Witness for the Prosecution
(A- or 3.5/4 stars)
The film 'Witness for the Prosecution' (adapted from an Agatha Christie play & directed by Billy Wilder) is one that all movie buff's should see at some point. It received stellar reviews back in 1957, did great at the box office, & garnered 6 Academy Award nominations; including Best Picture, Actor, Supp. Actress, & Direction. Superb Charles Laughton plays Sir Wilfrid Robarts, a grumpy London barrister recovering from a heart attack under the care of bossy Nurse Plimsoll (Elsa Lanchester, Laughton's real-life wife) and under strict orders not to indulge in cigars, brandy, or criminal court cases.
But all that changes when he's presented with an intriguing murder case by solicitor Mayhew (the always sturdy Henry Daniell). Wilfrid believes the amiable accused man is innocent & therefore decides to defend the handsome former RAF sergeant, Leonard Vole (Tyrone Power), who will be tried for the murder of wealthy widow, Emma French (Norma Varden). Leonard had wormed his way into Emma's life; trying to get her to finance his egg beater invention. He claims not to have known that she would leave him 80,000 pounds in her will, but that testimony is contradicted by Ms. French's Scottish housekeeper (Una O'Connor).
Leonard Vole's German-born wife Christine (Marlene Dietrich), someone he loves very much, is his one-&-only alibi. But when Christine is called as a 'witness for the prosecution', the prosecutor gets her to admit that she lied about the exact time frame & the blood found on his shirt. This evidence seems to be very damning & damaging for Leonard Vole ... that is until a mysterious woman enters the case & the rest of the proceedings are played out in a fairly rousing climax.
I was highly entertained by this old-school courtroom drama; a drama, by the way, with more than enough dollops of humor interspersed throughout. Thanks to the comic banter/interplay btwn. Laughton & real-life wife Elsa Lanchester, the drama is balanced with said humor. The characters are vivid, the dialogue absolutely crackles, & the plot has just enough twists in it to keep you guessing as to why things just don't seem quiiiiiiiite right about the case. Surprise endings were common in Agatha Christie novels & this one has a cracker-jack finale.
Though Tyrone Power is good here (and, sadly, in his final role), it is Charles Laughton who steals the film as the ailing, but none-the-less intense barrister who cleverly suspects that something is awry in the seemingly straightforward case. Listening to Laughton's rich baritone deliver the brilliant lines of dialogue is just such a treat. One of his more electric line readings comes during his cross-examination of Dietrich's character. He rhetorically asks, "Are you not, in fact, a chronic & habitual LIAR!!!" ... virtually exploding like a volcano on the last word. Speaking of Marlene Dietrich, the then 56 yr. old actress {boy, did she look great} was excellent as the enigmatic Christine Vole. She's hypnotic to watch and, she's particularly good in a few specific scenes which pertain to the movie's "twist" conclusion.
Because the ending is essential to the enjoyment of this film, I won't divulge particulars. Director Wilder was so intent on keeping the whole matter a secret that he included a message during the end credits asking audiences not to give it away after having exited the theater. Some slow moments aside, I was won-over by the polished production, the grand verbosity of the proceedings, & the fiery performances. 'Witness for the Prosecution' is one of the better films to be released in 1957.
But all that changes when he's presented with an intriguing murder case by solicitor Mayhew (the always sturdy Henry Daniell). Wilfrid believes the amiable accused man is innocent & therefore decides to defend the handsome former RAF sergeant, Leonard Vole (Tyrone Power), who will be tried for the murder of wealthy widow, Emma French (Norma Varden). Leonard had wormed his way into Emma's life; trying to get her to finance his egg beater invention. He claims not to have known that she would leave him 80,000 pounds in her will, but that testimony is contradicted by Ms. French's Scottish housekeeper (Una O'Connor).
Leonard Vole's German-born wife Christine (Marlene Dietrich), someone he loves very much, is his one-&-only alibi. But when Christine is called as a 'witness for the prosecution', the prosecutor gets her to admit that she lied about the exact time frame & the blood found on his shirt. This evidence seems to be very damning & damaging for Leonard Vole ... that is until a mysterious woman enters the case & the rest of the proceedings are played out in a fairly rousing climax.
I was highly entertained by this old-school courtroom drama; a drama, by the way, with more than enough dollops of humor interspersed throughout. Thanks to the comic banter/interplay btwn. Laughton & real-life wife Elsa Lanchester, the drama is balanced with said humor. The characters are vivid, the dialogue absolutely crackles, & the plot has just enough twists in it to keep you guessing as to why things just don't seem quiiiiiiiite right about the case. Surprise endings were common in Agatha Christie novels & this one has a cracker-jack finale.
Though Tyrone Power is good here (and, sadly, in his final role), it is Charles Laughton who steals the film as the ailing, but none-the-less intense barrister who cleverly suspects that something is awry in the seemingly straightforward case. Listening to Laughton's rich baritone deliver the brilliant lines of dialogue is just such a treat. One of his more electric line readings comes during his cross-examination of Dietrich's character. He rhetorically asks, "Are you not, in fact, a chronic & habitual LIAR!!!" ... virtually exploding like a volcano on the last word. Speaking of Marlene Dietrich, the then 56 yr. old actress {boy, did she look great} was excellent as the enigmatic Christine Vole. She's hypnotic to watch and, she's particularly good in a few specific scenes which pertain to the movie's "twist" conclusion.
Because the ending is essential to the enjoyment of this film, I won't divulge particulars. Director Wilder was so intent on keeping the whole matter a secret that he included a message during the end credits asking audiences not to give it away after having exited the theater. Some slow moments aside, I was won-over by the polished production, the grand verbosity of the proceedings, & the fiery performances. 'Witness for the Prosecution' is one of the better films to be released in 1957.