Witness for the Prosecution (1957)

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:

Agatha Christie | Wig | Courtroom | Blood Type | Microphone

Awards:

Nominated for 6 Oscars. Another 2 wins & 8 nominations

Cast

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

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 | 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:

There is a Bride of Frankenstein (1935) connection to this motion picture, both Elsa Lanchester and 'Una OConnor costarred in that monster classic.

Goofs:

Factual errors: In the first courtroom scene, the clerk twice states that the murder of Emily Jane French occurred in "the county of London". There is no such political jurisdiction as "the county of London", and London is in fact spread over several political entities.

Quotes:

Leonard Vole: But this is England, where I thought you never arrest, let alone convict, people for crimes they have not committed.
Sir Wilfrid: We try not to make a habit of it.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Zomergasten: (#20.2)" (2007)

Soundtrack:

I May Never Go Home Anymore

The Goal Is Always Justice

In a recent biography of Billy Wilder, Agatha Christie is quoted as saying that this was the best adaption of her work ever done on the screen. I can't praise Witness for the Prosecution any higher than that.

Tyrone Power in his farewell film plays Leonard Vole who befriends a dotty old widow played by Norma Varden. She even rewrites her will leaving him the bulk of a very large estate. When she's murdered, Scotland Yard arrests Power.

Power's solicitor Henry Daniell retains a dream team for defense of John Williams and the recently recovered Charles Laughton. Laughton is recovering from a heart attack and against medical advice plunges into the case. Laughton also has to deal with the efforts of his assigned nurse Elsa Lanchester to keep him following doctor's advice.

The original play this was taken from concentrated completely on the Power character and the machinations of his wife. Wilder built up the character of the nurse and barrister Sir Wilfred Robards so that they almost equaled the screen time of Mr. and Mrs. Vole. So much so that Charles Laughton was nominated for an Academy Award in 1957, but lost to Alec Guinness.

Marlene Dietrich plays Mrs. Vole. She's a war bride over from Germany and she's got her own agenda going. Her performance and what her character does is the key to the whole film. Dietrich probably would have gotten an Oscar nomination herself, but due to the fact that if her performance was hyped up for Academy consideration, the element of surprise would have been lost in the film. Wilder in fact apologized to Marlene for that.

The Anglo-Saxon legal system's goal is justice. Justice is served though not quite in the way it usually is in Witness for the Prosecution.