ANATOMY OF A MURDER

One of the best courtroom movies ever made. James Stewart plays an Upper Peninsula of Michigan lawyer drawn out of retirement to represent an Army Lieutenant charged with murder. The Lieutenant admits to the crime despite having no memory of committing it, and Stewart’s character is given the unenviable task of mounting an “irresistible impulse” defense. The contrast between the scandal and the wholesome, small-town setting in which it’s discussed is perfectly realized by director Otto Preminger. The director constantly pushed the boundaries of what could be depicted onscreen, and ANATOMY OF A MURDER represents the platonic ideal in terms of blending entertainment with social commentary. Stewart earned a fifth and final Oscar nomination for his work here, but he’s given stiff competition from George C. Scott, Ben Gazzara and jazz luminary Duke Ellington, who also composed the score.