Anatomy of a Murder
by Otto Preminger
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DVD details
Actor: Arthur O'Connell, Ben Gazzara, Eve Arden, James Stewart, Lee RemickDirector: Otto Preminger
Brand: Sony
Cinematographer: Sam Leavitt
Producer: Otto Preminger
Editor: Louis R. Loeffler
Writer: John D. Voelker
Writer: Wendell Mayes
DVD: 2 Layers, Region Code 1
Audio: French (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono; English (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); Portuguese (Subtitled); Georgian (Subtitled); Chinese (Subtitled); Thai (Subtitled); Spanish (Dubbed), Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
Format: Black & White, Closed-captioned, DVD-Video, NTSC
Picture Format: Academy Ratio, 1.33:1
Running Time: 160 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2000-07-11
Audience Rating: Unrated
Studio: Sony Pictures
DVD Reviews of Anatomy of a Murder
DVD Review: A very well done courtroom drama...
Summary: 4 Stars
Risqu? for its time, and certainly profound and entertaining; `Anatomy of a Murder' is a very well done courtroom drama with some excellent performances. What's exceedingly nice about this film is that it ages very well, despite the change in times. Sure, some of the court outbursts seem rather humorous to us today (beings that `panties' is a word only immature frat boys find funny) but the entirety of the film still rings very true, and the entertainment value has not diminished over the years.
The film tells of small-town lawyer Paul Biegler who takes on the case of defending an army lieutenant who is accused of murdering a man he believes attacked his wife. As Paul gets to know the victim, Laura Manion, he realizes that she may not be being entirely truthful; but his attraction to her and his desire to win the case cloud his better judgment.
Let's talk a little bit about Lee Remick. I just kind of laid into her acting a bit on my review for `Days of Wine and Roses', where I found her to be awkward and unconvincing. I had seen this movie first and so I was really anticipating her performance alongside Lemmon. The fact is, I thought she was marvelous here. She really nails her character. Some have balked at her being unbelievable as a victim, but that is entirely the point. We are supposed to second guess her motives, and right from the very beginning she appears to be a young girl who screwed up and is trying to act her way out of her mistake. She captures the ambiguity rather well, playing to her strengths by trying to seduce others into believing her.
James Stewart is very good here, but he is outshone by Remick and a very seedy George C. Scott (can you say one of the best supporting actors of the late 50's, early 60's).
`Anatomy of a Murder' is a very rewarding cinematic experience, rich with character development (I love the way Stewart is able to create a complete internal change within Paul) and realistic story progression. The end result is something very entertaining. I have to say this, it is not as brilliant as some have laid claim to, nor is it something truly groundbreaking; but it is very, very good. The acting is all spot on and the ending in particular is appropriate and adds a nice layer of intrigue as our perceptions of the truth are either confirmed or completely turned on their heads.
I'm not a huge fan of these courtroom type films, but this one sold me, so major props for that. It also made me really want to read the novel by John D. Voelker. I'd recommend this without any hesitation.
DVD Review: Excellent movie and it is originally shot in FULL SCREEN
Summary: 5 Stars
Ok with all the reviews about this, I did some research about this on the web & this is what I got. I went to 2 different websites to see what the deal is with the Columbia full screen vs widescreen versions that Columbia has on DVD. Region 1 is full screen and region 2 is widescreen.
One website does show the differences clearly - it is a full screen movie as were a lot of movies back then. the aspect is 1:37 - not 1.85. you can see clearly from the images shown that the widescreen version is BADLY CROPPED on the top and bottom. You are missing all kinds of details on the top and bottom.
there are also many websites which explain the controversy over this. Basically you see the full picture in a full frame print, more backround details while the widescreen print shows it is cropped from the top & bottom. There is an argument that can be made that those backround scenes mean nothing and have nothing to do with the image, but again Otto Preminger shot it this way to show everything.
TCM plays a widescreen version - the same as the Region 2 Columbia. It is not widescreen at all. Its original aspect ratio is the Region 1 DVD.
This is a great movie - a supreme courtroom drama with James Stewart and George C Scott. I highly recommend this movie and if you want to get the DVD - get the Region 1 DVD - it is the original aspect and ignore the modified at the beginning. Check out the websites I went to & you will see for yourself :)
DVD Review: Preminger's most famous film, and one that holds up extremely well today...
Summary: 5 Stars
I've been watching the entire Otto Preminger catalog lately, and I got around to seeing what is arguably his most famous film. Seeing it again makes me realise that it's a masterpiece of tension, performances, dialogue, and cinematography.
