Anatomy of a Murder

A host of Oscar nominations was the payback for this welcome re-issue of a Otto Preminger movie that lost out 45 years ago in the year that also yielded Ben Hur. In another year it might not have done.

A smalltown lawyer (played by James Stewart) has to defend a tetchy army man (Gazzara) for the murder of a man who raped his wife (played by Lee Remick). Like some of the best courtroom dramas (such as Twelve Angry Men) there is an admirable concentration on detail – the construction of the trial, the performances of the key people involved. There’s an interesting leftfield view of justice that comes through, there’s also the sizzling courtroom tension, the workings of a good cast (including an outstanding Lee Remick), and also a likeable Duke Ellington score – so yes, Oscar nominations fully justified.

Matt Arnoldi