Anatomy of a Murder
A taut courtroom drama that dissects the fragile nature of truth, wrapped in the smoky ambiguity of a Duke Ellington score.
Anatomy of a Murder
Anatomy of a Murder

"No search of human emotions has ever probed so deeply, so truthfully as… Anatomy of a Murder."

01 July 1959 United States of America 161 min ⭐ 7.8 (1,092)
Director: Otto Preminger
Cast: James Stewart, Lee Remick, Ben Gazzara, Arthur O'Connell, Eve Arden
Drama Crime Mystery
The Ambiguity of Truth and Justice The Mechanics and Morality of the Law Human Nature and Morality Sexuality and Social Mores of the 1950s
Budget: $2,000,000
Box Office: $8,000,000

Anatomy of a Murder - Easter Eggs & Hidden Details

Easter Eggs

During a scene where Paul Biegler visits a hotel, the desk clerk is seen reading the novel "Exodus" by Leon Uris.

This is an inside joke, as director Otto Preminger's next major film project after "Anatomy of a Murder" was the epic adaptation of "Exodus" (1960).

The author of the source novel, John D. Voelker (under the pen name Robert Traver), makes a brief, uncredited appearance in the film.

Voelker can be seen in the background of a courtroom scene. This cameo pays homage to the creator of the story and further grounds the film in its real-life origins.