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:
Top 250: #72  (login to vote)
8.4/10   63,449 votes »
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Popularity: ?
Up 125% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Billy Wilder
Writers:
Agatha Christie (in Agatha Christie's international stage success)
Billy Wilder (screen play) ...
(more)
Contact:
View company contact information for Witness for the Prosecution on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
6 February 1958 (USA) See more »
Genre:
Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller See more »
Tagline:
The most electrifying entertainment of our time! See more »
Plot:
A veteran British barrister must defend his client in a murder trial that has surprise after surprise. Full summary » | Full synopsis »
Plot Keywords:
See more »
Awards:
Nominated for 6 Oscars. Another 4 wins & 8 nominations See more »
NewsDesk:
(82 articles)
BBC Greenlights Seven New Agatha Christie Adaptations
 (From Variety - TV News. 24 August 2016, 3:53 AM, PDT)
Ben Affleck to Direct and Star in a 'Witness for the Prosecution' Remake
 (From Fandango. 22 August 2016, 8:09 AM, PDT)
Ben Affleck gets on the case of Agatha Christie remake
 (From The Guardian - Film News. 22 August 2016, 4:56 AM, PDT)
User Reviews:
A Hitchcockian Billy Wilder See more (204 total) »

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)

Tyrone Power ... Leonard Vole

Marlene Dietrich ... Christine

Charles Laughton ... Sir Wilfrid Roberts

Elsa Lanchester ... Miss Plimsoll

John Williams ... Brogan-Moore

Henry Daniell ... Mayhew

Ian Wolfe ... Carter

Torin Thatcher ... Mr. Myers

Norma Varden ... Mrs. Emily Jane French

Una O'Connor ... Janet MacKenzie
Francis Compton ... Judge
Philip Tonge ... Inspector Hearne

Ruta Lee ... Diana
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Patrick Aherne ... Court Officer (uncredited)
Walter Bacon ... Bar Patron (uncredited)
Eddie Baker ... Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
Brandon Beach ... Juror (uncredited)
Danny Borzage ... Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
George Bruggeman ... Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)

Steve Carruthers ... Barrister (uncredited)

Marjorie Eaton ... Miss O'Brien (uncredited)

Bill Erwin ... Juror (uncredited)

Franklyn Farnum ... Barrister (uncredited)
Bess Flowers ... Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
Herschel Graham ... Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)

Stuart Hall ... Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
Art Howard ... Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
Michael Jeffers ... Cafe Patron (uncredited)

Colin Kenny ... Jury Foreman (uncredited)
Paul Kruger ... Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
Jeanne Lafayette ... Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
Wilbur Mack ... Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
Thomas Martin ... Bailiff (uncredited)

Frank McLure ... Court Officer (uncredited)
Ottola Nesmith ... Miss Johnson (uncredited)

William H. O'Brien ... Barrister (uncredited)

J. Pat O'Malley ... Shorts Salesman (uncredited)
George Pelling ... Minor Role (uncredited)
Paul Power ... Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
Jack Raine ... Doctor (uncredited)
Fred Rapport ... Juror (uncredited)
Waclaw Rekwart ... Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
Leoda Richards ... Cafe Patron (uncredited)
Molly Roden ... Miss McHugh (uncredited)
John Roy ... Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
Jeffrey Sayre ... Clerk at Old Bailey (uncredited)
Norbert Schiller ... Spotlight Operator in German Cafe (uncredited)

Scott Seaton ... Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
Lucile Sewall ... Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
Cap Somers ... Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)

Bert Stevens ... Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
Arthur Tovey ... Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
Glen Walters ... Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
Ben Wright ... Barrister Reading Charges (uncredited)

Directed by
Billy Wilder 
 
Writing credits
Agatha Christie (in Agatha Christie's international stage success)

Billy Wilder (screen play) and
Harry Kurnitz (screen play)

Lawrence B. Marcus (adaptation) (as Larry Marcus)

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)
Noël Coward .... dialogue director (uncredited)
Bert Steiner .... dialogue director (uncredited)
 
Crew verified as complete


Production CompaniesDistributorsOther Companies

Additional Details

Also Known As:
See more »
Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parents
Runtime:
116 min | Australia:111 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English | German
Color:
Black and White
Aspect Ratio:
1.66 : 1 See more »
Sound Mix:
Mono (Westrex Recording System)
Certification:
Argentina:16 | Australia:G | Finland:K-16 | Netherlands:14 (original rating) (1958) | Spain:T | Sweden:15 | UK:U | USA:Approved (PCA #18704) | West Germany:12
Filming Locations:
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA
Company:
Edward Small ProductionsSee more »

Did You Know?

Trivia:
Harry Kurnitz found Billy Wilder an exhausting collaborator. He once described the director at work as "actually two people ­ Mr. Hyde and Mr. Hyde."See more »
Goofs:
Revealing mistakes: When the photographer takes the pictures of Leonard Vole in the prison, he takes one from the front view and one from Voles right side. Later in the courtroom the prosecutor Mr. Myers shows these pictures to Leonard Vole in the witness stand. Now there is one from the front sight and one from his left side. It is hard to believe, that a professional photographer in a murder case would make such a serious mistake to twist the negative mirror inverted. It more looks like a mistake of the prop master.See more »
Quotes:
Brogan-Moore:Touching isn't it? The way he counts on his wife.
Sir Wilfrid:Yes, like a drowning man clutching at a razor blade.
See more »
Movie Connections:
Referenced in "Remington Steele: In the Steele of the Night (#1.9)" (1982)See more »
Soundtrack:
I May Never Go Home AnymoreSee more »

FAQ

How closely does the movie follow the short story?
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User Reviews

   (Review this title)
52 out of 60 people found the following review useful.
A Hitchcockian Billy Wilder, 30 December 2007
Author: M. J Arocena from New Zealand

At the end of the day the films you give top marks are those films that become constant companions. You can see them again at the drop of a hat, you show them to people who have never see them and it's always a triumph. "Witness For The Prosecution" is one of those wonders. Suspend your disbelief for a couple of hours and enjoy this banquet of a romp. Charles Laughton showed here what he was made of better, more clearly and more loudly than in any other film and all of his films, at least the moments with him in it, are unforgettable - Captain Blight or Henry VIII, Quasimodo or that malefic Senator from South Carolina. Here the severity of his lawyer by vocation takes your senses away with his masterful judicial way to see logic and it's such an incredible fun to watch him do it. Tyrone Power is a toy in his hands but not Marlene Dietrich who stands her ground, not merely as a character but as a presence on the screen. Billy Wilder visits early Hitchcock territory with wit and fun. Elsa Lanchester's nurse is the cherry on top of this delightful film.

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Sequel ? (SPOILER!) finewine-1
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