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Not rated. () |
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(1288) |
521 |
3242 |
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(519) |
210 |
1306 |
Male |
(769) |
311 |
1936 |
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Plot: An unusual murder case tempts an ailing barrister back into action in this courtroom drama based on an Agatha Christie play.
Meet Other Fans
Recent Reviews
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MCT:September 1, 2008
thought that I had seen this movie and could not remember. No, haven't. Very good story concerning man accused of murder (Power) and his foreign wife (Dietrich). Nice twist at the end. Good!
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MCT:August 18, 2008
Witness for the Prosecution is one of those court room dramas that you wouldn't want to miss, the twists were pretty predictable for me but that doesn't take a bit out of this wonderfully acted and paced movie.
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MCT:August 18, 2008
Wonderful!!!
First and foremost, there is the unique Charles Laughton. He still the show. He is the example of what an actor should aim to be. Marlene is not too bad herself.
Then there is the pleasure of earing the English accent, the pleasure of following step by step a trial in the old London.
Just lovely dear. -
MCT:July 18, 2008This is the fourth consecutive Billy Wilder film I have seen and will be the last for a while as I do not have access to The Lost Weekend, Double Indemnity, or Stalag 17 at the moment. Of the six Billy Wilder films I have seen (this string of four along with Sunset Boulevard and Sabrina) this one is second only to Sunset Boulevard. The film is about a man (Tyrone Power) accused of murdering a single woman who is about to leave him a bunch of money and his only alibi is his wife (Marlene Dietrich). When the credits roll a voice warns the viewer not to spoil it so I'll say no more. The plot was very entertaining, well-paced, and even had a couple of comedic moments. This film is not a comedy by any stretch of the imagination, but is still funny a couple times. I do not generally care for comedy movies because a well-written drama can be funny enough, there's no need for constant laughter. Back to the plot, the moments leading up to the ending seemed a little weak while I was watching but these would-be issues were mostly resolved and this story full of twists and turns delivers a very good ending which I will not reveal for obvious reasons.
As stated previously, this film stars Tyrone Power and Marlene Dietrich. They both do an excellent job especially Dietrich, who I had never previously seen. Actually, one could argue they were more supporting cast than anything as Power's lawyer, played by Charles Laughton, is in almost every scene in the film. He does an excellent as well and is rather funny at times. He delivers a line near the end of the film that I thought was most excellent but it sort of reveals the plot so I will not post it here.
Other than a five to ten minute stretch near the end of this film just about everything was perfect. According to some legal experts there were a few moments in the trial that probably would not have occurred, although the experts argue that they are at least plausible. I suppose this slightly detrimental to the film as the trial hinges on these somewhat unlikely occurrences. Still, this film is great and when combined with what else I have seen Billy Wilder is now one of my favorite directors (I now have three) and moves ahead of Stanley Kubrick as my second favorite, still quite a way behind Hitchcock.
93/100
A-
UP NEXT: I'll try yet again to like Audrey Hepburn in probably her most famous role, Breakfast at Tiffany's. -
MCT:July 17, 2008
The twists! The turns! This movie starts out quite slow as most courtroom dramas do. But by the end it picks up pace and is quite entertaining!
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MCT:June 28, 2008
Top Shelf film; I loved it from beginning to end. The characters are great, and the ending is ovation worthy.
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MCT:May 10, 2008I was floored by the brilliance of this Billy Wilder film when I first saw it. Charles Laughton is great as the crotchety old lawyer recently returned from the hospital, but ready and able in mind to help out a seemingly innocent man. Tyrone Power, best remembered for The Mark of Zorro I think, gives an equally great performance as that seemingly innocent man. The women in her are also brilliant Marlene Dietrich and Elsa Lanchester being the perfect complements to their men. There are many other familiar faces for those that have the eye and the story is one of the best.
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MCT:March 20, 2008
I?ve always been a fan of courtroom dramas; in fact I?ve seen every single episode of Law & Order (which is no easy task.) For this reason I?m surprised I hadn?t already seen this very famous court room drama which was nominated for an Oscar in 1957, one of my favorite cinematic years. When I consider that this was directed by Billy Wilder and featured a very strong cast, I?m really shocked it took this long.
