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Anatomy of a Murder (1959)
Anatomy of a Murder (1959) poster
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4.2

Anatomy of a Murder (1959)

Crime, Drama, Mystery • 2h 40m

Overview

Semi-retired Michigan lawyer Paul Biegler takes the case of Army Lt. Manion, who murdered a local innkeeper after his wife claimed that he raped her. Over the course of an extensive trial, Biegler parries with District Attorney Lodwick and out-of-town prosecutor Claude Dancer to set his client free, but his case rests on the victim's mysterious business partner, who's hiding a dark secret.

Director: Otto Preminger

Best English-Friendly Release

Best Video Release

Sony 4K Blu-ray Columbia Classics Vol 2

Best Audio Release

1986 RCA/Columbia LaserDisc

Format

UHD Blu-ray

UHD Tiers

Featured Lists

National Film Registry

Year of Induction: 2012

TSPDT

2026: #939
2025: #919
2024: #922
2023: #904
2022: #904

Criterion Forum

Review

Picture: 8, Audio: 7, Extras: 7

Length

160 mins

Type

Movie

Last Updated

4 months ago

Contributors

Best English-Friendly Release
Best Video Release

Sony 4K Blu-ray Columbia Classics Vol 2

Best Audio Release

1986 RCA/Columbia LaserDisc

Format
UHD Blu-ray
UHD Tiers
Featured Lists
National Film Registry

Year of Induction: 2012

TSPDT
2026: #939
2025: #919
2024: #922
2023: #904
2022: #904
Criterion Forum
Review

Picture: 8, Audio: 7, Extras: 7

Length
160 mins
Type
Movie
Last Updated
4 months ago
Contributors

Featured in National Film Registry

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Special Edition: "4K97_VI" or "D+97_VI" on the high seas

Best Video:

OG: "4K83" or "OTD83" on the high seas

Special Edition: "4K97_VI" or "D+97_VI" on the high seas

Best Audio:

OG: LaserDisc audio is the best option for the Dolby Stereo mixes (and usually included in fan restorations). There are 16mm/TV rips of the mono mixes.

Special Edition: Cinema DTS or 1997 LaserDisc for the Special Edition.

Best English-Friendly:

OG: "4K83" or "OTD83" on the high seas

Special Edition: "4K97_VI" or "D+97_VI" on the high seas

Best Video:

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Special Edition: "4K97_VI" or "D+97_VI" on the high seas

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Best Video:

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Special Editon: "4K97_V" or "D_97_VI" on the high seas. If not, the 4K Blu-rays are generally considered an improvement over the 2011 Blu-rays. (although both restorations are DNR'ed and have issues).

Best Audio:

OG: LaserDisc audio is the best option for the Dolby Stereo mixes. 70mm six-track mix is included in 4K80 (taken from an actual 70mm print). There are 16mm rips of the mono mix.

Special Edition: Cinema DTS or1997 LaserDisc for the Special Edition.

Best English-Friendly:

OG: "4K80" on the high seas. If not, Disney 4K Blu-ray

Special Edition: "4K97_V" or "D+97_V" on high seas.

Best Video:

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Best Audio:

OG: LaserDisc audio is the best option for the Dolby Stereo mixes. 70mm six-track mix is included in 4K80 (taken from an actual 70mm print). There are 16mm rips of the mono mix.

Special Edition: Cinema DTS or1997 LaserDisc for the Special Edition.

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Best English-Friendly:

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Digital render: 2010 3D Blu-ray

Best Video:

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Digital render: 2010 3D Blu-ray (every version since the 2000 DVD release including the 2D 2010 Blu-ray has animation errors. The majority of those were corrected for the 3D rerelease.) The 4K Blu-ray is merely upscaled from the 2K render.

Best Audio:

Stereo Mix: 1996 Disney Deluxe Edition CAV LaserDisc boxset

5.1 AC3 Mix: 1996 Disney Deluxe Edition CAV LaserDisc boxset

5.1 DTS Mix: 1997 Disney DTS LaserDisc level corrected

Additional Info:

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The AC3 audio on Side 2 of the CLV LaserDisc has the LFE channel muted. This was left intact for the CAV release.

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UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

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Digital render: 2010 3D Blu-ray

Best Video:

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Digital render: 2010 3D Blu-ray (every version since the 2000 DVD release including the 2D 2010 Blu-ray has animation errors. The majority of those were corrected for the 3D rerelease.) The 4K Blu-ray is merely upscaled from the 2K render.

Best Audio:

Stereo Mix: 1996 Disney Deluxe Edition CAV LaserDisc boxset

5.1 AC3 Mix: 1996 Disney Deluxe Edition CAV LaserDisc boxset

5.1 DTS Mix: 1997 Disney DTS LaserDisc level corrected

Additional Info:

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The AC3 audio on Side 2 of the CLV LaserDisc has the LFE channel muted. This was left intact for the CAV release.

The 2005 UK DVD has an error where one of the shots is brightened up way too high (when the rest of the toys hold onto Slinky as he clings onto Woody during the moving truck rescue). Plus the end credits are interlaced (the PSP UMD video is the only way to get that version of the credits without interlacing).

The 4K Blu-ray has a further remixed Atmos track.

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Original Cut:

  • 2005 Japan Square Enix DVD for the Japanese audio, 2005 US Sony DVD for the English dub

Additional Info:

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All Japanese releases of the Complete cut have English dub options, but no English subtitles for the original Japanese audio or on-screen text. Original cut only has Japanese audio without subtitles on the Japanese DVD.

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Original Cut: 2005 US Sony DVD

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  • 2021 Japan Square Enix remastered Blu-ray has a superior original Dolby TrueHD 5.1 mix

Original Cut:

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