Anatomy of a Murder is a 1959 American courtroom drama film produced and directed by Otto Preminger. The screenplay by Wendell Mayes was based on the 1958 novel of the same name written by Michigan Supreme Court Justice John D. Voelker under the pen name of Robert Traver. Voelker based the novel on a 1952 murder case in which he was the defense attorney.
Theatrical release poster by Saul Bass
Anatomy of a Murder
James Stewart in the film's trailer
Brooks West (left) and James Stewart (right) face one another, as George C. Scott (center) looks on
Otto Ludwig Preminger was an Austrian-American theatre and film director, film producer, and actor. He directed more than 35 feature films in a five-decade career after leaving the theatre. He first gained attention for film noir mysteries such as Laura (1944) and Fallen Angel (1945), while in the 1950s and 1960s, he directed high-profile adaptations of popular novels and stage works. Several of these later films pushed the boundaries of censorship by dealing with themes which were then taboo in Hollywood, such as drug addiction, rape and homosexuality. He was twice nominated for the Academy Award for Best Director. He also had several acting roles.
Preminger in 1976, photographed by Allan Warren
Preminger (sitting) with (left to right) Liane Haid, Oskar Karlweis, Paul Abraham, Tibor Halmay, and Rosy Barsony in 1934.
Preminger and author John D. Voelker in the trailer for Anatomy of a Murder
The niche of Otto Preminger in Woodlawn Cemetery (Bronx, New York)