Witness for the Prosecution (1982) (TV)

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Director:

Alan Gibson

Writers:

Agatha Christie (play)
Billy Wilder (1957 screenplay) ...

Release Date:

4 December 1982 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot Keywords:

Witness For The Prosecution | Murder | Remake | Based On Adaptation | Courtroom

Awards:

Nominated for Primetime Emmy.

Cast

Ralph Richardson	...	Sir Wilfred Robarts
Deborah Kerr	...	Nurse Plimsoll
Beau Bridges	...	Leonard Vole
Donald Pleasence	...	Mr. Myers
Wendy Hiller	...	Janet Mackenzie
Diana Rigg	...	Christine Vole
David Langton	...	Mayhew
Richard Vernon	...	Brogan-Moore
Peter Sallis	...	Carter
Michael Gough	...	Judge
Frank Mills	...	Chief Inspector Hearne
Michael Nightingale	...	Clerk of the Court
Peter Copley	...	Dr. Harrison
Patricia Leslie	...	Mrs. French
John Kidd	...	Court Usher

Runtime:

97 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:12

Filming Locations:

Twickenham Film Studios, St Margarets, Twickenham, Middlesex, England, UK

Company:

CBS Entertainment Production

Trivia:

Donald Pleasence (Mr. Myers) and Michael Gough appeared in film adaptations of the novel "Dracula".

Movie Connections:

Remake of Witness for the Prosecution (1957)

Why remakes sometimes fail

In 1958 Billy Wilder made one of the best film adaptations of an Agatha Christie story when he directed WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION, with Charles Laughton, Marlene Dietrich, Tyrone Power, Elsa Lanchester, and Una O'Connor. It is one of those mystery films that, even when you understand the trick, does not fail to remain entertaining. But it has to be done in a certain way, with a sense of decorum and tradition (personified by Laughton as Sir Wilfred Robarts - brilliant defense barrister but guardian of England's precious laws and sense of justice). It is infectious. Even Power as the seemingly helpless Leonard Vole is desperately hoping that the system of justice will save him.

But along comes this version of 1982. One would have thought it could not fail with a star like Sir Ralph Richardson as Robarts and Diana Rigg as Christine Vole. But it does fail. Even with Dame Deborah Kerr as Nurse Plimsoll and Dame Wendy Hiller as Janet Mackenzie (the Una O'Connor role)it fails. Richardson is too laid back for Sir Wilfrid. When Rigg testifies against her husband, after having previously given him an alibi for the murder, Richardson almost seems to tease her about her behavior. In the same situation in the Wilder film, Laughton's justifiable anger at this turnabout leads to a peroration point where he shouts out that she is a perpetual liar. It was far more affective with Laughton, although Richardson was (traditionally) a greater actor.

Similarly, Tyrone Power's Leonard Vole was (as I said when reviewing the 1958 film version)playing Leonard for all the part is worth, and created the most sinister part he played after his best performance in NIGHTMARE ALLEY as Stanton Carlyle. The last ten minutes of the film show what a totally amoral and vicious louse Power's Vole really is. Beau Bridges was as laid back as Richardson, making the mistake of making Vole seem a nice guy. Vole can be helpless in the arms of the British judicial system or he can be a louse. He can't be a guy you want to take out for a fishing expedition.

I give this film a "6" - barely because the cast tried. Their ideas were wrong in Richardson and Bridges' interpretations.