Quotations from Anatomy of a Murder
The film Anatomy of a Murder was one of the first films to address sex and rape in Hollywood using graphic terms. The movie has been described as "probably the finest pure trial movie ever made". It is a crime, drama, and mystery movie about a murder trial where the attorney attempts to find out the truth about a man who claims he was temporarily insane after he raped his wife. This film was nominated for seven Oscars, including Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Picture.
You'll find quotes from this fantastic Jimmy Stewart film, Anatomy of a Murder below.
Director: Otto Preminger
Producer: Otto Preminger
Starring: James Stewart, Lee Remick, and Ben Gazzara
Release date: July 1, 1959
Paul Biegler: If you mean, did I coach him into a phony story, no.
Parnell Emmett McCarthy: Maybe you're too pure, Paul. Too pure for the natural impurities of the law.
Maida Rutledge: If this refrigerator gets any more fish in it, it will swim upstream and spawn all by itself.
Paul Biegler: All right, the cat's out of the bag; it's fair game for me to chase it!
Lt. Frederick Manion: Wanted: the Big Ten. Hey. They've got the ten best-dressed dames, the ten top teams, the ten top tunes, and now the ten most wanted.
Paul Biegler: Well, don't knock it. That's the American Dream. Those boys made The Grade.
Lt. Frederick Manion: [Roars at "Duke" Miller, who has just given his testimony] You're a *liar!* You're a *lousy, stinking liar!*
Paul Biegler: I apologize to the court for my client's outburst. But it's almost excusable, since the prosecution has seen fit to put a felon on the stand to testify against an officer in the United States Army.
Paul Biegler: The prosecution would like to separate the motive from the act. Well, that's like trying to take the core from an apple without breaking the skin.
Judge Weaver: Mr. Biegler, you finally got your rape into the case...
Paul Biegler: You're fired.
Maida Rutledge: You can't fire me until you pay me.
Parnell Emmett McCarthy: Twelve people go off into a room: twelve different minds, twelve different hearts, from twelve different walks of life; twelve sets of eyes, ears, shapes, and sizes. And these twelve people are asked to judge another human being as different from them as they are from each other. And in their judgment, they must become of one mind - unanimous. It's one of the miracles of Man's disorganized soul that they can do it, and in most instances, do it right well. God bless juries.
Paul Biegler: Mr. Paquette, what would you call a man with an insatiable penchant for women?
Alphonse Paquette: A what?
Paul Biegler: A penchant... a desire... taste... passion?
Alphonse Paquette: Well, uh, ladies' man, I guess. Or maybe just a damn fool!
[laughter in the courtroom]
Judge Weaver: Just answer the questions, Mr. Paquette. The attorneys will provide the wisecracks.
Next: Around the World in Eighty Days
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