#600: PREMINGER, Otto: Anatomy Of A Murder (1959)

PREMINGER, Otto (United States)

Anatomy Of A Murder [1959]

Spine #600
Blu-ray

A virtuoso James Stewart plays a small-town Michigan lawyer who takes on a difficult case: the defense of a young army lieutenant (Ben Gazzara) accused of murdering a local tavern owner who he believes raped his wife (Lee Remick). This gripping envelope pusher, the most popular film by Hollywood provocateur Otto Preminger, was groundbreaking for the frankness of its discussion of sex — but more than anything else, it is a striking depiction of the power of words. Featuring an outstanding supporting cast — with a young George C. Scott as a fiery prosecutor and the legendary attorney Joseph N. Welch as the judge — and an influential score by Duke Ellington, Anatomy of a Murder is an American movie landmark, nominated for seven Oscars, including best picture.

161 minutes
Black & White

Monaural

1:85:1 aspect ratio

Criterion Release 2012

Director/Writers

Based on the novel by John D. Voelker (aka Robert Traver).

Screenplay by Wendell Mayes.

Otto Preminger was 53 when he directed Anatomy of a Murder.

The Film

Film Rating (0-60):

60

The Extras

The Booklet

Thirty-two page booklet featuring an essay by critic Nick Pinkerton and a 1959 Life Magazine article on real-life lawyer Joseph N. Welch, who plays Judge Weaver in the film.

Commentary

None.

Interview

With Preminger biographer Foster Hirsch.

Critic

Gary Giddins explores Duke Ellington’s score in a new interview.

A look

At the relationship between graphic designer Saul Bass and Preminger with Bass biographer Pat Kirkham.

Newsreel footage

From the set.

Excerpts 1

From a 1967 episode of Firing Line, featuring Preminger in discussion with William F. Buckley Jr.

Excerpts 2

From the work in progress Anatomy of “Anatomy.”

Behind-the-scenes

Photographs by Life magazine’s Gjon Mili.

Trailer

Featuring on-set footage.

Extras Rating (0-40):

39

60 + 39 =

99

By Director
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