Otto Preminger

 Otto Preminger



Laura (1944)

Anatomy of a Murder (1959)




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2. Anatomy of a Murder (1959)


Unlike with the typical courtroom drama, Otto Preminger's 1959 film "Anatomy of a Murder" is far less interested in melodrama and sensationalism as a means to spice up what would normally be a dreary affair in a real-life court case. Rather, "Anatomy of a Murder" lays the facts of the case right out in front of the viewer from the very beginning. We are not watching to see if the defendant is guilty or innocent. We know he is guilty. What the film is far more interested in is the absolute verdict of moral uncertainty. At a time when the McCarthy trials were proof that anyone's moral certainty could come into question, "Anatomy of a Murder" ponders whether justice is actually being served despite the 'letter of the law.' 




1. Laura (1944)


In 1944, there were many films that were attempting to replicate the 'noir' vibes that had come with Billy Wilder's iconic "Double Indemnity." One of them, Otto Preminger's "Laura," attempting this aesthetic, while also not entirely venturing into the pitch black oblivion of the human soul. Rather, it focuses on a detective investigating the murder of the mysterious 'Laura.' Through flashback, we begin to unravel who this person was and how everyone in her life saw her. Through the twists and turns of the story, we get sucked in. The intrigue makes you care about these people and their complicated relationships. Overall, the film was a success for Preminger, the Austrian-American director, who would go on to have immense success in Hollywood for the next three decades.

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