Anatomy of a Murder (1959) - Quotes

Unraveling Trust and Impulses in Legal Drama

Parnell Emmett McCarthy: Dear Mr. Biegler, so sorry, but I had to leave suddenly: I was seized by an irresistible impulse. Frederick Manion.

Paul Biegler: [chuckles with a wry smile] Now how in the world are we gonna face Maida?

Parnell Emmett McCarthy: [Pulling empty bottle out of trash barrel] Gin. I knew there was something wrong with that guy. I never saw a gin drinker yet you could trust.

Paul Biegler: Well, partner, what do you say we go and see our first client?

Parnell Emmett McCarthy: Who might that be?

Paul Biegler: Mary Pilant. We're going to administer Barney Quill's estate.

Parnell Emmett McCarthy: That's what i call poetic justice for everybody.

Paul Biegler: Yeah.

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Purity and the Impurities of Law

Parnell Emmett McCarthy: Did you give the lieutenant the Well-Known Lecture?

Paul Biegler: If you mean, did I coach him into a phony story, no.

Parnell Emmett McCarthy: Maybe you're too pure, Paul. Too pure for the natural impurities of the law.

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Courtroom Tensions Rise During Cross Examination

Mitch Lodwick: Objection. No evidence has been introduced to make Mrs. Manion's appearance relevant to this case.

Paul Biegler: Well, no evidence has been introduced to make Barney Quill's appearance relevant you didn't object to the question then. Is that because you know Barney Quill bathed, changed and cooled off after he raped and beat hell out of this poor woman!

Mitch Lodwick: Your Honor, everyone in this courtroom is being tried except Frederick Manion! I must protest...

Paul Biegler: Now listen! This is a cross examination in a murder case, it's not a high school debate! What are you and Dancer trying to do, railroad this soldier into the clink?

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Tension in Courtroom Testimony

Lt. Frederick Manion: [Roars at Duke Miller, who has just given his testimony] You're a liar! You're a lousy, stinking liar!

Paul Biegler: I apologize to the court for my client's outburst. But it's almost excusable, since the prosecution has seen fit to put a felon on the stand to testify against an officer in the United States Army.

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Definitions of a Ladies' Man

Paul Biegler: Mr. Paquette, what would you call a man with an insatiable penchant for women?

Alphonse Paquette: A what?

Paul Biegler: A penchant... a desire... taste... passion?

Alphonse Paquette: Well, uh, ladies man, I guess. Or maybe just a damn fool!

Judge Weaver: Just answer the questions, Mr. Paquette. The attorneys will provide the wisecracks.

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Termination and Payment Dispute

Paul Biegler: You're fired.

Maida Rutledge: You can't fire me until you pay me.

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The Challenge of Jury Perception

Lt. Frederick Manion: How can a jury disregard what it's already heard?

Paul Biegler: [shaking head] They can't, Lieutenant. They can't.

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Clarifying Language in Court Proceedings

Judge Weaver: Mr. Biegler, you finally got your rape into the case, and I think all the details should now be made clear to the jury. What exactly was the undergarment just referred to?

Paul Biegler: Panties, Your Honor.

Paul Biegler: Yes, Sir.

Judge Weaver: There's a certain light connotation attached to the word "panties." Can we find another name for them?

Mitch Lodwick: I never heard my wife call em anything else.

Judge Weaver: Mr. Biegler?

Paul Biegler: I'm a bachelor, Your Honor.

Judge Weaver: That's a great help. Mr. Dancer?

Claude Dancer: When I was overseas during the war, Your Honor, I learned a French word. I'm afraid that might be slightly suggestive.

Judge Weaver: Most French words are.

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Judge Weaver's Firm Warning to Mr. Dancer

Judge Weaver: Now, Mr. Dancer, get off the panties. You've done enough damage.

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Seriousness in Courtroom Proceedings

Judge Weaver: [spectators roar with laughter] For the benefit of the jury, but more especially for the spectators, The garment mentioned in the testimony was, to be exact, Mrs. Manion's panties. I wanted to get your snickering over and done with. This pair of panties will be mentioned again over the course of this trial, and when it is, there will not be one laugh, one snicker, one giggle or even one smirk in my courtroom. There is nothing comic about a pair of panties that resulted in the violent death of one man and the possible incarceration of another.

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The Nature of Judges and Their Perceptions

Judge Weaver: One judge is quite like another. The only differences may be in the state of their digestions or their proclivities for sleeping on the bench. For myself, I can digest pig iron. And while I might appear to doze occasionally, you will find that I am easily awakened, particularly if shaken gently by a good lawyer with a nice point of law.

A Change in Perspective on Life

Parnell Emmett McCarthy: You know I used to think the world looked better through a glass of whiskey. It doesn't. I think I'll keep it this way. Looks nice.

Consequences of Violence in Justice System

Parnell Emmett McCarthy: The lieutenant goes to Quill's place and plugs Mr. Quill about five times, which causes Mr. Quill to promptly die of lead poisoning.

The Complexity of Jury Deliberation

Parnell Emmett McCarthy: Twelve people go off into a room: twelve different minds, twelve different hearts, from twelve different walks of life; twelve sets of eyes, ears, shapes, and sizes. And these twelve people are asked to judge another human being as different from them as they are from each other. And in their judgment, they must become of one mind - unanimous. It's one of the miracles of Man's disorganized soul that they can do it, and in most instances, do it right well. God bless juries.

A Request for Discretion in Attraction

Paul Bieglerv: Look, Laura, believe me, I don't usually complain of an attractive jiggle, but just you save that jiggle for your husband to look at, if and when I get him out of jail.

Questioning the Worth of the Accused

Paul Bieglerv: [after cross-examining a convicted felon] Your Honor, I don't think I can dignify this - -creature - - with any more questions.

A Humble Lawyer Facing a Skilled Adversary

Paul Bieglerv: I'm just a humble country lawyer trying to do the best I can against this brilliant prosecutor from the big city of Lansing.

Motives and Actions Are Inseparable

Paul Bieglerv: The prosecution would like to separate the motive from the act. Well, that's like trying to take the core from an apple without breaking the skin.