Continuing my mission to see Classic Films that somehow escaped my viewing thru the years, I watched what is considered by many to be the greatest Courtroom Drama ever filmed. Running two hours and forty minutes, I am not convinced that it completely deserves that accolade (I feel that WITNESS TO THE PROSECUTION is the superior film), but ANATOMY OF A MURDER is spellbinding and filled with brilliant performances. James Stewart is masterful as a down and out lawyer called to represent a soldier accused of murdering his wife's rapist. The first hour is the investigation and the final 100 minutes consist of mesmerizing courtroom drama. Ben Gazarra is the accused and he is incredible. What a presence. He even makes smoking with a cigarette holder look masculine. How I wish I could have seen his performance as the original Brick in CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF. Lee Remick is beautiful as the wife with questionable morals. The always wonderful Eve Arden plays Stewart's secretary and is a true scene stealer. George C Scott is mighty as the prosecuting attorney. Had the movie tightened up and lost about twenty minutes from it's running time, it truly might have been perfect in my estimation. But it still holds up as an example of expert filmmaking from Otto Preminger. The music score is by Duke Ellington, who also has a small cameo in the film. If you have never seen it, it is available from Netflix in a crisp new Blu-Ray edition that makes the black and white photography look as though it was filmed yesterday. A Classic in every sense!
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