Anatomy of a Murder

Released Jul 1, 1959

2h 40m

Crime

Drama

Mystery & Thriller

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for Anatomy of a Murder: Trailer 1

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100%

Tomatometer

54 Reviews

91%

Audience Score

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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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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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

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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

Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

... crackles as Stewart and Scott spar with witnesses and one another: the cagey country lawyer hiding his endgame behind a folksy manner versus the smart, sarcastic, thoroughly urban legal eagle who makes a show of his intelligence and showmanship.

Aug 19, 2023

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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

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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

Nathan T

As good as any courtroom drama out there. Still great and relevant.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/15/24

Full Review

Jack V

The beginning is a little drawn out and the movie could've been shorter for sure, but otherwise it's a perfect courtroom thriller! The courtroom scenes are all so captivating, with the two equally clever lawyers taking shots at each other non-stop. The case is fairly complex too and all the characters are well written.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/02/24

Full Review

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Otto Preminger

Director

James Stewart

Paul Biegler

Lee Remick

Laura Manion

Ben Gazzara

Lt. Frederick Manion

Arthur O'Connell

Parnell Emmett McCarthy

Eve Arden

Maida Rutledge

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Anatomy of a Murder: Official Clip - Pliant's Testimony

3:02

Anatomy of a Murder: Official Clip - Think of an Answer

2:40

Anatomy of a Murder: Official Clip - He Was a Wolf

2:36

Anatomy of a Murder: Official Clip - I Beg the Court!

2:28

Anatomy of a Murder: Official Clip - Questioning Laura

2:40

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!

2:49

Anatomy of a Murder: Official Clip - A Felon on the Stand

2:30

Anatomy of a Murder: Official Clip - Panties?

2:45

Anatomy of a Murder: Official Clip - Four Ways to Defend Murder

3:10

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Anatomy of a Murder: Trailer 1

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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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