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Anatomy of a Murder
1959 161 min United States of America 16+
★8.6
Crime, Drama, Mystery
Director: Otto Preminger
🎭 Based on
«Anatomy of a Murder»
byJohn D. Voelker
Trailers
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Description
Semi-retired Michigan lawyer Paul Biegler takes the case of Army Lt. Manion, who murdered a local innkeeper after his wife claimed that he raped her. Over the course of an extensive trial, Biegler parries with District Attorney Lodwick and out-of-town prosecutor Claude Dancer to set his client free, but his case rests on the victim's mysterious business partner, who's hiding a dark secret.
Budget:
$2M
US Gross:
$11.9M
Worldwide:
$8M
Starring
James Stewart
Actor
Lee Remick
Actor
Ben Gazzara
Actor
Awards
Venice Film Festival 1959
— Volpi Cup – Best Actor
BAFTA 1960
— Best Picture
BAFTA 1960
— Most Promising Lead Debut
BAFTA 1960
— Best International Actor
Golden Globe 1960
— Best Supporting Actor
Venice Film Festival 1959
— Volpi Cup – Best Actor
Venice Film Festival 1959
— Golden Lion
Academy Awards 1960
— Best Actor
Golden Globe 1960
— Best Picture (Drama)
Academy Awards 1960
— Best Picture
Academy Awards 1960
— Best Film Editing
Academy Awards 1960
— Best Supporting Actor
Academy Awards 1960
— Best Adapted Screenplay
Golden Globe 1960
— Best Actress (Drama)
Golden Globe 1960
— Best Director
Key opinion
Anatomy of a Murder is a groundbreaking courtroom drama praised for its realistic legal procedural elements, strong performances, and bold exploration of mature themes. While viewers generally admire its complexity, some find the nearly three-hour runtime and deliberate pacing to be a barrier to engagement.
| Acting | James Stewart and George C. Scott deliver powerful, captivating performances that anchor the courtroom duels. | |
| Score | The Duke Ellington jazz score provides an unusual yet highly effective atmosphere for the film's tone. | |
| Theme | The film masterfully breaks taboos of the era by engaging in candid, detailed dialogue regarding rape and sexual evidence. | |
| Runtime | The film's nearly three-hour runtime rewards patient viewers with a gripping trial, while others find the slow setup and excessive length tedious. | |
| Screenplay | The narrative's focus on legal strategy over moral clarity divides audiences between those who appreciate the cynical, win-focused realism and those who find the unresolved questions unsatisfying. |