Anatomy of a Murder

Anatomy of a Murder is a 1959 film which tells the story of a man charged with murdering a man who may have raped his wife; the bulk of the film's plot revolves around the drama as it unfolds in court. It stars James Stewart as the man's defense lawyer and George C. Scott as the prosecuting attorney. Lee Remick, Ben Gazzara, Arthur O'Connell, Eve Arden, Kathryn Grant, Orson Bean, and Murray Hamilton also star.

Related Topics:
1959 - James Stewart - George C. Scott - Lee Remick - Ben Gazzara - Arthur O'Connell - Eve Arden - Kathryn Grant - Orson Bean - Murray Hamilton

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The movie, based on the 1952 Big Bay Lumberjack Tavern murder trial in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, was adapted by Wendell Mayes from the novel by Robert Traver (pen name of John D. Voelker, a Michigan Supreme Court judge from 1957-1959). It was filmed in Big Bay (where the real murder had taken place), and Marquette, Michigan. Some scenes were actually filmed in the Lumberjack Tavern, which is still in existence.

Related Topics:
Michigan - Upper Peninsula - Wendell Mayes - Robert Traver - John D. Voelker - Big Bay - Marquette, Michigan

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The movie was directed by Otto Preminger. The film was noted for featuring unusually frank (for 1959) dialogue, and was among the first Hollywood films that challenged the stringent Hays Production Code.

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Otto Preminger - 1959 - Hays Production Code

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It was nominated for Academy Awards for Best Actor in a Leading Role (James Stewart), Best Actor in a Supporting Role, (Arthur O'Connell), Best Actor in a Supporting Role (George C. Scott), Best Cinematography, Black-and-White, Best Film Editing, Best Picture and Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium. Other awards include James Stewart's best actor award at the Venice Film Festival and the New York Film Critics Circle award for 1959.

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Academy Awards - Best Actor in a Leading Role - Best Actor in a Supporting Role - Best Cinematography, Black-and-White - Best Film Editing - Best Picture - Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium - Venice Film Festival - New York Film Critics Circle

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The role of the judge was offered to both Spencer Tracy and Burl Ives, but finally was given to Joseph Welch, a real-life lawyer who had made a name for himself when representing the United States Army in hearings conducted by Sen. Joseph McCarthy (it was he who uttered the famous line, "Have you no sense of decency, sir?" when addressing Senator McCarthy during the hearings).

Related Topics:
Spencer Tracy - Burl Ives - Joseph Welch - United States Army - Joseph McCarthy

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The film was also noteworthy for being among the first to extensively feature jazz in the musical score--the entire musical soundtrack was played by the Duke Ellington Orchestra (Ellington and his associate Billy Strayhorn composed the music, and several of the Ellington band's sidemen, notably Johnny Hodges, Paul Gonsalves, Harry Carney, Russell Procope and Cat Anderson, are heard prominently throughout). Ellington also appears briefly in a cameo as "Pie-Eye," the owner of a roadhouse which features dancing and at which James Stewart and Lee Remick have a confrontation.

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