The Anatomy of a Murder

The anatomy of a murder is a film which brings to the forefront themes which were considered taboo in the 1950s: courtroom drama, murder, rape, and women's sexuality. Jazz during this time period in turn was used to express sexuality, drama, and violence. These two elements of the film then, go hand in hand. The jazz music used in the movie, although not used during the courtroom scenes, is used during points of the film in which sexuality and intensity are desired. For example, jazz music is always playing at the bar in which Barney worked, the place where he plays pinball with Laura, the place where he is killed by Manion. All of these moments of intensity are mirrored by the jazz music playing in the background.

While the jazz music is used as underscoring in the some parts of the movie but overall it is used as diagetic music. For instance, Paul plays the piano at the beginning of the movie, Laura plays jazz records when she visits Paul's home, and jazz music is continually playing at Barney's bar. Underscoring occurs rarely in comparison to the volume of diagetic music used. The use of diagetic music directs the viewer to perceive the plot and the lives of the characters as just as real and dramatic as the jazz music that fills their lives.

Something unique about the music in the film is the way in which it starts at the beginning of a scene but doesn't always end at the appropriate time. The music seems to spill over from scene to scene. For instance, when Paul meets Laura outside of the jail by her car, jazz music is playing as an underscore. When they begin to speak, it is expected that the music would end but it in fact does not. It continues for a few seconds as they converse. Similarly, when Paul enters his house and Laura is playing his records, he addresses her but the music is still playing since he has to physically go turn off the record. In these ways, the music breaks the barrier of simply background music or underscoring but becomes part of the characters' lives.

In effect, the jazz music used in the film is quite important as well as appropriate. It gives the film the intensity and sexuality it needs without being too obvious or cliche.