Preminger's Sizzle-Serve For 1959

Sex Spelled Out in Anatomy Of A Murder

Involving even at 160 minutes, which must be record for a courtroom sit, Anatomy Of A Murder lured seekers after frank discussion of sex matters that was 50's signature of directing Otto Preminger. He'd go to war with a crumbling Code, then further the fight against would-be TV censors when Anatomy tried for network placement in 1966. Does it still sizzle? Maybe not, but clinical is still clinical, even if thrill of till-'59 unspoken words has diminished since. Performances are the show, legal combatants like James Stewart and George C. Scott never bettered even by gloves-off permissiveness of TV Law and Order served night-after-latter-day-night. Jim was in final roar before give-up to Sandra Dee, Billy Mumy, and befuddled-Dad decline (notwithstanding a couple for John Ford and Flight Of The Phoenix). If only parts so good as Anatomy could have followed him into the 60's. Preminger had legal background himself, so aims for conviction, but drama license requires not a few whopper outbursts that would land any real-life lawyer in a holding cell.

And speaking of license, here's Anatomy's crowning absurdity: Jim agrees to represent Ben Gazzara in exchange for a promissory note to pay his fee. That's right, no fee up front ... and it's a murder charge, where the most vulnerable party ends up being the lawyer, especially when outcomes don't suit an ingrate client. JS would have been more believable to call representation pro-bono from a first jailhouse interview, but then he'd look even more of a chump. In real world terms, a fee discussion is the most important one attorneys have in a capital case, since they invariably give up lifeblood handling each. Anatomy's most realistic scene? The final one when Stewart realizes Gazzara has skipped town and stiffed even the worthless note he signed. At least Jim's reaction shows he's been down this road many a time, and will go there again before taking in his shingle.