100 Movie Challenge 2017 - # 30: Anatomy of a Murder

Director: Otto Preminger
Genre: Drama/ Thriller
Runtime: 160 minutes
Year: 1959
Starring: James Stewart, Lee Remick, Ben Gazzara, Arthur O’Connell, Eve Arden, Kathryn Grant, George C. Scott, Orson Bean, Russ Brown, Murray Hamilton, Brooks West, Ken Lynch, John Qualen, Howard McNear, Alexander Campbell, Ned Wever, Jimmy Conlin, Royal Beal, Joseph Kearns, Don Ross, Lloyd Le Vasseur, James Waters, Joseph N. Welch, Duke Ellington, Irv Kupcinet

Description: 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?

Review: I wanted to know why “Anatomy of a Murder” is such a high listed courtroom drama. It takes a while before the story takes us into the courtroom. First info is gathered and lawyers are preparing their case.
We meet Paul Biegler, a defense attorney. He is asked to defend Frederick Manion. Manion killed a man after he raped his wife Laura. Biegler has to proof that the defendant suffered from temporary insanity when he committed this act.
We know from the start that Manion did commit the crime, there is no question of wheter he did it or not. And we also see that Manion has a reputation. And people are also questioning whether the black I his wife has, came from him.
“Anatomy of a Murder” is a little different than other classic courtroom dramas. It’s all about how to use the information you got and how to get the answers you want, in order to form a good defense. How to give a good story to the jury.
James Stewart is fantastic. He manages to keep our attention, while in constant dialogue. In “Rear Window” he already showed that he could easily do that, while being in one room the entire film. In “Anatomy of a Murder” we spend most time in the courtroom and yet we are constantly with him.
I think you might say that “Anatomy of a Murder” is the ultimate courtroom film.

Rating: 5/ 5