James Stewart in ANATOMY OF A MURDER Screening at The Wildey Theater in Edwardsville March 10th

” I’m just a humble country lawyer trying to do the best I can against this brilliant prosecutor from the big city of Lansing. “

James Stewart in director Otto Preminger’s ANATOMY OF A MURDER (1959) will be screening at The Wildey Theater in Edwardsville, IL ( 252 N Main St, Edwardsville, IL 62025) at 7pm Tuesday, March 10th. Admission is $2.

Frederick Manion (Ben Gazzara), a lieutenant in the army, is arrested for the murder of a bartender, Barney Quill. He claims, in his defense, that the victim had raped and beaten up his wife Laura (Lee Remick). Although Laura supports her husband’s story, the police surgeon can find no evidence that she has been raped. Manion is defended by Paul Biegler (James Stewart), a humble small-town lawyer and recently deposed district attorney. During the course of interviews, Biegler discovers that Manion is violently possessive and jealous, and also that his wife has a reputation for flirting with other men. Biegler realizes that the prosecution will try to make the court believe that Laura had been drunk and was picked up by the bartender and then Her husband killed him and beat her up when he discovered they had been together. Manion pleads “not guilty” and Biegler, who knows that his case is weak, tries to find evidence that will save Manion.