Witness for the Prosecution (1957)

User Rating:

8.3/10   

Director:

Billy Wilder

Writers:

Agatha Christie (play)
Larry Marcus (adaptation)

Release Date:

6 February 1958 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

Once in 50 years suspense like this!

Plot:

Agatha Christie tale of a man on trial for murder: a trial featuring surprise after surprise.

Plot Keywords:

Widow | Murder | Alibi | Trial | Will

Awards:

Nominated for 6 Oscars. Another 2 wins & 8 nominations

Cast

Tyrone Power	...	Leonard Vole
Marlene Dietrich	...	Christine Vole
Charles Laughton	...	Sir Wilfrid Robarts
Elsa Lanchester	...	Miss Plimsoll
John Williams	...	Brogan-Moore
Henry Daniell	...	Mayhew
Ian Wolfe	...	Carter
Torin Thatcher	...	Mr. Myers
Norma Varden	...	Emily Jane French
Una O'Connor	...	Janet McKenzie
Francis Compton	...	Judge
Philip Tonge	...	Inspector Hearne
Ruta Lee	...	Diana

Also Known As:

Testigo de cargo (Argentina) (Spain) [es]
Zeugin der Anklage (Austria) (West Germany) [de]
Åklagarens vittne (Sweden) [sv]
Anklagerens vidne (Denmark) [da]
Ed Ha-Tvi'a (Israel: Hebrew title) [iw]
Swiadek oskarzenia (Poland) [pl]
Témoin à charge (France) [fr]
Testemunha de Acusação (Brazil) [pt]
Testimone d'accusa (Italy) [it]
Todistaja (Finland) [fi]

Runtime:

116 min | Australia:111 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

West Germany:12 | Spain:T | Argentina:16 | Australia:G | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | USA:Approved (PCA #18704) | UK:U

Filming Locations:

MGM Studios - 10202 W. Washington Boulevard, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Edward Small Productions

Trivia:

This was the final film for Tyrone Power, who died shortly after completion.

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): On the witness stand, Janet McKenzie refers to October 8 as being one week to the day before October 14 (the night of the murder). It's only six days earlier.

Quotes:

The Cockney Woman: I'll give ya somethin' to dream about, Mister. *Wanna kiss me, ducky?*

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in "Get Smart: Witness for the Persecution (#3.3)" (1967)

Soundtrack:

I May Never Go Home Anymore

A Hitchcockian Billy Wilder

At the end of the day the films you give top marks are those films that become constant companions. You can see them again at the drop of a hat, you show them to people who have never see them and it's always a triumph. "Witness For The Prosecution" is one of those wonders. Suspend your disbelief for a couple of hours and enjoy this banquet of a romp. Charles Laughton showed here what he was made of better, more clearly and more loudly than in any other film and all of his films, at least the moments with him in it, are unforgettable - Captain Blight or Henry VIII, Quasimodo or that malefic Senator from South Carolina. Here the severity of his lawyer by vocation takes your senses away with his masterful judicial way to see logic and it's such an incredible fun to watch him do it. Tyrone Power is a toy in his hands but not Marlene Dietrich who stands her ground, not merely as a character but as a presence on the screen. Billy Wilder visits early Hitchcock territory with wit and fun. Elsa Lanchester's nurse is the cherry on top of this delightful film.