The film chronicles the trial of a man named Leonard Vole (Tyrone Power), who stands accused of murdering an old woman in order to gain her inheritance. The prosecution?s case is largely circumstantial and an aging barrister named Wilfrid Robarts (Charles Laughton) decides to come out of near retirement in order to defend his innocence. The wildcard in the mix is that the key witness in the case, Vole?s wife Christine (Marlene Dietrich), appears to be a femme fatale and where her real allegiance lies is as much of a mystery to be solved.
The film is based on a short story by the famous mystery writer Agatha Christie. As that author?s name would suggest, the film is at its core a mystery rather than a court room procedure. Like a mystery the film has all the meticulous structure one would expect, in fact that is the film?s strong point. All the clues and red herrings are perfectly planted and play out wonderfully.
The film has a great ensemble cast and at the center is the legendary Charles Laughton. Laughton shows all the charisma one would expect from a Barrister of his character?s reputation, but he also displays a physical frailty, one can see he?s putting his very essence into the case. Tyrone Power is also great here in his final screen role, the man he plays is a complete tool you can?t help but feel sorry for, and that is thanks largely to Power?s performance. Marlene Dietrich is also very strong here as the stone faced wife of the accused. Unfortunately the producers priorities with Dietrich were clearly misplaced and a very stupid flashback scene was tacked on for no reason than to get a glimpse at one of her famous legs.
The film?s director, Billy Wilder, is one of if not the, most important directors of the 50s. Many say that he, along with Joseph L. Mankiewicz and Otto Preminger, brought a new level of maturity to Hollywood films in the era. Wilder brought new levels of intellect to Hollywood with such films as The Lost Weekend, Sunset Boulevard, Ace in the Hole, and The Apartment. This intellectual innovation is not really on display in Witness for the Prosecution, but it is a very well told story nonetheless, and the film is a very fun ride. -
MCT:March 8, 2008
I would recommend this one to people who like Alfred Hitchcock. It's not a thriller, but it has a similar feel in terms of the mystery.
There are some flaws in the story, but the characters are fun.
I didn't like how they cast an American to play a Brit. That was annoying, but Charles Laughton was really fun in it. -
MCT:February 3, 2008
I really underestimated Marlene Dietrich. She proves in this role that she is much more than a pretty face.
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MCT:October 28, 2007
Tyrone Powers give a convincing role as a man accused of murder and his wife who backs him up. Charles Laugton plays the barrister who defends him. great roles by all involved.
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MCT:September 19, 2007
Sure, it's old - but it's great! The courtroom drama, suspense & the finally are excellent. A must see courtroom thriller.
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MCT:August 17, 2007
Quite liked this when my dad forced me to watch it. Amazing how these simple movies don't seem as cheesy as if they were done today.
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MCT:August 13, 2007
Let's see.... Billy Wilder.... Tyrone Power, Marlene Dietrich, Charles Laughton, and one of the best twists ever.... hm. what should I rate this movie?
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MCT:June 30, 2007
Great movie with an ending I never saw coming. Charles Laughton is always good, but Tyrone Power stood out for me as well.
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MCT:June 26, 2007
What a masterpiece! Laughton really lights this film up as the cynical defense barrister. Billy Wilder's relentless direction envisions the tension embraced between Power and Dietrich. A careful plot results in a most unsuspecting and twisting resolution.
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MCT:June 7, 2007
Excellent! Charles Laughton as a delightfully rude and cunning barrister makes this film fun to watch.
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MCT:April 28, 2007
a fabulous and thrilling movie. charles laughton is fabulous, and his nurse and the elderly housekeeper offer many laughs. plus, a twist ending to beat all others.
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MCT:April 27, 2007
The courtroom drama to beat all others. The pomposity of the court is on trial as much as the murderer is...
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MCT:March 15, 2007
One of the greatest courtroom movies. Tyrone Power, Charles Laughton & Marlene Dietrich Talk about star power. Need I say more.
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MCT:January 17, 2007
its a good movie! its a guy who is ccused of murder. its such a good movie all the way. its was nominated.
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