Review of Anatomy of a Murder (1959) by Sam I — 24 Nov 2006

Made as the Hays code crumbled Anatomy of a Murder was controversial for its language, words like rape and panties were heard for the first time because they were essential to the plot.

The plot revolves around lawyer Paul Biegler (Stewart) defending Lt. Frederick Manion (Gazzara) against the charge of murder having shot a man he believes raped his wife (Remick). Beigler's defence strategy is to suggest that Manion was temporarily insane, under an 'irresistible impulse' to shoot his victim.

I like courtroom dramas and this is the pinnacle of the genre. That's down to a few things, first amongst them being the source. Anatomy of a Murder was based on the novel of the same name by Robert Traver, a pseudonym because Traver was in fact a serving justice in the US courts. It's this that gives both novel and film their ring of truth. It never allows the procedural detail to get in the way of the story but provides enough to keep you from getting lost.

James Stewart is the great everyman of American cinema and he takes us through the story with his familliar drawl and easy charisma, but to say that's all he does would be to take away from what is a magnificent performance, particularly when he gets a chance to get truly animated in the courtroom scenes. Even when he's not talking it's a pleasure to watch Stewart as you can always see Biegler's cogs turning as he listens to other characters.

Ben Gazzara makes an early mark as Manion managing to keep us guessing as to just how in control of himself he really was when comitting his crime. It's often a chilling performance and Gazarra is exceptional.

Even better is Lee Remick as Manion's wife, for somebody who'd only seen her in The Omen before her performance here is simply a revelation and, like Gazarra she walks a fine line with her character between the audience thinking she may just be scheming and that she's simply a victim and plays both sides expertly.

Director Otto Preminge also extracts fine performances from George C Scott as the state prosecutor and Joseph N Welch as a fair minded judge.

At close to three hours Anatomy of a Murder could easily have dragged but the case is riveting, the characters interesting and the performances stunning which means that the running time simply flies by.