StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...
Free

Anatomy of a Murder Movie - Assignment Example

Cite this document
Summary
The paper "Anatomy of a Murder Movie" operates mainly based on questions which can be stated as follows: What is the film about and does it have a theme? If so, where do we first sense that theme developing? What methods are employed to emphasize this theme? …
Download full paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER94.8% of users find it useful
Anatomy of a Murder Movie
Read Text Preview

Extract of sample "Anatomy of a Murder Movie"

?Movie Analysis: Anatomy of a Murder (1959) QUESTIONS TO ANSWER FOR FILM REPORTS What is the film about and does it have a theme? If so, where do we first sense that theme developing? What methods are employed to emphasize this theme? Anatomy of a Murder is a 1959 courtroom drama movie directed by Otto Preminger starring James Stewart, Lee Remick, George Scott, Eve Arden, and Ben Gazzara. The film is about a murder committed by Frederick Manion (played by Ben Gazzara), a US army lieutenant, after finding out that his wife, Laura Manion (played by Lee Remick) was raped by their acquaintance and bar owner Barney Quill. James Stewart, who played the role of a former district attorney, serves as a defense lawyer for Manion and stood at the courtroom defending his client. The film’s theme follows a courtroom drama that involves a battle of argumentative wits between and among brilliant lawyers. The audience can see the theme initially when Manion’s wife, Laura, talked to Stewart over the phone and asked him to defend her husband. It then follows that Stewart met with Laura and Frederick in the jail, and Stewart decided to accept the case. The film used an element of legal objects and subjects, such as Stewart’s law books and the introduction of Manion’s murder case. 2) What were the choices made by the main characters and what were the consequences of those choices? First of all, when Stewart accepted to represent the defendant on court, he embarked on a tedious journey of courtroom arguments in order to defend well an accused murderer. Manion’s wife also proved to be a disadvantage on the part of the defense because of her flirty and happy-go-lucky aura. Moreover, Stewart faced some dubious statements both from Frederick and Laura which make it harder to patch things together consistently. Stewart’s appearance on the courtroom also showcased his unique temperament which shifts from being reserved to a sudden emotional outburst and rage. Furthermore, the judge also made important decisions while the case is going on. There in that trial, tabooed words in the court were used, such as ‘panties,’ ‘slut,’ and ‘bitch’ (Brunson par. 1). Now, these words have been legally used in trial cases. Lastly, the judge’s decision in giving the victory to Stewart’s camp was prompted by Mary Pilant’s decision to give in to Stewart’s request to side with their camp and tell the court that she herself found the undergarment in their laundry room. Pilant’s decision to reveal her identity as Quill’s daughter in the court made a stunning and shocking effect on the prosecution. As a result of their collaboration, Manion was freed and was charged not guilty of murder. 3) What three or four sequences are most important in the film? Why? These important sequences in this movie happened during the courtroom procedure. However, the first scene that can be considered important was when Stewart visited Manion for the first time in jail which initially got Stewart his impression towards Manion. He also learned about his marriage with Laura. It then follows that Stewart was set for the murder trial because he found out a precedent for ‘irresistible impulse’ in a Michigan court decision, and he began a battle with the two prosecution lawyers. Stewart, in one of his arguments, insisted that Quill and Manion had troubles before the murder happened because the former might have a fondness for Laura, and that Manion murdered Quill out of irresistible impulse, meaning he did not deliberately kill Quill but did so because he was ‘forced to its execution by an impulse.’ The case was sealed after Mary Pilant agreed to lie in court and tell the jury that she found Laura’s underwear in their laundry room suggesting that Quill did rape Laura. 4) Did the ?lm surprise you with anything unusual in its story, style, technique, or implications? Although I have seen modern courtroom drama films, such as My Sister’s Keeper, Erin Brockovich and The Exorcism of Emily Rose, I can say that this movie surprises me through the way the courtroom scenes were presented. There was the element of melodrama, emotional outburst, trickery and deceit during the cross-examination. Although it was a bit dramatic, there was an element of reality in the way the whole plot goes and the way Stewart behaves during the courtroom interpolation. Both the story and style surprised me in a sense that trickery and other forms of drama can win a case which is not the usual case in some other trial cases in movies that reward truth and honesty. Moreover, the implication of the movie surprises me with the use of Stewart’s creativity in coming up with plausible arguments or maybe excuses. Perhaps, that really is happening in a real courtroom scene, which made me think that the story was able to depict a picture of reality about the legal system. 5) Were any particular ?lm techniques used in key scenes? How did the film techniques and music enhance the setting and themes of the ?lm? Provide speci?c details and explanations. I would like to think that based on what I saw, the director used accuracy in depicting the real events that were written in the book where the movie was based. This accuracy as a technique made the audience perceive reality in this courtroom drama which is something that is not common in today’s trial movies. For instance, the judge interfered when Stewart displayed some emotional outbursts or when there were exaggerated acts coming from both parties. Moreover, the director might have anticipated the audience’s reaction towards the movie’s finale wherein the court seemed to be incapable of sensing deceit and dishonesty among the people involved in the case. This reality appeal makes the movie so realistic, yet disappointing to those who love justice to be served. Finally, the musical scoring was remarkable because it uses jazz. One of the movie theme music adds sexiness on the part of Laura. That particular music served as background music when Laura and Stewart had their confrontation in a bar. It was there that Laura had a company of soldiers at the same time flirted with them. 6) Who directed the film? Does the director have a particularly distinct style? Would you recognize his work in other ?lms? What does the director's style reveal about him? Anatomy of a Murder was directed by Austrian actor, director, and producer Otto Preminger. Preminger is largely credited for introduction of courtroom trials and “versatile and trendsetting films” such as The Moon is Blue and Laura (Folkart par. 2). His style, according to most movie critics, was a deviation from “wartime puritanism to postwar adventurism” (Folkart par. 5). Since he had earned a law degree, Otto Preminger was regarded as a reliable creator of courtroom trial dramas as evident by his phenomenal hit films Anatomy and Laura. He was also popular for introducing some taboo words during his era in cinema, such as ‘panties,’ ‘rape,’ and ‘virgin’ (Folkart par. 7). In other words, Preminger is never afraid to break the conventions and creates something that is worthy of critical reception. Preminger’s works were actually a mix of drama, thriller, and comedy, but all of his works say something about social issues that were never tackled or were overlooked by most. His style reveals that he is never afraid of experimenting in order to give moviegoers the best movie to watch out for. Works Cited Brunson, Matt. “Anatomy of a Murder, Scarlet Street Among New Home Entertainment Titles.” Creative Loafing Charlotte. SouthComm, Inc. 28 Feb. 2012. Web. 22 Nov. 2012. . Folkart, Burt A. “Hollywood Star Walk: Otto Preminger.” Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times, 24 Apr. 1986. Web. 23 Nov. 2012. . Read More
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(“Film Report Movie Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 3”, n.d.)
Retrieved from https://studentshare.org/visual-arts-film-studies/1462451-film-report
(Film Report Movie Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 Words - 3)
https://studentshare.org/visual-arts-film-studies/1462451-film-report.
“Film Report Movie Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 Words - 3”, n.d. https://studentshare.org/visual-arts-film-studies/1462451-film-report.
  • Cited: 0 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF Anatomy of a Murder Movie

