Anatomy of a Murder Page #2

Synopsis: Frederick Manion (Ben Gazzara), a lieutenant in the army, is arrested for the murder of a bartender, Barney Quill. He claims, in his defense, that the victim had raped and beaten up his wife Laura (Lee Remick). Although Laura supports her husband's story, the police surgeon can find no evidence that she has been raped. Manion is defended by Paul Biegler (James Stewart), a rather humble small-town lawyer. During the course of interviews, Biegler discovers that Manion is violently possessive and jealous, and also that his wife has a reputation for giving her favors to other men. Biegler realizes that the prosecution will try to make the court believe that Laura was the lover of the bartender and than Manion killed him and beat her up when he discovered them together. Manion pleads "not guilty" and Biegler, who knows that his case is weak, sets his assistants to try to find a witness who will save Manion.
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery
Director(s): Otto Preminger
Production: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
  Nominated for 7 Oscars. Another 9 wins & 11 nominations.
 
IMDB:
8.1
Rotten Tomatoes:
100%
NOT RATED
Year:
1959
160 min
1,412 Views


- How do you do?

- This is Muff.

- Hello, Muff.

The jail's right here.

You're tall!

- Hello, Pauly.

- Hi, Sulo.

You wait here, Muffy.

- Good to see you.

- How're you feeling?

Fine. I guess you've come

for the soldier boy?

Yes. Do you think we could talk

in the sheriff's office?

Sure, I'll bring him down.

Would you mind taking your glasses off,

Mrs. Manion?

Gee-whiz. Barney Quill do that to you?

More than that. You should see. All over.

You can put them back on,

if it's more comfortable for you.

This is Pauly Biegler.

This is the bucko, Pauly.

- Lt. Manion?

- Hello, there.

- Hi, Manny.

- Hello, Laura.

I wonder if you could meet me

down at my office about 2:00 p.m.

It's 305 West Barnham.

- Of course.

- Fine.

- Is there anything I can get you, hon?

- I'm all right, hon.

Right in here.

Wanted:
The Big 10.

They got the 10 best-dressed dames,

the 10 top teams, the 10 top tunes...

...and now the 10 most-wanted.

Don't knock it. That's the American dream.

Those boys made the grade.

You were the district attorney around here,

weren't you?

Yes. Ten years.

What's your experience

as a defence lawyer?

Not very much.

How do I know you can handle my case?

I guess you don't know.

Shall we talk about it?

I suppose so.

Come on. Don't be so bored.

You know, it might very well be

that no lawyer can "handle" your case...

...if you mean getting off scot-free.

You seem to be forgetting:

Barney Quill raped my wife.

I have the unwritten law on my side.

The unwritten law is a myth.

There is no such thing

as the unwritten law.

Anyone who commits murder

on the theory it does exist...

...has bought himself room and board

in the state penitentiary.

Maybe for life.

With that in mind, perhaps we can proceed

with a few questions and answers that...

Can I borrow your lighter?

We can proceed with a few questions...

...that might be of some help

in your defence.

But probably won't be.

That's a nice lighter.

- How old are you?

- Twenty-eight.

- How long have you been in the service?

- Since '50.

- Have you seen any action?

- Korea.

- Do you have any decorations?

- Plenty.

- Is this your first marriage?

- No.

You're not on the witness stand.

You don't have to answer yes or no.

Just give me the matrimonial rundown.

Is this necessary?

I'll be the judge of that.

My first wife divorced me.

Charged cruelty.

Eating crackers in bed,

you know, the usual stuff.

The truth was, she found another guy

when I was in Korea.

I met Laura four years ago, in Georgia.

We were married right after her divorce.

Did you know the husband?

He was in my outfit down there.

You mean you were buddies?

I'll withdraw the question.

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Wendell Mayes

Wendell Curran Mayes (July 21, 1919 – March 28, 1992) was a Hollywood screenwriter. more…

All Wendell Mayes scripts | Wendell Mayes Scripts

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Submitted on August 05, 2018

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