Film review: Anatomy of a Murder (1959)

Now THAT'S a poster.  Along with the super-cool Saul Bass credits sequence

AND Duke Ellington (he also has a cameo as "Pie Eye" - a bandleader mysteriously based in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, where this is set and filmed) soundtrack, this definitely has a hip, late 50's film.  And some elements are pretty shocking for the 50's: do you fancy seeing James Stewart discussing sperm and panties?  Well look no further.  This film manages to be modern and dated at the same time.  It's modern in its language and that the courtroom scenes (which make up most of the TWO HOURS AND FORTY MINUTES running time) seem very realistic (turns out the author of the book was an actual Michigan Supreme Court Justice - so the legalese rings more true than some of the non-court dialog), and as I said, the discussion of the examination of the corpse (a man who was killed by a soldier (Ben Gazzara) after his wife (Lee Remick) accused him of raping her) uses language that seems startlingly frank for the 50's.  But on the other hand, the attitude to the rape seems startlingly cavalier, and Remick's character is portrayed as a wild flirt

who shows no ill effects (apart from a black eye) from being sexually assaulted.  Also the language of the prosecution (it's a team, but the hotshot up from the capital (Lansing) is played by an amazingly young-looking George C. Scott) is borderline assaultive itself.  Of course, this is probably sadly still true, but I would be amazed if most judges would allow him to go as far as he does.
Is it good?  Is it entertaining?  Yes and yes.  The hours fly by, and there isn't a weak link in the cast.  Jimmy Stewart can occasionally be annoying and over-folksy (and this is a role that invites it - he actually uses the phrase "I'm only a poor country lawyer" at one point)

but he's on top form.  And George C. Scott is appropriately menacing.  A particular favorite of mine was the judge himself (Joseph N. Welch), but I'm also partial to Stewart's character's long-suffering secretary Maida.  I particularly like that she doesn't ever act cattily towards the "slutty" wife, who is clearly a bit of a lost soul (and would have made a great role for Marilyn Monroe).  I also like that it's fairly low stakes stuff, or as much as can be in a murder case, and doesn't feature any extra-courtroom shenanigans.  All in all, top entertainment.  I fully intend to visit Thunder Bay and seek out the film locations someday.