Parkland (Movie)

The movie is authentic and carries a shocking revelation due to its truth.... These are manifested clearly in the movie.... Kennedy The assassination or call it the murder of President John F.... Fifty years on and still no clear answers have been brought forward to expound on the murder of the JKF.... Kennedy The assassination or call it the murder of President John F.... Fifty years on and still no clear answers have been brought forward to expound on the murder of the JKF....
3 Pages (750 words) Movie Review

The Movie Glory - the Relationships among the Dramatic Personae

Moreover, the film illustrates the anatomy of leadership as a young colonel was given the daunting task of recruiting, training and leading an all-black regiment, which was the first such black regiment to fight under the American flag, many of whom were older than he was and most of whom were embittered by the demeaning experiences they had under the white men.... There had been a slew of films about the American Civil War but the movie "Glory" stood out because it was unique and because it not only focused its energies on bombings, hand to hand combats and killings but it featured the African American people's aspirations to prove its self-worth, courage and dignity under fire and under pressures of racial prejudice and honor amidst the backdrop of a bitter divisive war between the northern Union states and the southern Confederate states....
7 Pages (1750 words) Movie Review

The Last Supper by Tomas Gutierrez Alea

However, unlike 'The Seventh Seal', which looks Christian on the surface but is actually existential, 'The Last Supper' has an existential approach for grappling at Christian salvation through an anatomy of slavery.... 'The Last Supper' or 'La ltima cena' by Tomas Gutierrez Alea, Cuba, 1976....
7 Pages (1750 words) Movie Review

The Film The Green Mile

The movie is A Warner Bros.... Identify one theme or message of the movie.... These are Eduard Delacroix, a french man convicted or arson, rape and murder.... The film The Green Mile was shown in theaters in 1999.... Release of a Castle Rock Entertainment Presentation of a Darkwoods Production, produced by David Valdes and Frank Darabont who also wrote and directed the film....
10 Pages (2500 words) Movie Review

Gender and Popular Fiction

This paper "Gender and Popular Fiction" aims to demonstrate an explicit knowledge of genre conventions and how they may be adapted in order to invite critical reflection on gender and change.... This objective is compelled by a necessity to use fiction as an avenue for reflection on gender and change....
8 Pages (2000 words) Movie Review

Eleven Angry Men and One Leader

The story itself begins when a murder case presentation is finished and the twelve men who form the jury must come back with a unanimous decision of guilty or not guilty.... The focus of this paper "Eleven Angry Men and One Leader" is on the movie Twelve Angry Men that represents a perfect scenario for how leaders can motivate and convince others to come to their viewpoint and change strongly held opinions simply by the act of leading others....
5 Pages (1250 words) Movie Review

Murder by death

Though at the beginning of the movie Twain asserts that he invites the detectives to solve the mystery of a murder that will take place at midnight, his real motive that is to expose the futility of these sleuth hunters, is revealed in the following sentence:Youve all been so clever for so long youve forgotten to be humble.... It is asserted by Sydney Wang, when asked if there was a murder or not, answered, "Yes; killed good weekend!... In the circular but hilarious mystery spoof of Neil Simon's movie, “Murder by Death” the millionaire Lionel Twain's firm grip on the plot fairly insinuates his involvement with his own death....
2 Pages (500 words) Movie Review

Anatomy of Difference: Whale Rider

"anatomy of Difference: Whale Rider" paper analyzes how culturally influenced gender roles and the resultant patriarchal mindset can cause the issue of stereotyping and “othering”, with females like the character of Pai being stereotyped to perform certain roles and sidelined by the males....
5 Pages (1250 words) Movie Review
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us