|
Witness for the Prosecution (1957) 8.4
Agatha Christie tale of a man on trial for murder: a trial featuring surprise after surprise. Director:Billy Wilder |
| 0Share... |
User Lists
Related lists from IMDb users
Share this Rating
Title: Witness for the Prosecution (1957)
Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Use the HTML below.
Learn more
People who liked this also liked...
Chinatown
(1974)
Crime
|
Drama
|
Mystery
Director:
Roman Polanski
Stars:
Jack Nicholson,
Faye Dunaway,
John Huston
Primal Fear
(1996)
Crime
|
Drama
|
Mystery
Director:
Gregory Hoblit
Stars:
Richard Gere,
Laura Linney,
John Mahoney
Gone Baby Gone
(2007)
Crime
|
Drama
|
Mystery
Director:
Ben Affleck
Stars:
Casey Affleck,
Michelle Monaghan,
Morgan Freeman
The Name of the Rose
(1986)
Drama
|
Mystery
|
Thriller
Director:
Jean-Jacques Annaud
Stars:
Sean Connery,
Christian Slater,
Helmut Qualtinger
A Few Good Men
(1992)
Crime
|
Drama
|
Mystery
Director:
Rob Reiner
Stars:
Tom Cruise,
Jack Nicholson,
Demi Moore
Insomnia
(2002)
Crime
|
Mystery
|
Thriller
Director:
Christopher Nolan
Stars:
Al Pacino,
Martin Donovan,
Hilary Swank
Michael Clayton
(2007)
Crime
|
Drama
|
Mystery
Director:
Tony Gilroy
Stars:
Tom Wilkinson,
Michael O'Keefe,
Tilda Swinton
L.A. Confidential
(1997)
Crime
|
Drama
|
Mystery
Director:
Curtis Hanson
Stars:
Kevin Spacey,
Russell Crowe,
Guy Pearce
Crime
|
Mystery
|
Thriller
Director:
Niels Arden Oplev
Stars:
Michael Nyqvist,
Noomi Rapace,
Lena Endre
Mississippi Burning
(1988)
Drama
|
Mystery
|
Thriller
Director:
Alan Parker
Stars:
Gene Hackman,
Willem Dafoe,
Frances McDormand
Following
(1998)
Crime
|
Drama
|
Mystery
Director:
Christopher Nolan
Stars:
Jeremy Theobald,
Alex Haw,
Lucy Russell
State of Play
(2009)
Drama
|
Mystery
Director:
Kevin Macdonald
Stars:
Russell Crowe,
Ben Affleck,
Rachel McAdams
Edit
Cast
| Complete credited cast: | |||
| Tyrone Power | ... | ||
| Marlene Dietrich | ... | ||
| Charles Laughton | ... | ||
| Elsa Lanchester | ... | ||
| John Williams | ... | ||
| Henry Daniell | ... | ||
| Ian Wolfe | ... | ||
 |
Torin Thatcher | ... | |
| Norma Varden | ... |
Emily French
|
|
| Una O'Connor | ... | ||
|
|
Francis Compton | ... | |
|
|
Philip Tonge | ... | |
| Ruta Lee | ... | ||
Edit
Plot Summary
|
Plot Synopsis
Storyline
It's Britain, 1953. Upon his return to work following a heart attack, irrepressible barrister Sir Wilfrid Robarts, known as a barrister for the hopeless, takes on a murder case, much to the exasperation of his medical team, led by his overly regulated private nurse, Miss Plimsoll, who tries her hardest to ensure that he not return to his hard living ways - including excessive cigar smoking and drinking - while he takes his medication and gets his much needed rest. That case is defending American war veteran Leonard Vole, a poor, out of work, struggling inventor who is accused of murdering his fifty-six year old lonely and wealthy widowed acquaintance, Emily French. The initial evidence is circumstantial but points to Leonard as the murderer. Despite being happily married to East German former beer hall performer Christine Vole, he fostered that friendship with Mrs. French in the hopes that she would finance one of his many inventions to the tune of a few hundred pounds. It thus does ... Written by Huggo
Taglines:
Once in 50 years suspense like this! See more »Parents Guide:
View content advisory »
Edit
See more »
See full technical specs »
Details
Country:
USARelease Date:
6 February 1958 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
Testigo de cargo See more »Filming Locations:
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USABox Office
Budget:
$3,000,000 (estimated)Company Credits
Show detailed
company contact information
on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
Mono (Westrex Recording System)Color:
Black and WhiteAspect Ratio:
1.66 : 1
Edit
Sir Wilfrid: Like these?
[pulling out a sheaf of letters on blue paper]
Christine Vole: Damn you! Damn you! Let me go! Let me get out of here!
See more »
(1957)
Music by Ralph Arthur Roberts
Lyrics by Jack Brooks
Sung by Marlene Dietrich (uncredited)
Reprised a cappella by Tyrone Power
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
The Tyrone Power character's last name is Vole. Aside from what has already been mentioned, the word "voleur" in French translates in English to burglar, embezzler, housebreaker, intruder, peculator, robber, and thief. Many of which could apply to Power's character. See more »Goofs
Both Sir Wilfred and Mr. Myers introduce evidence directly to the court themselves, which is against courtroom procedure. Sir Wilfred, for example, trumps Inspector Hearne's testimony by directly revealing Leonard Vole's blood type, instead of properly calling a witness with personal or professional knowledge of it. See more »Quotes
Christine Vole: It isn't even my letter paper! I write my letters on small, blue paper with my initials on it?Sir Wilfrid: Like these?
[pulling out a sheaf of letters on blue paper]
Christine Vole: Damn you! Damn you! Let me go! Let me get out of here!
See more »
Crazy Credits
As the end credits appear on screen, an announcer's voice is heard: "The management of this theater suggests that for the greater entertainment of your friends who have not yet seen the picture you will not divulge to anyone the secret of the ending of Witness for the Prosecution." See more »Soundtracks
"I May Never Go Home Anymore"(1957)
Music by Ralph Arthur Roberts
Lyrics by Jack Brooks
Sung by Marlene Dietrich (uncredited)
Reprised a cappella by Tyrone Power
See more »
I first saw this movie about 15 years ago and loved it. I just watched it on VHS and was captivated all over again. Agatha Christie's story, Billy Wilder's screenplay and direction, and the four main leads all get it right. Charles Laughton is absolutely superb, and Elsa Lanchester is a perfect foil.
Agatha Christie's story has more twists and turns than a roller coaster and this provides a strong foundation for the movie. But the actors give life to the characters. I haven't seen the 1982 version, but I'll admit to a bias for Marlene Dietrich. She and Tyrone Power pull just the right punches.
It's a mystery, of course. But a top notch one. So if you want only to dabble in the genre, this is the one to try. (If you like mysteries, it goes without saying that you must see it.) Moreover, this is one B&W movie for people who don't like B&W movies.