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With unusually frank dialogue and the portrayal of the prohibited subject of rape, Otto Preminger's masterwork was a direct assault on the authority of the Production Code and, since the rest of his films around this time were also successful, the Austrian director played a major part in hastening its abandonment. Anatomy of a Murder is a black and white showcase of heavyweight acting and flawless script construction. James Stewart is absolutely outstanding as Paul Biegler, the defence lawyer for Ben Gazzara's Lieutenant Frederick Manion, the defendant who supposedly suffered an "irresistible impulse" and killed the bar-owner who raped his wife. Bemusement with characterisation leaks from every introduction as the main players venture from stereotype - Biegler is seemingly more concerned with fishing than his legal practice, Manion is extremely uncooperative, and his wife is a flirtatious trophy played admirably by Lee Remick who makes you question her motives. Aside from Stewart's excellence, George C. Scott is the other obvious highlight as the slick prosecution lawyer and his chemistry with America's original everyman is first-rate as they undertake lengthy but tantalising court bouts. Preminger stylises a great courtroom melodrama because he conveys reasonable behaviour and proper procedure. Without seeing the murder, even through flashback, the audience has to witness the grandeur of Stewart v. Scott which unsurprisingly garnered them two Oscar nods for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor respectively. Preminger's pacing makes for a pleasant waltz through the hefty 160 minute running time and the constantly humorous references to "panties" in the script even adds an element of comedy.
The extras
The filmographies and film posters are very pedestrian but the stills montage with sound-bites and music from the film is a nice, yet short extra. The five trailers are interesting just to witness how Hollywood has made the promotional material evolve - Mr Smith Goes to Washington (1939), Guess Who's Coming to Dinner? (1967), A Few Good Men (1992), Philadelphia (1993) and Preminger's film are present. Unfortunately, the selection is not too much better than the average vanilla release, and with no commentary (even from a film historian because nearly everyone associated with the film is deceased), the inclusions are tragic for such a great film.
The summary
A classic courtroom tussle choreographed superbly. Otto Preminger directs the splendid James Stewart and George C. Scott in his finest hour.
