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How others will see it. Although nearly three hours long, Anatomy of a Murder will please most classic film fans. Stewart is suitably cast as the folksy but determined lawyer. Remick is always welcome, as is the always intense George C. Scott. The script is adept and never condescending. The pace is rapid, and the suspense is considerable. All in all, a crowd pleaser.
How I felt about it. At the time of writing, I live in an era where celebrities are accused of crimes, and except for Martha Stewart, avoid prison for it. Michael Jackson, Robert Blake, O.J. Simpson, Phil Spector. Guilt or innocence is secondary to the spectacle of the trial itself.
What does this have to do with Anatomy of a Murder? Well, the client admits he shot someone. But he asks to be excused of the crime, because the victim went to far with his teasing wife, Lee Remick. If James Stewart defends you and puts on a good show at court, does that mean you get a free pass? Let's just say that Ben Gazzara is fortunate he's not in my courtroom. (I am not a judge nor do I play one on TV).
The clients are difficult to believe. Remick asks us to believe she's a victim of rape and not date rape (the latter crime is not excusable, but doesn't exonerate her behavior). Gazzara, known to be violent, asks us to believe he was in a trance (therefore, not guilty) at the time of the murder.
Do you believe either of them? Gazzara's story changes after Stewart tells him that revenge equals guilty, while crazy equals freedom. Methinks that Stewart's suggestion, "Now let's see how really bright you can be" gets Gazzara's mental pinwheel turning. A trance! That's it!
Stewart is a fun, familiar presence. Still, can you believe that long-time alcoholic Arthur O'Connell completely gives up drink to help Stewart with a case? That Stewart works with minimum payment through the course of the trial? That great jazz buff Stewart pals with Duke Ellington (here as "Pie Eye") at the same nightclub frequented by the still teasin' Lee Remick?
Toughest of all to believe: the comely, classy daughter of the burly victim shows up in court without a summons to testify for the defense, and informs the world that she her own father was a rapist, and thus deserved to be shot in cold blood. Only in a movie, sport.
I suppose you believe that the cute little woof dog volunteered for the duty of turning on flashlights and carrying them in his mouth, careful to keep the light in view of his master, Lee Remick.
Cynic that I am, I don't believe any of it. But I admit that Anatomy of a Murder is entertaining. And the film is significant for its flouting of the Hollywood production code, which was tattered by competition with television, but still in effect. What other major studio fifties film uses the word 'sperm' without reference to a species of whale?