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Anatomy Of A Murder [DVD] [1959]
 
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Anatomy Of A Murder [DVD] [1959]

DVD ~ James Stewart
5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
RRP: £19.99
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Frequently Bought Together

Anatomy Of A Murder [DVD] [1959] + Twelve Angry Men [DVD] [1957] + Inherit The Wind [DVD] [1960]
Total RRP: £45.97
Price For All Three: £15.24

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Product details

  • Actors: James Stewart, Lee Remick, Ben Gazzara, Arthur O'Connell, Eve Arden
  • Directors: Otto Preminger
  • Writers: John D. Voelker, Wendell Mayes
  • Producers: Otto Preminger
  • Format: Anamorphic, Black & White, Dubbed, PAL, Widescreen
  • Language English
  • Subtitles: Arabic, Bulgarian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Hungarian, Icelandic, Italian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish
  • Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe. Read more about DVD formats.)
  • Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
  • Number of discs: 1
  • Classification: 15
  • Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
  • DVD Release Date: 20 Aug 2001
  • Run Time: 161 minutes
  • Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
  • ASIN: B00005AVWB
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 8,379 in DVD (See Bestsellers in DVD)

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Reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review

Anatomy of a Murder, Otto Preminger's 1959 film of the novel by Robert Traver (a pen name for a Michigan Supreme Court Justice), was controversial in its day for making frank on-screen use of then-unheard words such as "panties", "rape" and "spermatogenesis"--and it remains a trenchant, bitter, tough, witty dissection of the American legal system. With its striking Saul Bass title design and jazzy Duke Ellington score, Anatomy of a Murder takes a sophisticated approach unusual for a Hollywood film of its vintage. Most radically, it refuses to show the murder or any of the private scenes recounted in court, leaving it up to us to decide along with the jury whether the grumpy and unconcerned Lieutenant Frederick Manion (Ben Gazzara) was or was not subject to an "irresistible impulse" tantamount to insanity when he shot dead Barney Quill, the bear-like bar owner alleged to have raped Manion's teasing trailer-trash wife Laura (Lee Remick in unfeasibly tight trousers). James Stewart plays Paul "Polly" Biegler a former District Attorney keen to get back into court to clash with the political dullard who replaced him in office. Biegler is supported by the skills of his snide secretary (Eve Arden) and boozy-but-brilliant research partner (Arthur O'Connell). For the prosecution, the befuddled local DA hauls in Dancer (George C Scott), a prissy legal eagle from the local big city whose sharp-suited, sly elegance makes an interesting clash with Biegler's "aw-shucks" jimmy-stewartian conniving. This is simply the best trial movie ever made, with a real understanding of the way lawyers have to be not only great actors but stars, assuming personalities that exaggerate their inner selves and weighing every outburst and objection for the effect it has on the poor saps in the jury box.

On the DVD: The print is letterboxed to 1.85:1, but it's a bit of a cheat since that seems to involve trimming the top and bottom of the image (losing the steps under and the clouds above the Columbia lady in the opening titles), though the film isn't seriously hurt by a tighter look at the action. Also included are: an Ellington-scored photo montage, soundtracks in English, French, German, Italian and Spanish with subtitles in ten languages, filmographies for director and principal cast, original advertising (highlighting Saul Bass' poster designs, a trailer and more trailers for more Columbia Jimmy Stewart or courtroom films. --Kim Newman



DVD Description

DVD Special Features:

"Anatomy of a Classic" photo montage
Original Advertising Posters
Theatrical Trailer
Filmographies
Interactive menus feature choices of;
-Language - English, French, German, Italian, Spanish
-Multiple Language subtitles - English, French, German, Polish, Czech, Hungarian, Hindi, Turkish, Danish, Arabic, Bulgarian, Swedish, Finnish, Icelandic, Dutch, Norwegian, Portuguese, Greek, Hebrew, Spanish, Italian
-Scene selection
Dolby Digital mono
1:1.85 aspect ratio - presented in letterbox widescreen format - enhanced for 16:9 widescreen TV

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Average Customer Review
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27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars The finest courtroom drama yet made, 26 Mar 2005
By Budge Burgess (Kilmarnock, Scotland) - See all my reviews
(TOP 50 REVIEWER)   
This review is from: Anatomy of a Murder [DVD] [1959] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC] (DVD)
Preminger's "Anatomy of a Murder" is possibly the finest courtroom drama yet made, with emphasis on 'courtroom'. The dissection of the murder's anatomy takes place within the court, within the language and conflicting narratives of the key players. We don't see the events surrounding the murder ... we see the trial.

