Why was Anatomy of a Murder controversial when it was released?

Anatomy of a Murder (1959) was controversial upon its release primarily due to its explicit and realistic handling of adult subject matter, specifically sexual passions and the crime of rape.1

The film challenged the prevailing Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) Production Code by incorporating frank dialogue that had never been heard on-screen before. The script included terms such as "rape," "sperm," "slut," "semen," and "intercourse," which violated the studio's established bans on treating such topics in a realistic manner.12

By refusing to censor this language, director Otto Preminger continued his history of defying the Production Code—a practice he had previously employed with films like The Moon Is Blue and The Man with the Golden Arm—thereby pushing the boundaries of what was considered acceptable for cinematic audiences at the time.2