Anatomy of a Murder (1959) | |
| Director(s) | Otto Preminger |
| Producer(s) | Otto Preminger |
| Top Genres | Crime, Drama, Mystery |
| Top Topics | Alcohol, Book-Based, Courtroom, Husband Wife, Lawyers, True Story (based on) |
Featured Cast:
Anatomy of a Murder Overview:
Anatomy of a Murder (1959) was a Crime - Drama Film directed by Otto Preminger and produced by Otto Preminger.
The film was based on the novel of the same name written by John D. Voelker published in 1957.
SYNOPSIS
Director Preminger thrives in tense legal showdowns and this is perhaps his best, mostly for Stewart's cagey performance as a deceptively wily small-town lawyer. The sensationalist trial revolves around an army lieutenant who shoots a bar owner for allegedly raping his wife, an ugly crime in which no one is wholly guilty or innocent. Based on Traver's novel. Score by Duke Ellington.
(Source: available at Amazon AMC Classic Movie Companion).
.Anatomy of a Murder was inducted into the National Film Registry in 2012.
Academy Awards 1959 --- Ceremony Number 32 (source: AMPAS)
| Award | Recipient | Result |
| Best Actor | James Stewart | Nominated |
| Best Supporting Actor | Arthur O'Connell | Nominated |
| Best Supporting Actor | George C. Scott | Nominated |
| Best Cinematography | Sam Leavitt | Nominated |
| Best Film Editing | Louis R. Loeffler | Nominated |
| Best Picture | Otto Preminger, Producer | Nominated |
| Best Writing | Wendell Mayes | Nominated |
BlogHub Articles:
James Stewart, Lee Remick, and Ben Gazzara head the cast in “Anatomy of a Murder”
By Stephen Reginald on Jun 3, 2025 From Classic Movie ManJames Stewart, Lee Remick, and Ben Gazzara head the cast in “Anatomy of a Murder” Anatomy of a Murder (1959) is an American courtroom drama directed by Otto Preminger and starring James Stewart, Lee Remick, Ben Gazzara, Arthur O’Connell, Eve Arden, and Kathryn Grant. The suppo... Read full article
The Case for Anatomy of a Murder
By Rick29 on Jul 1, 2024 From Classic Film & TV CafeStewart as Biegler pleads his case.Anatomy of a Murder is the best courtroom drama ever made.Otto Preminger’s enthralling motion picture requires multiple viewings to be fully appreciated. When I first saw it, I focused on the riveting story, which treats the viewer much like the jury. We list... Read full article
Anatomy of a Murder (1959)
By Beatrice on Dec 9, 2016 From Flickers in TimeAnatomy of a Murder Directed by Otto Preminger Written by Wendell Mayes from a novel by John D. Voelker 1959/USA Carlyle Productions Repeat viewing/Netflix rental One of 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die Paul Biegler: [shaking head] They can’t, lieutenant. They can’t. An anatomy... Read full article
Anatomy of a Murder (1959)
By 4 Star Film Fan on Feb 14, 2013 From 4 Star FilmsStarring Jimmy Stewart, George C. Scott, Lee Remick, and a cast of others, the film follows a small town lawyer (Stewart) as he defends a man who has?committed?murder. The whole case is complicated by the fact that the Lieutenant’s?beautiful wife was supposedly raped by the murdered man. Now S... Read full article
Anatomy of a Murder (1959)
By 4 Star Film Fan on Feb 14, 2013 From 4 Star FilmsStarring Jimmy Stewart, George C. Scott, Lee Remick, and a cast of others, the film follows a small town lawyer (Stewart) as he defends a man who has?committed?murder. The whole case is complicated by the fact that the Lieutenant’s?beautiful wife was supposedly raped by the murdered man. Now S... Read full article
See all Anatomy of a Murder articles
Quotes from
Maida Rutledge: If this refrigerator gets any more fish in it, it will swim upstream and spawn all by itself.
Parnell Emmett McCarthy: [eyeing an empty liquor bottle] You fought this soldier by yourself. You've been drinking alone, Paulie. I don't like that.
Paul Biegler: Drop the stone, Counsellor. You live in a glass house.
Parnell Emmett McCarthy: My windows have been busted a long time ago, so I can say what I please.
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Facts about
Otto Preminger originally wanted Lee Remick for the part of Laura because he had been impressed with her debut in A Face in the Crowd and knew that she could play a young sultry woman (even though Remick was 8 months pregnant when Preminger approached her for the role). A few weeks later he called to tell her that he had given the part to Lana Turner and instead offered her a smaller role of Mary Pilant, but Remick boldly refused. On an especially hectic day when Remick received a call saying that she had the part of Laura, she thought it was a joke and hung up. It took another phone call to convince her that she truly did have the lead female role.
June 2008 Ranked #7 on the American Film Institute's list of the 10 greatest films in the genre "Courtroom Drama".
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