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Anatomy of a Murder

Anatomy of a Murder

Crime · Drama · Mystery · 1959

Semi-retired Michigan lawyer Paul Biegler takes the case of Army Lt. Manion, who murdered a local innkeeper after his wife claimed that he raped her. Over the course of an extensive trial, Biegler parries with District Attorney Lodwick and out-of-town prosecutor Claude Dancer to set his client free, but his case rests on the victim's mysterious business partner, who's hiding a dark secret.

Movie details

Anatomy of a Murder

“Last year's No. 1 best-seller...This year's No. 1 motion picture.”

1959 Crime · Drama · Mystery 2h 41m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

7.8 / 10

Community rating

Semi-retired Michigan lawyer Paul Biegler takes the case of Army Lt. Manion, who murdered a local innkeeper after his wife claimed that he raped her. Over the course of an extensive trial, Biegler parries with District Attorney Lodwick and out-of-town prosecutor Claude Dancer to set his client free, but his case rests on the victim's mysterious business partner, who's hiding a dark secret.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Anatomy of a Murder?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Primal Fear

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Otto Preminger

Written by

Wendell Mayes

James Stewart

James Stewart

Paul "Pauly" Biegler

Lee Remick

Lee Remick

Laura Manion

Ben Gazzara

Ben Gazzara

Lieutenant Frederick "Manny" Manion

Arthur O'Connell

Arthur O'Connell

Parnell Emmett "Parn" McCarthy

Eve Arden

Eve Arden

Maida Rutledge

Kathryn Grant

Kathryn Grant

Mary Pilant

George C. Scott

George C. Scott

AAG Claude Dancer

Court is in session

Put Anatomy of a Murder on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Auteur Devotee

“Form is the argument.”

Every composed frame and deliberate cut is evidence that control can be thrilling in its own right.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Technique in search of a pulse.”

Immaculate construction is still construction. The film may be too busy proving its craft to feel alive.