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:

Charles Laughton modeled his characterization of "Sir Wilfrid Robarts," including the use of a monocle to intimidate Leonard, on Florance Guedella, an Englishman who was both Laughton's and Marlene Dietrich's lawyer and who was famous for twirling his monocle while cross-examining witnesses.

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.

Quotes:

Leonard Vole:What are you looking for?
Christine Vole:My accordion.
Leonard Vole:[stepping on it] I think I've found it.
Christine Vole:Step on it again. It's still breathing.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Evening Shade: Witness for the Prosecution (#4.4)" (1993)

Soundtrack:

I May Never Go Home Anymore

Superb and unjustly maligned film

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD!

I'm not sure I have the ability to adequately praise this film. The original short story(rather unremarkable, actually)has been expanded into a magnificent example of Hollywood entertainment at its best. In addition to perhaps the finest line-up of character actors ever assembled(next to Cukor's David Copperfield, that is), we get Laughton and Dietrich at the top of their form. The person who criticised Lanchester's performance as "annoying" missed the point entirely. Miss Plimsoll is meant to be annoying! Also, what's with all the bad-mouthing of Tyrone Power? "Hammy"; "terrible"; "worst performance ever". These are the perceptive IMDb reviews? Only one of you got it right: it's hammy because Leonard Vole is the one acting, not Power! For 95% of the film, the character is dissembling, only showing his true colors at the end. Of course it looks hammy: Vole isn't a born actor like his wife. And to all those know-it-alls who called this film mediocre and predictable, I look forward to your upcoming film projects which I'm sure will be paragons of excellence and worthy to be set alongside classics of the golden age.