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:
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Up 2% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Billy Wilder
Writers:
Agatha Christie (play)
Larry Marcus (adaptation)
(more)
Contact:
View company contact information for Witness for the Prosecution on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
6 February 1958 (USA) more
Tagline:
Once in 50 years suspense like this! more
Plot:
Agatha Christie tale of a man on trial for murder: a trial featuring surprise after surprise. full summary | full synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
Nominated for 6 Oscars. Another 2 wins & 8 nominations more
User Comments:
Love That Laughton more (136 total)

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)

Tyrone Power ... Leonard Vole

Marlene Dietrich ... Christine Vole

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 Jane French
Una O'Connor ... Janet McKenzie
Francis Compton ... Judge
Philip Tonge ... Inspector Hearne

Ruta Lee ... Diana
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Marjorie Eaton ... Miss O'Brien (uncredited)
Franklyn Farnum ... Barrister (uncredited)
Bess Flowers ... Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
Colin Kenny ... Juror (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)
Bert Stevens ... Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
Ben Wright ... Barrister Reading Charges (uncredited)
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Directed by
Billy Wilder 
 
Writing credits
Agatha Christie (play)

Larry Marcus (adaptation)

Billy Wilder (screenplay) and
Harry Kurnitz (screenplay)

Produced by
Arthur Hornblow Jr. .... producer
Edward Small .... executive producer (uncredited)
 
Original Music by
Matty Malneck (musical score by)
 
Cinematography by
Russell Harlan (director of photography)
 
Film Editing by
Daniel Mandell 
 
Art Direction by
Alexandre Trauner 
 
Set Decoration by
Howard Bristol 
 
Makeup Department
Nellie Manley .... hair stylist
Gustaf Norin .... makeup artist
Helene Parrish .... hair stylist
Harry Ray .... makeup artist
Ray Sebastian .... makeup artist
Wally Westmore .... makeup artist: Marlene Dietrich (uncredited)
 
Production Management
Ben Hersh .... production supervisor
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Emmett Emerson .... assistant director
 
Art Department
Stanley Detlie .... property master
 
Sound Department
Fred Lau .... sound
 
Costume and Wardrobe Department
Edith Head .... costumes: Miss Dietrich
Joe King .... costumer (as Joseph King)
 
Music Department
Ernest Gold .... conductor
Leonid Raab .... music arranger
 
Other crew
John Franco .... script supervisor
Doane Harrison .... production associate
Edward Small .... presenter
 
Crew verified as complete


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Additional Details

Runtime:
116 min | Australia:111 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Aspect Ratio:
1.66 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The original play "Witness for the Prosecution" by Agatha Christie opened at Henry Miller's Theater on December 16, 1954 and ran for 645 performances. Una O'Connor reprises her role in the movie. more
Goofs:
Revealing mistakes: When Vole, in his cell, starts relating the story of how he and Christine met, the scene dissolves into a flashback while Vole is speaking. But as it begins to dissolve, Vole, still clearly visible, has stopped talking even as his voice-over continues its narration. more
Quotes:
Sir Wilfrid: [getting progressively more agitated] The question is whether you were lying then or are you lying now... or whether in fact you are a chronic and habitual LIAR! more
Movie Connections:
Spoofed in "Get Smart: Witness for the Persecution (#3.3)" (1967) more
Soundtrack:
I May Never Go Home Anymore more

FAQ

A Note Regarding Spoilers
Is "Witness for the Prosecution" based on a novel?
How does the movie end after the verdict is announced?
more
74 out of 87 people found the following comment useful.
Love That Laughton, 29 August 2004
8/10
Author: Ryan Ellis from Toronto, Canada

Charlie Chaplin was funny. Charles Laughton was witty. As good as 'Witness For The Prosecution' is---Agatha Christie's story, the other actors, the technical expertise---the Oscar-nominated Laughton is THE reason to see this film. What he brings to Billy Wilder's 1957 courtroom thriller is his tremendous wit and intellect. It's a serious story, but the dark-comic tag team of Wilder/Laughton upgraded the film from "a good courtroom mystery" to "a classic of the courtroom genre".

The headlining star, Tyrone Power, sure doesn't help them very much. He plays anguish about as smoothly as ripped sandpaper...and anguish is the unfortunate emotion he's got to play for most of the picture. Power has been accused of murdering a wealthy older woman. His wife (Marlene Dietrich) seems to be doing all she can to sell him out, appearing as...drum roll, please, drummer man...the star witness for the prosecution. Laughton is the brilliant (and ailing) English barrister defending Power. The plot twists 'n' turns a dozen ways from Sunday, just as it always does in Christie's best work.

Amongst all the talk of bloody murder, there are running gags about cigars and alcohol. More dark wit---Laughton's character's poor health might cause him to drop dead at any moment. Wilder weaved thrills and smiles as well as any director. In this, he was wise to anchor the supporting cast with mainstays of the stiff upper lip. John Williams and Ian Wolfe (Hirsch from "WKRP"), not to mention Laughton's control-freak assistant Elsa Lanchester (who was also CL's real-life wife), are bloody good.

Movies of this type have been ripped off so often that students of the "don't give away the ending" class are bound to figure it out. I did. That hardly mattered because there were STILL more surprises to come. Through all that plot, Dietrich winds up being the most fascinating character. Project back and you'll realize how well her performance works. But she & Power are merely the star attractions in 'Witness For The Prosecution'. The main dish is Charles Laughton. Considering how ironic and cynical our society has become, it's stunning that brilliant old pros like Wilder and Laughton aren't more popular today. After this movie, they've become personal heroes of mine.

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