East of the Keweenaw Peninsula in Ishpeming, Big Bay, Michigamme, Powell and Marquette was the 1959 filming of producer and director Otto Preminger’s “Anatomy of a Murder.”

Based upon an actual Upper Peninsula 1952 murder case, the film received Academy nominations for best motion picture, best actor, best supporting actor, best screenplay, best cinematography and best film editing.

Subsequently, the movie received two Golden Globe awards.

The two-hour and 40-minute film, starred James Stewart, Lee Remick, Ben Gazzara, George C. Scott, Eve Arden and Kathryn Grant. The movie’s jazz-filled musical score was written and performed by Duke Ellington, who also appeared in the film.

Plot Summary

Stewart portrays small-town attorney Paul Biegler who is approached by Laura Manion (Remick) to represent her husband U.S. Army Lt. Frederick Manion (Gazzara) for the murder of innkeeper Bernard Quill, who is accused of raping Laura.

The film weaves through twists and curves of alleged infidelity, small town lawyer vs. down-state legal counsel, intense courtroom and community scenes, and hidden family relationships.

Biegler presses hard to have Manion tried under a temporary insanity defense.

The movie is based upon a 1958 book, of the same name, written by former Michigan Supreme Court Justice, John D. Voelker, an Upper Peninsula native. The book was published under the “pen” name of Robert Traver.

Motion picture critics from New York City to Los Angeles and points in-between cited the motion picture as a “thriller” and “must see.”

The Windy City Bans the Film

Then, Chicago Mayor Richard J. Daley and the city’s Police Commissioner banned the film in this predominately Catholic city. They felt some of the language used in the movie was offensive. The film featured verbiage such as rape, slut, sperm, semen and panties.

Preminger challenged the matter within federal court for a ruling.

The court recognized that the clinical language used during the trial scenes was realistic and appropriate within the context of the film. The film was then shown on the big screens across the Windy City.

Filming Scenes

According to the motion picture industry website Giggster, these are some of the filming sites for “Anatomy of a Murder”:

• James Stewart’s office – 205 W. Barnum St., Ishpeming

• The murder site – The Thunder Bay Inn, 400 Bensinger St., Big Bay

• The courtroom – Marquette County District Court, 234 W. Baraga Ave., Marquette

• The bar shot – Mount Shasta restaurant, 1915 U.S. Highway 41, Michigamme

• The trailer park – Perkins Park, Powell

The Michigan Film and Digital Media website offers a detailed profile of the motion picture’s filming and related regional sights.

Voelker’s book is available in numerous public libraries and online, while the movie can be found on streaming services and on loan from some public libraries.

Jeffrey D. Brasie is a retired health care CEO. He frequently writes historic feature stories and op-eds for various Michigan newspapers. As a Vietnam-era veteran, he served in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Naval Reserve. He served on the public affairs staff of the secretary of the Navy. He grew up near the tip of the mitt and resides in suburban Detroit.