Anatomy of a Murder

This film from 1959 is a great courtroom drama. Directed by Otto Preminger, starring Jimmy Stewart as Paul Biegler, the former prosecuting attourny in Iron City, Michigan who defeated for reelection has become an expert fly fisherman.

Biegler is asked by Laura Mannion to defend her husband, Army Lt Mannion on a murder charge. The murder of which there is no doubt comes about as a result of the rape of the Leuitentant's wife by Ben Quill the owner of a local bar.

Lee Remick plays Mrs. Mannion and she exudes sensuality to say the least. She is flirtatious and everything she says could be interpreted as a come on. That said she insists she was attacked and that she had never been a loose woman.

The court case plays out over the last 90 minutes of the movie. It is well told with the predictable characterizations of the raped woman, how she was dressed, questioning her morals and the avenging husband as a jealousy crazed lover.

Stewart plays well Stewart. The scenes of him stammeringly trying to control Mrs. Mannion as she affects her charms on him are funny while not meaning to be. In many of Stewart's films he plays that caricature of himself we have seen so often. Still in this movie it works so well.

In 1959 this movie dealt with rape and sexuality in a very brave way. This issue is mirrored by the discussion of panties that are missing after the rape. They later turn up in a key way. Still the movie is kept tasteful and with a level of decorum we certainly would not find today.

The movie has a twist. We never are really sure if Lt. Mannion beat his wife causing the bruisies and thus bringing about the rape charge. One interpretation of an earlier scene in the movie could imply that both Mannion's had been " stepping out". Biegler, after leading the defendant toward an insanity plea proceeds to win his case but perhpas always be left wondering what the true nature of the crime was.

A neat twist at the ending and a great cast with Lee Remick, Ben Gazerra, and George C Scott leading the way.

This is a great, riveting movie.