Fresh
Preminger purposely creates situations that flicker with uncertainty, that may be evaluated in different ways. Motives are mixed and dubious, and, therefore, sustain interest.
Variety Staff, Variety
Anatomy of a Murder
Last year's No. 1 best-seller...This year's No. 1 motion picture.
1959 · 2h 41m · Approved
Crime, Drama, Mystery
Directed by
Otto Preminger
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Anatomy of a Murder
Overview
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.
Director and cast
Critics on Rotten Tomatoes
Top critics, in their words
100%
Tomatometer
Fresh
As an entertaining look at legal process, this is spellbinding all the way, infused by an ambiguity about human personality and motivation that is Preminger's trademark, and the location shooting is superb.
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
Fresh
Coolly absorbing, nonchalantly cynical.
Jessica Winter, Time Out
Fresh
It is the best courtroom melodrama this old judge has ever seen.
Bosley Crowther, New York Times
Fresh
At 160 minutes, Anatomy is longer than the subject warrants, but the pace seldom slackens -- thanks to the competence of Director Otto Preminger.
TIME Magazine
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