Noon PST – Anatomy Of A Murder (1959) – A small-town lawyer gets the case of a lifetime when a military man avenges an attack on his wife. Cast: James Stewart, Lee Remick, Ben Gazzara, Arthur O’Connell Dir: Otto Preminger BW-161 mins, TV-PG
Mature, very well-acted, classic courtroom drama, painstakingly directed by Otto Preminger and just as watchable a second time because knowing the outcome of a great film, even one that climaxes with a verdict, takes nothing away from well-crafted characters, top-notch dialogue, and individual scenes that become living things all on their own.
The real standout is George C. Scott, who’s much less an actor here and much more of a reactor as his prosecuting attorney tries to figure out how to handle Jimmy Stewart’s aw-shucks chess moves with his own. Scott’s cross examinations are especially good; a mixture of intensity, manipulation, and oily, calculating, intelligent charm.
Preminger’s genius is in making the audience a member of the jury and co-conspirator in wanting to see Lt. Manion (Ben Gazzara) set free for killing the man who raped his wife (a captivating Lee Remick). Stewart’s “temporary insanity” defense is never all that convincing, but we sure want to be convinced.
Be sure to tune in just past the two hour mark when Big Hollywood’s own Orson Bean arrives as Army Psychiatrist Dr. Matthew Smith. His memorable scene with Arthur O’Connell upon arriving at the train station exemplifies the charming character moments that makes “Anatomy” so timeless. So good is the scene that in 1981, Sidney Lumet would “borrow” from it for “The Verdict” when Jack Warden is similarly surprised and worried to discover an important witness (also a doctor) doesn’t exactly look like everyone had hoped.
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