This week we hand down judgement on Otto Premingerâs (1959) Courtroom Classic ANATOMY OF A MURDER starring Jimmy Stewart, Lee Remick and George C. Scott. Set in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, small-town lawyer Paul Biegler (Stewart) is a former district attorney who lost his re-election bid, spends most of his time fishing, playing the piano and hanging out with his alcoholic friend and colleague Parnell McCarthy and sardonic secretary Maida. One day Biegler is contacted by Laura Manion (Remick), wife of the loutish US Army Lieutenant âMannyâ Manion (Gazzara), who has been arrested for the first degree murder of innkeeper Barney Quill. Manion doesnât deny the murder, but claims that his wife was raped by Quill, so he killed him! Even with such a motivation, it would be difficult to get Manion cleared of murder, but Manion claims to have NO memory of the event, suggesting that he may be eligible for a defense of irresistible impulse â a somewhat unknown version of a temporary insanity, which immediately catches the attention of Slick down state Lansing prosecutor Claude Dancer (George C. Scott), who sets up shop in the costal town to ensure no one gets aways with it! Caught somewhere between his aloof YOOPER lifestyle and country lawyer demeanor, Biegler must keep one hand on the charm and the other on his case â which appears to be a challenge in itself, especially when the victim would much rather flaunt her panties then wear her girdle as Biegler suggests! Nominated for several academy awards including Best Picture, Best Actor and Best Cinematography, Anatomy of a Murder has been well received by critics as well as members of the legal and educational professions. In 1989, the American Bar Association rated this as one of the (10) best trial films of all time â it has gone on to receive high praise long after its 1959 release.. We round out all out with our most âObjectionableâ movie whateverâs.
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