Anatomy of a Murder

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4:49

Anatomy of a Murder

1959

2h 40m

Crime

Drama

Mystery & Thriller

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Popcornmeter

100%

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53 Reviews

90%

Popcornmeter

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

06/23/2021

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.

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Mae Tinee

Chicago Tribune

06/18/2020

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.

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TIME Magazine

04/24/2009

At 160 minutes, Anatomy is longer than the subject warrants, but the pace seldom slackens -- thanks to the competence of Director Otto Preminger.

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Noah Gittell

Washington City Paper

04/27/2024

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.

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Jet Staff

Jet Magazine

01/16/2024

The questions, like the suspense, mount explosively... And even as movie-goers file out of the theater, some of the issues remain in doubt.

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Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

08/19/2023

... 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.

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thiago S

@Thiagostone Mar 2

Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são fracas, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom

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Ted B.

@Movieaddicted Feb 18

4.5 stars; Long before Perry Mason and Lincoln Lawyer, there was Paul Biegler, played by Jimmy Stewart. This film was an iconic dramatic accurare portrayal of courtroom proceedings, released in 1959. Only "12 Angry Men," released in 1957, preceded it in giving such attention to correct courtroom theatrics. It set a standard for follow-on movies such as "To Kill a Mockingbird." It was nominated for 7 Academy Awards, including Best Actor for Jimmy Stewart.

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David H

@RT60765788 Jun 27

Great movie and Lee Remick is sooo hot.............

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Ian S

@RT48225084 Jun 16

One of the great courtroom dramas and superbly acted by James Stewart, Lee Remick, Ben Gazzara and George C Scott. A lengthy film but never dull. Nice soundtrack as well. Otto Preminger at the top of his game.

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Stephen C

@bob25009 Jun 7

Success in 2 2/3 hours!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Starring James Stewart!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Steve M.

@Steve32819 May 18

At 2:40 minutes was worried about the structure and pacing of the movie. Pacing, acting and story was great.

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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

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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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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