This is the first film I've seen by director Otto Preminger.
Anatomy of a Murder
A good courtroom drama, but less for the reasons that I would have expected. At some point finding out what really happened and who is guilty or innocent is not quite as important as just watching all of the different characters involved, their motives, methods, and relationships.
Also notable for being one of the earliest major screen appearances from the great George C. Scott. His talent and skill as a distinct actor were already developed at this early stage of his film carreers.
Also interesting as one of the only major films I've ever seen that takes place in the Michigan Upper Peninsula.
What also sticks out about the film is how open it is about talking about and investigating such disturbing crimes as violence and rape. The word rape is used quite openly, along with many details surrounding the incident. The crime was not made light of, yet we see how it can become more matter of fact or be examined in a more logical way when the subject of this kind of investigation which has so many other motivations and factors surrounding it. This will not only strike audiences still today, but even more so when you realize this film was released in 1959 and how much more rare it was to see such things discussed in films this way back then.
My only recommendation for people who are seeing this because they like a good courtroom drama is to realize that the path this movie takes is sometimes more about characters and a lot of other issues that can surround a case than the actual case itself.
Rating: 9/10