There is so much to like about this film. Nothing here in the trial or the characterisations is present in black and white (there's even a dialogue by Stewart to a potential witness about how people aren't black and white). It is full blown ambiguity, resulting in a far more grown up and mature film than most current courtroom dramas are. It is also refreshingly un-PC, unlike modern courtroom dramas. I like to constrast this film with overblown, incredibly melodramatic shows like The Practice, which I used to watch simply because it was unintentionally hilarious, because everyone was so over the top (and this was before it changed into Boston Legal with William Shatner, the ultimate ham sandwich of an actor). Preminger's film is one of his masterworks, a great study of the legal system, a fascinating case of two intelligent, well equipped lawyers having a go for a somewhat sleazy client, and a very dramatic and stunning film.
Stewart is masterful here, playing the usual Jimmy Stewart character but with a more cynical side which suits him very well. Ben Gazarra is great as a bullying, prone to violence soldier, and Remick is outstanding as his hoochie, borderline slutty wife. Scott as a district attorney is mesmerizing in one of his first roles. Even the supporting performances are outstanding, with Murray Hamilton excellent as a bartender, Eve Arden as Stewart's secretary, and Joseph Welch, who is the judge of the case. Despite the fact that you will probably figure out how the jury will rule, the film is still rivetting. The confrontation between Remick and Scott is incredibly tense (enhanced by Preminger's long take style), and the final cross examination by Scott and a surprise witness is totally devastating.
Otto Preminger is very underrrated in cinema circles today, and I hope that opinion changes soon. This is one of his best films, and one of the best courtroom dramas ever made. It still holds up, despite scores of imitations and the explicitness of today's courtroom dramas.
DVD Review: CLASSIC COURTROOM DRAMA
Summary: 5 Stars
This Otto Preminger directed film is vintage Jimmy Stewart who plays a country lawyer recently voted out of the county prosecutors office he held for many years. Fishing seems to have replaced legal work and as the film opens his long time secretary (Arden) is asking for enough money to cover her pay check. He needs a case to bring in some fees. Laura Manion (Remick) shows up looking for a lawyer to defend her Army officer husband, Lt. Frederick Manion (Gazzara) who is accused of murdering a local bartender who apparently raped Mrs. Manion. Nothing seems to be like it appears. A lie detector test on Mrs. Manion says one thing and the forensic evidence taken after the alleged rape seems to say the opposite. They seem to be happily married but Mrs. Manion is often seen in public without her husband and in the company of other men. Lt. Manion seems a solid citizen soldier but is he always that way in private? Can Stewart defend him on the basis of temporary insanity? A great performance by Stewart as well as by everyone else with many surprise turns. As great as Stewart's performance is, the movie would not be what is without a terrific, albeit somewhat minor, performance by Joseph Welch as the retired judge who is filling in for the regular judge. With a dry sense of humor and perfect timing, he makes the courtroom scenes so outstanding. A genuine classic. [...]DVD Review: This is the movie for actual courtroom procedure viewing.
Summary: 5 Stars
I was recommended this film as one of only a handful of films that adequately depicts real-life courtroom "skirmishes". Though the film rarely deviates from actual criminal procedures, the excellent screenplay and direction still delivers a fantastic, attention-grabbing thriller. The acting is superb (how could it be otherwise with exellent and hardworking Jimmy Stewart headlining) and the movie's pace keeps you vitally interested. This is one of my favorite movies.
Description of Anatomy of a Murder
When his flirtatious young wife claims she was raped an army lieutenant kills her attacker and hires small town lawyer james stewart to defend him. Special features: subtitles in english spanish portuguese chinese korean and thai photo montage theatrical trailer talent files production notes and more. Studio: Sony Pictures Home Ent Release Date: 05/27/2008 Starring: Lee Remick Ben Cazzara Run time: 160 minutes Rating: NrOtto Preminger turned this 1959 courtroom drama, based on the popular novel, into terrific adult drama. James Stewart stars as a small-town lawyer who defends an army officer (Ben Gazzara) accused of murdering a bartender who assaulted his wife (Lee Remick). The taut script, large performance by Stewart, and then-daring elements of the story (words like "panties" are spoken in the context of discussing a sex crime) give the action a certain immediacy--which you don't find very often in today's movies about jurisprudence. Nice work by Remick and Gazzara, as well as George C. Scott, Arthur O'Connell, and real-life judge Joseph N. Welch, who plays the judge in this film. A very good experience all around. --Tom Keogh
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