I have no idea why I'm writing this review. How surprised I was to see Wilder do Hitchcock better than Hitchcock ever could! "Witness for the Prosecution" is a genuine classic, and although somewhat atypical for Christie, it is undeniably one of the greatest stories ever penned down. La Dietrich looks fabulous and keeps you fascinated even when she's coming across as the ultimate bitch; it's a shame she wasn't nominated for an Oscar along with co-stars Charles Laughton and Elsa Lanchester. All of the comic scenes in the film between Charles Laughton and Elsa Lanchester were added by the screenwriters; they are not in the original play. He employs an experienced but aging barrister, Sir Wilfrid (Charles Lawton) as his defense attorney who is recovering from a severe heart attack . Along the trial, Christine is surprisingly called to testify in court by the prosecution, when secrets about their lives are disclosed. When Leonard Vole (Tyrone Power) meets Mrs. French (Norma Varden) for the second time - in the movie theater - Vole tells Mrs. French that the movie is about Jesse James. A nice movie for a rainy afternoon or a boring holiday! The perfect cozy mystery for a dark & stormy night. Una O'Connor was the only member of the original Broadway cast of the play to reprise her role on film. Marlene Dietrich named Billy Wilder as one of the three greatest directors she ever worked with. Directed by Billy Wilder. In fact, I only have one minor complaint: *** Spoiler **** the film version adds one more final twist that I didn't find 100% plausible. 7/10. The 1957 film adaptation is great, I really liked that adaptation, but this one is also quite good. The two-part programme was adapted by Sarah Phelps and directed by Julian Jarrold and is based on Agatha Christie's short story of the same name. The better version of Witness For The Prosecution,starring a very remarkable Diana Rigg as a frosty and yet highly intense dark lady,and presenting the most compelling courtroom drama ever seen on the screen,with a duel to death among an ambitious and insinuating prosecutor played with his usual malicious glint by a wonderful Donald Pleasance and a dying and cunning barrister played with vulnerable naughtiness by a titanic Ralph Richardson.The stellar cast is completed by the Gotha of beloved English character actors:Wendy Hiller,Richard Vernon,David Langton,Peter Sallis...even Deborah Kerr in an endearing role of comic relief.A major success,highly deserving a DVD edition,and very curiously far superior to the Billy Wilder version,exceedingly verging on glamor and comedy. :-) (In fact, if I recall correctly, when WftP was shown on Turner Classic Movies, Robert Osborne mentioned in his intro that Welles helped Dietrich out with her WftP "Cockney informant" makeup as a favor!) There is circumstantial evidence pointing to Vole, and he says he knows nothing about the will. This was one of his last performances, and his immense skill simply cannot overcome his advanced age. Deborah Kerr is unfortunately miscast as the hovering nurse to Sir Ralph's character and Beau Bridges is completely out of his so-limited depth as the accused murderer. Charles Laughton appears as himself, talking directly to the audience, in the lengthy 4 minute trailer. The bombastic settings and decors, the echoing acoustics, the powerful monologues of confident (and arrogant) barristers and the intimidating gowns and wigs are largely what make "Witness for the Prosecution" not only the first but also the mother of all courtroom dramas. So he came in on his day off and read all of the off-camera speeches for the jury members. Wilder, Laughton, Lanchester, & Dietrich Add Sparkle to Christie's Courtroom Classic. I'm not saying it's not a wonderful story, just that it doesn't come to life like it does on the screen. Diana Rigg as always is great. The press book, reviews and various articles about the production stated that the principal cast members themselves did not even know the ending of the film until the last day of shooting, when the final ten pages of the script were presented to them. SPOILERS AHEAD! Directed by Alan Gibson. Marlene Dietrich and Billy Wilder enjoyed a long-running mutual admiration society. Noël Coward acted as special dialogue director for Marlene Dietrich. In the dubbed version of the film shown in France, and later on French television, the Ian Wolfe character, "Carter", is re-named "Garner" (an easier name for a French speaker to pronounce). And they all tell the kinds of stories that involve a lot of lead time while the author works out the details of the intricate plots. 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). This is Dame Agatha at her best. Tyrone Power starred as the famous outlaw in Jesse James (1939). I mentioned Dietrich and Power already, but there's also the downright phenomenal Charles Laughton (arguably the most shamefully neglected actor/director in history) and an appealing supportive role for Elsa Lancaster. A veteran lawyer must defend a man in what promises to be the most dramatic trial of his career. Charlie Chaplin was funny. Agatha Christie is a classical detective story writer; arguably, THE classical detective story writer. The Witness for the Prosecution is a 2016 British mystery drama thriller television serial broadcast on BBC One over Christmas 2016. Many of which could apply to Power's character. I quite enjoyed both. official box office. Directed by Alan Gibson. Here, he plays another Charles Laughton subordinate, Carter. Based on the same script and set-up as the famous Billy Wilder version, which starred Tyrone Power, Charles Laughton, Marlene Dietrich, and Elsa Lanchester, this TV version tries to impress but doesn't quite make it. Elsa Lanchester used to delight in broadcasting Marlene Dietrich's secrets. The courtroom setting, which cost $75,000 to build, was a recreation of an actual courtroom in London's Central Criminal Courts, The Old Bailey. There's one major disadvantage about having read all of Christie's whodunits, of course, namely that you can't experience the same astounding twist-in-the-end twice! As sickly but sly barrister Wilfrid Robarts and his chipper but no-nonsense nurse, Miss Plimsoll, real-life husband and wife Laughton and Lanchester shine in the most engaging performances of their careers. Still, his presence alone delivers barrels full of audience goodwill, and the piece is anchored by fine performances from Diana Rigg in the Dietrich role, Deborah Kerr in Elsa Lanchester's part (a fun bit of off-casting!) But Diana Riggs is excellent, while Marlene Dietrich, much to my surprise and disappointment, is quite woody. It also fits. Lanchester's reaction has not been recorded. (Granted, his character is supposed to be aged and ill, but Sir Ralph is unable to act intrigued and energized by his last case the way Laughton was in the original.) It has outstanding acting and a plot to die for. Marlene Dietrich was determined to play Christine Vole, and only if Billy Wilder directed. Sir Ralph Richardson isn't as doddering as Charles Laughton's barrister, perhaps more fragile yet equally determined to remain vital in his beloved profession years after most people retire from it. The lifts were stuck to the side of Dietrich's head where she wanted skin to be lifted. 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. Although Dietrich was never secretive about her famous "tape lifts," Lanchester detailed their use to anyone who would listen (One of the most avid listeners was Charles Laughton, who urged a make-up man to steal one so he could try it). Wilfrid must now juggle the case and his health as he attempts to keep the young man from being sent down. Enormously enjoyable courtroom murder mystery. While all the evidence racks up against him, Charles doesn't give up hope and tries to win the case, all the while trying to crack the very hard nut Marlene Dietrich. In our household, "Is that really desirable?" I thought it was a Hitchcock film with all of the unexpected twists, but no, the director was Billy Wilder. Charles Laughton is absolutely superb, and Elsa Lanchester is a perfect foil.
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