A Movie Review: Anatomy of a Murder

Anatomy of a Murder. Paul Biegler (James Stewart) is a lawyer who has other interests -- fishing, specifically. His interest in fishing is so high that he really doesn't make much money as a lawyer. Well, as money is running thin, he is contacted by Laura Manion (Lee Remick). She wants him to defend her husband, Lt. Frederick Manion (Ben Gazzara). Lt. Frederick Manion murdered Barney Quill. The reason given is that Barney Quill raped Laura Manion. In a fit of insane rage, Lt. Frederick Manion shot Quill in the heart.

I think this is a movie that doesn't really give you any clear answers to your questions. The one clear answer is that Lt. Frederick Manion did murder Barney Quill. The unclear answer is that I'm not sure that Barney Quill raped Laura Manion. Part of me thinks that Barney and Laura were having an affair behind the back of her abusive husband. Also, I suspect that Laura feared her husband (and perhaps to protect her reputation) lied on the stand. One other question to me is who beat Laura? The defense argues it was Barney Quill. The prosecution argues it was Lt. Frederick Manion. It seems like she admits in an indirect way that Barney and her had an affair and that she expected her husband to beat her for that during her last encounter with Paul -- outside the court room. The last scene doesn't seem to give much support to the rape story, as well. Also, it felt that Lt. Frederick Manion made up the insane argument on the fly with some encouragement from Paul.

On the other hand, there was some key evidence discovered towards the end of the movie that supports the rape story.

I think all this makes it a very open ended story line. And I rather like that.