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IMDb > Witness for the Prosecution (1957)
Witness for the Prosecution
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Witness for the Prosecution (1957) More at IMDbPro »

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Overview

User Rating:
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 3% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers:
Agatha Christie (play)
Larry Marcus (adaptation)
(more)
Contact:
View company contact information for Witness for the Prosecution on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
6 February 1958 (USA) more
Tagline:
Once in 50 years suspense like this! more
Plot:
Agatha Christie tale of a man on trial for murder: a trial featuring surprise after surprise. full summary | full synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Awards:
Nominated for 6 Oscars. Another 2 wins & 8 nominations more
User Comments:
Another triumph for cinematic genius Billy Wilder! more (136 total)

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)

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
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Marjorie Eaton ... Miss O'Brien (uncredited)
Franklyn Farnum ... Barrister (uncredited)
Bess Flowers ... Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
Colin Kenny ... Juror (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)
Bert Stevens ... Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
Ben Wright ... Barrister Reading Charges (uncredited)
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Directed by
Billy Wilder 
 
Writing credits
Agatha Christie (play)

Larry Marcus (adaptation)

Billy Wilder (screenplay) and
Harry Kurnitz (screenplay)

Produced by
Arthur Hornblow Jr. .... producer
Edward Small .... executive producer (uncredited)
 
Original Music by
Matty Malneck (musical score by)
 
Cinematography by
Russell Harlan (director of photography)
 
Film Editing by
Daniel Mandell 
 
Art Direction by
Alexandre Trauner 
 
Set Decoration by
Howard Bristol 
 
Makeup Department
Nellie Manley .... hair stylist
Gustaf Norin .... makeup artist
Helene Parrish .... hair stylist
Harry Ray .... makeup artist
Ray Sebastian .... makeup artist
Wally Westmore .... makeup artist: Marlene Dietrich (uncredited)
 
Production Management
Ben Hersh .... production supervisor
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Emmett Emerson .... assistant director
 
Art Department
Stanley Detlie .... property master
 
Sound Department
Fred Lau .... sound
 
Costume and Wardrobe Department
Edith Head .... costumes: Miss Dietrich
Joe King .... costumer (as Joseph King)
 
Music Department
Ernest Gold .... conductor
Leonid Raab .... music arranger
 
Other crew
John Franco .... script supervisor
Doane Harrison .... production associate
Edward Small .... presenter
 
Crew verified as complete


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Additional Details

Runtime:
116 min | Australia:111 min
Country:
Language:
Aspect Ratio:
1.66 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The original play "Witness for the Prosecution" by Agatha Christie opened at Henry Miller's Theater on December 16, 1954 and ran for 645 performances. Una O'Connor reprises her role in the movie. more
Goofs:
Incorrectly regarded as goofs: In the first courtroom scene, the clerk twice states that the murder of Emily Jane French occurred in "the county of London". The County of London was known to both Sherlock Holmes and Horace Rumpole. It was run by the London County Council from 1889-1965, was comprised of over two dozen boroughs (Hampstead to Greenwich to Chelsea), and much to Leonard Vole's chagrin, was home to the Central Criminal Courts, the Old Bailey. In 1965, the County of London became the larger, Greater London, which it still is. Administered by the Greater London Council from 1965-86, it has been run since 2000 by the Greater London Authority, headed by a directly-elected mayor and assembly. For reasons of tradition and vested interest, the old City of London, now a square mile of banks, brokerage houses and the Tower, remains a separate entity. more
Quotes:
Sir Wilfrid: [Leonard Vole has been acquitted] We've disposed of the gallows, but there's still that banana peel somewhere. more
Movie Connections:
Soundtrack:
I May Never Go Home Anymore more

FAQ

A Note Regarding Spoilers
Is "Witness for the Prosecution" based on a novel?
How does the movie end after the verdict is announced?
more
42 out of 50 people found the following comment useful.
Another triumph for cinematic genius Billy Wilder!, 3 February 2005
8/10
Author: The_Void from Beverley Hills, England

Billy Wilder is a director with an understanding of cinema that is almost unmatched throughout the medium's entire history - that's why his films are always so good. Witness for the Prosecution is yet another highlight in the great director's history, and it proves that courtroom dramas can be both riveting and a great opportunity for some first rate comedy. Wilder's film features one of the most well paced plots I've ever seen in a film, and it's a plot that includes some very finely tuned twists. Towards the end, Wilder bombards us with twist after twist, each one both making sense and topping the one before it. In a time when people are impressed by films such as 'The Sixth Sense', Billy Wilder still shows us how to skilfully attribute a twist into a film's plot. The plot itself follows the story of Sir Wilfrid Robarts; an ace defence lawyer that has been told that his health won't allow him to tackle anything more than mundane cases, but is brought back into the fray when a case involving the murder of an elderly woman comes into his hands. Wilfrid must now juggle the case and his health as he attempts to keep the young man from being sent down.

Like all Wilder films, this one is a very pleasurable viewing. Wilder manages to find a middle ground between substance and entertainment, and so this is a film that will please fans of both aspects. The film is deliriously entertaining throughout, with some truly great lines of dialogue (most of which is very quotable) and every twist adds a new level to the story. The substance comes from a multitude of angles, and themes of love, health, sacrifice and most notably, justice, are all more than prevalent. The acting is certainly of note in Witness for the Prosecution. Charles Laughton is absolutely sublime as the undermining and stubborn Wilfrid Robarts; his performance is very strong, and makes up the backbone of the film. The main supporting performance comes from Marlene Dietrich. I'm not a big fan of hers; despite having a great pair of legs, she just doesn't do anything for me, but in this film she brings sufficient coldness to her character and really makes it her own. The final main performance comes from Tyrone Power; he isn't as great as the other two, but does enough with his character to ensure he's believable. Highly recommended viewing!

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Best Billy Wilder movie? christof-kanitz
Overrated, not aged well? sdb_1970
Brilliant casting except for... Cali7
'Let them get me for...' Bringbacktheglam
The monocle (spoiler) tim_ryan12
Showing on channel 4 JK21
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