Anatomy of a Murder (1959)

An excellent court room drama that takes place entirely in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Paul Biegler (Jimmy Stewart) is a lawyer in a small town. When he returns from a fishing trip he learns from his drunken mentor Parnell McCarthy (Arthur O'Connell) that he has been requested to represent a man in a nearby town. Frederick Manion (Ben Gazzara) is a lieutenant stationed at the local army base. He has been accused of murdering a man. He walked into the local tavern and shot the owner, Quill. It seems that Quill raped Manion's wife Laura (Lee Remick) and Manion went insane. Now Paul must prove that Frederick could not control himself. He finds an Army psychiatrist from Detroit who will testify that Manion had an "irresistible urge" to kill Quill. However, the prosecution is pulling out the big guns and bring in Assistant Attorney General Dancer (George C.Scott) up from Lansing to help win the case. Now Biegler must overcome another obstacle. The fact that his rape victim flirts with every man she sees.

I really enjoyed this film. Stewart was wonderful as the lawyer who is convinced his client was insane. Remick was also terrific as the wife who may not be as innocent as she seems. All in all a wonderful classic film that everyone should see.