but overall a very good movie. Older movies can sometimes suffer from pacing problems, this might be guilty in the set up to the courtroom scenes but not overly and it does not go to far. Jimmy Stewart and George C Scott battling in the court room is so good. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 07/22/24 Full Review stewart M Great courtroom drama with a superb cast. Its a rarity in that it actual gets most of the law right. Smart engrossing with a great twist at the end that will leave you thinking. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 07/05/24 Full Review KerryWhite's S Rating: 8/10. 81/100 Rated 4 out of 5 stars 07/01/24 Full Review Isaiah Y Classic and accurate courtroom drama by Otto Preminger with great performances by James Stewart and George C. Scott in his first notable role Rated 4 out of 5 stars 06/25/24 Full Review Read all reviews
Anatomy of a Murder

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Cast & Crew

Anatomy of a Murder

Anatomy of a Murder: Official Clip - Pliant's Testimony Anatomy of a Murder: Official Clip - Pliant's Testimony 3:02 Anatomy of a Murder: Official Clip - Think of an Answer Anatomy of a Murder: Official Clip - Think of an Answer 2:40 Anatomy of a Murder: Official Clip - He Was a Wolf Anatomy of a Murder: Official Clip - He Was a Wolf 2:36 Anatomy of a Murder: Official Clip - I Beg the Court! Anatomy of a Murder: Official Clip - I Beg the Court! 2:28 Anatomy of a Murder: Official Clip - Questioning Laura Anatomy of a Murder: Official Clip - Questioning Laura 2:40 Anatomy of a Murder: Official Clip - Reason To Be Jealous Anatomy of a Murder: Official Clip - Reason To Be Jealous 2:00 Anatomy of a Murder: Official Clip - This is Not a High School Debate! Anatomy of a Murder: Official Clip - This is Not a High School Debate! 2:49 Anatomy of a Murder: Official Clip - A Felon on the Stand Anatomy of a Murder: Official Clip - A Felon on the Stand 2:30 Anatomy of a Murder: Official Clip - Panties? Anatomy of a Murder: Official Clip - Panties? 2:45 Anatomy of a Murder: Official Clip - Four Ways to Defend Murder Anatomy of a Murder: Official Clip - Four Ways to Defend Murder 3:10 View more videos
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Movie Info

Synopsis Semi-retired Michigan lawyer Paul Biegler (James Stewart) takes the case of Army Lt. Manion (Ben Gazzara), who murdered a local innkeeper after his wife (Lee Remick) claimed that he raped her. Over the course of an extensive trial, Biegler parries with District Attorney Lodwick (Brooks West) and out-of-town prosecutor Claude Dancer (George C. Scott) to set his client free, but his case rests on the victim's mysterious business partner (Kathryn Grant), who's hiding a dark secret.
Director
Otto Preminger
Producer
Otto Preminger
Screenwriter
John D. Voelker, Wendell Mayes
Distributor
Columbia Pictures
Production Co
Carlyle Productions, Columbia Pictures Corporation
Genre
Crime, Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jul 1, 1959, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 16, 2012
Runtime
2h 40m
Sound Mix
Mono
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)
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