Witness for the Prosecution (1957)

Director:

Billy Wilder

Writers:

Agatha Christie (play)
Billy Wilder (screen play) ...
(more)

Release Date:

6 February 1958 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Mystery

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:

Murder | Alibi | Trial | Widow | German

Awards:

Nominated for 6 Oscars. Another 3 wins & 8 nominations

Cast

Tyrone Power	...	Leonard Vole
Marlene Dietrich	...	Christine Helm
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 French
Una O'Connor	...	Janet McKenzie
Francis Compton	...	Judge
Philip Tonge	...	Inspector Hearne
Ruta Lee	...	Diana
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Patrick Aherne	...	Court Officer (uncredited)
Marjorie Eaton	...	Miss O'Brien (uncredited)
Franklyn Farnum	...	Barrister (uncredited)
Bess Flowers	...	Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
Robert Haines	...	Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
Colin Kenny	...	Juror (uncredited)
William Meader	...	Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
Ottola Nesmith	...	Miss Johnson (uncredited)
William H. O'Brien	...	Barrister (uncredited)
J. Pat O'Malley	...	Shorts Salesman (uncredited)
George Pelling	...	Bit Part (uncredited)
Jack Raine	...	Doctor (uncredited)
Molly Roden	...	Miss McHugh (uncredited)
Jeffrey Sayre	...	Clerk at Old Bailey (uncredited)
Norbert Schiller	...	Spotlight Operator in German Cafe (uncredited)
Scott Seaton	...	Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
Bert Stevens	...	Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
Ben Wright	...	Barrister Reading Charges (uncredited)

Directed by
Billy Wilder

Writing credits
Agatha Christie		(play)
Billy Wilder		(screen play) and
Harry Kurnitz		(screen play)
Larry Marcus		(adaptation)
Agatha Christie		short story (uncredited)

Produced by
Arthur Hornblow Jr.	....	producer
Edward Small	....	executive producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Matty Malneck		(musical score)

Cinematography by
Russell Harlan		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Daniel Mandell		(film editor)

Art Direction by
Alexandre Trauner

Set Decoration by
Howard Bristol

Makeup Department
Nellie Manley	....	hairdresser
Gustaf Norin	....	makeup
Helene Parrish	....	hairdresser
Harry Ray	....	makeup
Ray Sebastian	....	makeup
Charles Gemora	....	makeup artist: Marlene Dietrich (uncredited)
Wally Westmore	....	makeup artist: Marlene Dietrich (uncredited)

Production Management
Ben Hersh	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Emmett Emerson	....	assistant director
Frank Losee	....	second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Stanley Detlie	....	property master

Sound Department
Fred Lau	....	sound

Special Effects by
Lee Zavitz	....	special effects (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Madison S. Lacy	....	stills photographer (uncredited)

Casting Department
William Maybery	....	casting (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Edith Head	....	costumes: Miss Dietrich
Joe King	....	costumer (as Joseph King)
Adele Parmenter	....	costumes (uncredited)

Music Department
Ernest Gold	....	conductor
Leonid Raab	....	music arranger

Other crew
John Franco	....	script supervisor
Doane Harrison	....	production associate
Edward Small	....	presenter
Basil Bleck	....	technical advisor (uncredited)
Jack Cooper	....	publicity director (uncredited)
Noel Coward	....	dialogue director (uncredited)
Bert Steiner	....	dialogue director (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Edward Small Productions (as Theme Pictures, Inc.) (An Arthur Hornblow Production)

Distributors

• United Artists (1957) (USA) (theatrical) (as A United Artists Release)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1962) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1997) (USA) (VHS)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1999) (USA) (VHS)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (2001) (USA) (VHS)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2004) (Germany) (DVD)
• United Artists Films (1958) (Finland) (theatrical)
• FS Film (2004) (Finland) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• MGM/UA Communications Co. (????) (USA) (TV)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2004) (Germany) (DVD)
• Warner Home Vídeo (????) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Yleisradio (YLE) (1971) (1972) (2001) (2008) (Finland) (TV)

Other Companies

• International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE)  this picture made under the jurisdiction of (as I.A.T.S.E.)
• Ultra Film Synchron  German dubbing

Also Known As:

Runtime:

116 min | Australia:111 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | German

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Argentina:16 | Australia:G | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | USA:Approved (PCA #18704) | UK:U | West Germany:12 | Spain:T | USA:Not Rated

Filming Locations:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Company:

Edward Small Productions

Trivia:

Alfred Hitchcock said "Many times, people have told me how much they enjoyed Witness for the Prosecution (1957). They thought it was my film instead of Billy Wilder's. And Wilder told me people asked him about The Paradine Case (1947), thinking he had done it."

Goofs:

Continuity: When Sir Wilfred is in court arranging his pills on the table, they change in number and orientation from scene to scene.

Quotes:

Christine Vole:You are burning my nose.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Perry Mason: The Case of the Final Fade-Out (#9.30)" (1966)

Soundtrack:

I May Never Go Home Anymore

Billy Wilder meets Agatha Christie

Another brilliant work in the legendary career of Billy Wilder. The director signs a cinematic adaptation of this Agatha Christie story: actually it is really as if the camera went on stage for filming the play. But the film is passionating and exciting, there's no time to get bored.

Another thing we shall not forget is that Billy Wilder is European. He manages to keep the spirit of the film very British, with lots of humour and sarcasm. Compared to films like this one, "legal" movies from John Grisham's novels are empty and meaningless, without soul.

Mr.Wilder is the director, we know; we have Charles Laughton, Tyrone Power and Marlene Dietrich: what a cast! Add a superb black and white cinematography... The result is amazing, with a film where dialogues are flawless and carry everything.

Times are different now, but the atmosphere and the taste of movies like this one are impossible to find in contemporary films.