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Information

Year
1959
Runtime
161 min.
Director
Otto Preminger
Genres
Crime, Drama, Mystery
Rating *
8.1
Votes *
45,429
Checks
9,731
Favs
879
Dislikes
38
Favs/checks
9.0% (1:11)
Favs/dislikes
23:1
* View IMDb information

Top comments

  1. DynatiaCydonia's avatar

    DynatiaCydonia

    If lawyers were all as charismatic as James Stewart, movies would become pointless, people would just have to go to the court. Fascinating film, by the way. 13 years 8 months ago
  2. chaqudemus's avatar

    chaqudemus

    James Stewart VS George C. Scott, What's not to love? 12 years 5 months ago
  3. Siskoid's avatar

    Siskoid

    Anatomy of a Murder is an iconic courtroom drama - the poster inspired the Fiasco game's graphic design and Alan Moore's Anatomy Lesson in Swamp Thing, but for most people, it's Jimmy Stewart playing that simple country lawyer - that manages both a dissection of its characters and the event surrounding a murder AND ambiguity as to the verdict's validity. This it does by sticking to Stewart, and not confirming things he's not privy to. In 1959, this naturally shocked audiences, but while we're more used to frank sexual themes and the idea of rape, the film (which is based on a real case) still offers a treatment that is relevant today. Right-minded (that is to say, correct-minded) people know there's never a justification for rape, and yet, trials both legal and public still today re-violate the victim by calling out behavior and dress. I did not feel the tactics used in the film were any different than those used today, which is what remains upsetting today. Of course, how it relates to the murder case is tangential, and almost becomes a distraction. I was retrying it in my head, which the length and procedural pace certainly allow you to do (without ever feeling bored however). Good performances all around, with Stewart and the amusing judge played by Joseph N. Welch (a high profile lawyer, but not an actor, and yet) are the highlights. Lee Remick is properly enigmatic. George C. Scott is a slick shark as the prosecuting attorney, but perhaps a bit too overtly villainous. Jazz fans should check out the Duke Ellington score (and cameo), which supports Stewart's character flying by the seat of his pants during the entire case. 5 years 7 months ago
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In 14 official lists

  1. This movie ranks #30 in The New York Times's Book of Movies
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    The New York Times's Boo…

    30
  2. This movie ranks #40 in The Guardian's 1000 Films to See Before You Die
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    The Guardian's 1000 Film…

    40
  3. This movie ranks #43 in IMDb's Mystery Top 50
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    IMDb's Mystery Top 50

    43
  4. This movie ranks #50 in IMDb's 1950s Top 50
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    IMDb's 1950s Top 50

    50
  5. This movie ranks #65 in iCheckMovies's 1950s Top 100
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    iCheckMovies's 1950s Top…

    65
  6. This movie ranks #219 in Academy Award - Best Picture Nominees
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    Academy Award - Best Pic…

    219
  7. This movie ranks #241 in Jennifer Eiss's 500 Essential Cult Movies
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    Jennifer Eiss's 500 Esse…

    241
  8. This movie ranks #335 in 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die
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    1001 Movies You Must See…

    335
  9. This movie ranks #445 in Jonathan Rosenbaum's Essential Cinema
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    Jonathan Rosenbaum's Ess…

    445
  10. This movie ranks #564 in David Thomson's Have You Seen?
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    David Thomson's Have You…

    564
  11. This movie ranks #606 in Library of Congress's National Film Registry
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    Library of Congress's Na…

    606
  12. This movie ranks #701 in The Criterion Collection
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    The Criterion Collection

    701
  13. This movie ranks #709 in Sight & Sound's The Greatest Films of All Time
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    Sight & Sound's The Grea…

    709
  14. This movie ranks #922 in TSPDT's 1,000 Greatest Films
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    TSPDT's 1,000 Greatest F…

    922
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