MovieChat Forums > Anatomy of a Murder (1959) Discussion > So this movie is about what?

So this movie is about what?

posted 12 years ago by xundercoverxx
3 replies | jump to latest

So many hints, I was expecting the twist the whole time but it didn't happen.
I have some questions:
1) Was the murderer's wife having an affair with the innkeeper? There was numerous hints throughout the movie that she wasn't really a faithful wife.
2) Did her husband murder Barney Quill because he found out about the affair (remember the statement of his friend who said Mr. Manion would do the same to his wife after he's found not guilty?) or because the rape did actually happen?
3) What was the point of this movie? That one can get away with murder?

The darkest places in hell are reserved for those who maintain neutrality in times of moral crisis.

[–] HeywoodJablomy 11 years ago

1) That's left up to the viewer to decide. Personally, I believe she was probably unfaithful, but not with Barney Quill. I actually believe that she was raped.

2) Again, you have to decide for yourself. I think Manion beat his wife on occasion, and the night of the rape was probably one of those occasions. It's made clear at the end that Manion wasn't suffering from "irresistible impulse" on the night of the shooting.

3) I think the point of the movie was to show that the justice system isn't black and white. Whether Manion was guilty of murder or not isn't the point. It has to be proven beyond a reasonable doubt, and in this case it wasn't. Unfortunately, sometimes the guilty go free. But better that than an innocent man going to jail for a crime he didn't commit.

[–] redban (6168) 4 years ago

The movie was a commentary on the law, I believe. The law can be flawed; a guilty man got off

There was also a character development. At the opening, Paul wasn’t doing so well. He didn’t have much money, he was fishing all the time, he has lost his position as District Attorney. But at the end, he seemed to rebound, resolving to open a practice with his friend. Hence, even though he let a guilty man off, he doesn’t seem vexed or perturbed.

Working hard on the murder case really seemed to correct his course in life. The movie thus puts some emphasis on hard work / activity to overcome disappointments and setbacks.

[–] Stratego (30501) a year ago

The point of the film seems to be that guilty people can walk free thanks to legal loopholes.