Top

Anatomy Of A Murder

August 14, 2011 by · Comments Off on Anatomy Of A Murder 

Anatomy Of A MurderAnatomy Of A Murder, James Stewart is one of the actors of the most beloved films in the history of Hollywood. Well, at least in the United States, where Frank Capra It’s a Wonderful Life and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington is considered the top of the film studio at the time.

Boy next door shy, innocent, wholesome, aw-shucksy Stewart (later the man next door) so continue to enjoy the millions whose idea of ??timidity, simplicity, safety and boy -next-doorishness has nothing to do with mine. In fact, I wonder if anyone anywhere, whether in the United States or elsewhere, has never lived next to a “boy” who acted, sounded, romance, and punched – lest we confuse shyness with sweetness – like Stewart. I’m glad I did not.

Today, Turner Classic Movies is presenting several films of James Stewart as part of its “Summer Under the Stars” series of films. Right now, TCM is showing John Ford The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962), considered by many as the director of the post-best effort Searchers. Personally, I much prefer the more-mockery 7 women, who, with Anne Bancroft, Betty Field, Margaret Leighton, and the Mongol barbarians. But that’s just me. [James Stewart Movie Schedule.]

Anyway, I’ve never been a fan of myths, which seems to be the moral lesson in The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance: lies are good when they are intended to boost morale and corporate income media. Oh.

Next is Henry Koster British made no highway in the sky (1951), which I have not seen. The support team is fine: Marlene Dietrich, Glynis Johns, Jack Hawkins, Janette Scott, and Elizabeth Allan. It should – at least – is worth a look.

Anatomy of a Murder is perhaps the best American film of 1959. Otto Preminger must have left the waving flags, anti-sex whims of the administration of the production code every stroke with the story of rape, murder, and lack of ethics in the American judicial system. Stewart is actually that the defense counsel – not shy, naive, or sound of him – to fight for the freedom of a military man (Ben Gazzara) who killed the man who (allegedly) raped her woman, sex kitten (Lee Remick, replacing Lana Turner). Aided by the screenwriter Wendell Mayes’ first rate adaptation of John D. Voelker novel cast is generally outstanding, including the psycho Gazzara sticky military Remick as the girl who likes a little spanking, and Eve Arden as Stewart no-nonsense secretary.

Anatomy of a Murder was – correctly – a huge hit at the box office upon its release. He was nominated for seven Oscars, but lost in each category. The winner of this year was the mammoth blockbuster Ben-Hur, who just happened to be a monumental bore, as far as I’m concerned. I also note that Gazzara, Remick, Arden, and the director Preminger have all been bypassed by the Academy.

Tim Whelan Murder Man (1935) is a thriller B low, with Stewart a celebrity supporting pre-Spencer Tracy. Tracy, here paired with Virginia Bruce, was a simple man leading to the Fury, San Francisco and Lady defamed catapulted to fame in 1936.

Sam Wood, The History Stratton (1949) tells the story of All-American baseball player Monty Stratton (James Stewart), who loses a leg, but not his love of playing baseball. MGM attempted to repeat the success of Samuel Goldwyn’s Pride of the Yankees (1942) – also led by Wood, with Gary Cooper as Lou Gehrig – The story Stratton offers a syrupy concoction of disgusting situations and characterizations, which, needless to say, it is guaranteed major box-office returns to its release and an Oscar for Best Screenplay, Motion Picture History (Douglas Morrow). The film is one saving grace is June Allyson, an actress who usually has ignored the honesty and courage to her characters, be they dramas or comedies, and no matter how the scenario can.

Bottom