It's a simple enough plot. A soldier (Ben Gazarra) is held for the murder of a man who has allegedly raped his wife. The wife (Lee Remick) is far removed from the wholesome image of faithful wife - she wears revealing clothes, hangs out down the bar, and flirts with any male who comes within hailing distance. James Stewart plays the small-town lawyer persuaded to take the unwinnable case - he's bright, but he's jaded after years as District Attorney, and prefers to escape down the river to fish for trout.

It's an open-and-shut case - the soldier admits the shooting, there are witnesses, and the wife's morals are the subject of much gossip around town. The tension is in whether or not Stewart can prove the rape allegation ... and whether or not he can prove that this was justifiable cause for the taking of the man's life.

Preminger was taking major risks. He explores themes which were still pretty risqué in the late 50's. He doesn't sensationalise - we get no gory murder, we get no flashbacks or images of the night. The setting is largely confined within the courtroom and Stewart's offices as we play out a psychological drama. What really happened? What really happened in the minds of the protagonists?

This is a mellow, black & white film: there are dark themes, but the lighting is certainly not 'noir' - the drama is beautifully lit, filmed almost tenderly. The acting is superb (though Gazarra's performance is beginning to appear a little dated), with Stewart and Remick stealing the show. Remick is a wonderfully cool and intelligent actress, and she plays the role of the promiscuous wife with relish and a certain humour. Stewart, as usual, has physical presence ... and then the voice comes in, like whorls in coffee ... creamy, rich, riveting the attention.

The courtroom drama is beautifully handled - the tension and the emotion played slowly, allowed to peak, then subside again. It's as if Preminger is fishing - one moment reeling in the drama, the next letting it run. The judge is used to inject light relief - a brave move in itself - and the themes of rape and promiscuity are never allowed to become salacious. Indeed, the judge's role is to relieve tension ... then crank it up again, reminding the actors of the seriousness of the court case, keeping the audience under control as he does so.

It's a beautifully filmed, tense, psychological drama which demonstrates that good writing, a good plot, and quality acting mean a director has little need for special effects to keep the audience rooted in their seats.

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18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars An absolute MUST for courtroom drama and Stewart fans alike!, 20 May 2002
This review is from: Anatomy Of A Murder [VHS] [1959] (VHS Tape)
Not only is this one of the top films in the genre, but it was very cutting edge for it's era. Directed by Otto Preminger, who was really pushing the boundaries with this film, it contains great performances from Stewart and Lee Remmick is stunning as the super-flirt wife. The dialogue just sizzles, on the level of Bogart and Bacall. And as if that wasn't reason enough to watch it over and over again, the soundtrack is stunning, written by Duke Ellington, it is the essence of moody gumshoe jazz and swing. I had to buy the soundtrack as well! And it's the best CD to play when you are in a dark mood! That aside, this is an essential, whether you are a Preminger fan, a Hitchcock buff, or even just a jazz fan. Stunning film, and at that price worth buying your mum a copy so she can drool over Jimmy Stooowart.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Movie, 8 Jan 2008
This film is one of the best courtroom films I have ever seen along with "12 Angry Men". The young George Scott and James Stewart excell themselves along with the whole crew.

The film revolves around a murder case under peculiar circumstances. An army lieutenant kills a bar owner who allegedly raped his wife. The raped wife is joyful and full of life married with a jealous and easily infuriated Korean War hero who carries a Luger as a memento of the World War 2. The small town lawyer and his team carefully study the case and finally beat the young and succesfull attorney who is on the way up in his carreer.

In my opinion the film tries to give the audience the feeling that people can not be judged harshly with regards to their evident appearances. They have to be carefully examined and studied before judging them. All the men have vices and virtues at the same time.

A very good movie worth watching over and over again.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Great Film No Matter How You Watch It
I acquired this DVD for 2 reasons
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