Synopsis: A virtuoso James Stewart (Vertigo) plays a small-town Michigan lawyer who takes on a difficult case: that of a young Army lieutenant (The Killing of a Chinese Bookie’s Ben Gazzara) accused of murdering the local tavern owner who he believes raped his wife (Days of Wine and Roses’ Lee Remick). This gripping, envelope-pushing courtroom potboiler, the most popular film from Hollywood provocateur Otto Preminger (Laura), was groundbreaking for the frankness of its discussion of sex—more than anything else, it is a striking depiction of the power of words. With its outstanding supporting cast—including a young George C. Scott (Patton) as a fiery prosecuting attorney and legendary real-life attorney Joseph N. Welch as the judge—and influential jazz score by Duke Ellington, ANATOMY OF A MURDER is a Hollywood landmark; it was nominated for seven Oscars, including best picture.

Language: English

Country of Origin: United States of America

Production Year: 1959

Reviews:

• "Spellbinding all the way.", Jonathan Rosenbaum, The Chicago Reader
• "It's simply the best trial movie ever made.", Kim Newman, Empire

Awards:

• 1959: Winner, Best Soundtrack
• 1959: Winner, Best Screenplay, New York Film Critics Circle Awards
• 1959: Winner, Best Actor, James Stewart, Venice Film Festival
• 1959: Winner, Best Actor, James Stewart, New York Film Critics Circle Awards
• 1959: Nominee, Oscar, Best Screenplay, Academy
• 1959: Nominee, Oscar, Best Picture, Academy
• 1959: Nominee, Oscar, Best Actor, James Stewart, Academy