Witness for the Prosecution (1957)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Michael G

  
  Witness for the Prosecution is a wonderfully-directed, by-the-numbers courtroom drama based on an Agatha Christie play. The story doesn't tread too much new ground but Charles Laughtron keeps the show going magnificently and more than makes up for it. Between this and Night of… More
  Witness for the Prosecution is a wonderfully-directed, by-the-numbers courtroom drama based on an Agatha Christie play. The story doesn't tread too much new ground but Charles Laughtron keeps the show going magnificently and more than makes up for it. Between this and Night of the Hunter he's my new favorite underrated actor. The chemistry between him and his real-life wife Elsa Lanchester as his buzzkill nurse is gold and Jesus, was Marlene Dietrich great! And as far as the musical number, can anyone say Blazing Saddles? The feeling that something isn't quite right tips you off to an impending twist but it winds up being more like a pretzel factory.

• AJ V

  
  This movie was too boring, I didn't watch it all the way through.

• Luke B

  
  One of those films that shows how truly incredible films transcend time and place. Witness for the Prosecution had me gripped, more than any recent film has, or even tried to. Based on a play, the film is quite the talker, but every line of dialogue can only belong to the specific… More
  One of those films that shows how truly incredible films transcend time and place. Witness for the Prosecution had me gripped, more than any recent film has, or even tried to. Based on a play, the film is quite the talker, but every line of dialogue can only belong to the specific character saying those lines. It's a great character piece, with dazzling bouts of verbal fisticuffs and procedural moments of tension. The performances are so strong, so different, and yet, play seamlessly off one another. The film ends with a request, not to divulge the secret ending. Out of admirable respect for this film, I shan't. However, I enjoyed, and was surprised by every turn.

• Red L

  
  Whodunits are always interesting. A high-profile lawyer (Sir Wilfred Robarts) defends his client in court, but the client's wife provides some damning evidence. The court case gets resolved, but Sir Wilfred isn't happy as it seems too pat. What I found interesting is that… More
  Whodunits are always interesting. A high-profile lawyer (Sir Wilfred Robarts) defends his client in court, but the client's wife provides some damning evidence. The court case gets resolved, but Sir Wilfred isn't happy as it seems too pat. What I found interesting is that this movie was nominated for six Academy awards in 1957. Although it didn't win any of them, I was amazed it was considered Academy Award quality. I don't think it would be nominated today.

• Cindy I

  
  Great movie with an ending I never saw coming. Charles Laughton is always good, but Tyrone Power stood out for me as well.

• Jennifer X

  
  agatha christie is a tricky little devil and makes this twist-within-a-twist movie that is absolutely unforgettable.

• Byron B

  
  Really good twists (plural) at the end! Laughton, who I have liked from a couple other performances in the '30s, plays an English Barrister. He's recovering from a heart attach and any extreme emotional stress could jeopardize his health again. This is the first film in… More
  Really good twists (plural) at the end! Laughton, who I have liked from a couple other performances in the '30s, plays an English Barrister. He's recovering from a heart attach and any extreme emotional stress could jeopardize his health again. This is the first film in which I've seen Power or Dietrich appear. I wasn't too impressed by either early in the story, but when I saw the surprises at the end, I had a whole new appreciation for the way they played their roles. There's a strong case against suspect Power for the murder of a wealthy older woman. Some flashbacks reveal his side of the story, but you don't get to know the victim very well. Power's wife Dietrich is puzzling in the way she reacts to the news of her husband being accused, in the way she interacts with Laughton, and in the way she becomes a witness for the prosecution against her husband. Power is very charming, especially with the ladies, and has no trouble eliciting sympathy from the public. But the story is really about the true mystery of this guy's innocence or guilt.

• Matthew Y

  
  A famous play given the big Hollywood treatment and masterfully crafted by one of cinemas greatest legends. In case you didn't know by now any Billy Wilder film is good enough to own on DVD let alone simply watch. The film is a courtroom drama about a seemingly innocent man who… More
  A famous play given the big Hollywood treatment and masterfully crafted by one of cinemas greatest legends. In case you didn't know by now any Billy Wilder film is good enough to own on DVD let alone simply watch. The film is a courtroom drama about a seemingly innocent man who has financially benefited from an older ladyfriends murder. His only alibi is his unlikeable German wife whose allegiances towards her husband are under question. Despite the excellent direction and writing the film is stolen away by the great Charles Laughton who gives a performance for the ages as a bulldog defense attorney whose passion for his craft is in direct contrast to his current health. Laughton is empowering, lighthearted, commanding, cruel, selfish, charming and honest all at once. His thespian screen presence demands our attention in every scene as he powerhouses the film into an all-time classic.

• Bryce I

  
  It's not Billy Wilder's masterpiece, and it is not as intriguing, or entertaining as most of his previous work, but the film is still flawlessly cast, and extremely well directed. The suspense is driven beautifully, and the twists keep coming up until the final shocking… More
  It's not Billy Wilder's masterpiece, and it is not as intriguing, or entertaining as most of his previous work, but the film is still flawlessly cast, and extremely well directed. The suspense is driven beautifully, and the twists keep coming up until the final shocking climax. It's the film that changed the courtroom genre for the better, and will remain a classic until proven otherwise.

• Alec B

  
  I'll sit and listen to Charles Laughton be a witty, bad tempered old curmudgeon any day. The courtroom drama is fairly standard and its built around a pretty flimsy twist but its not terrible. For Laughton and Marlene Dietrich, its worth seeing.

• Lauren D

  
  When it started, I was like 'ZOMG this fat guy suckzz!I!#!@#!'. But, I got used to him. Then when the trial actually started, I started to really enjoy it. By the end of the movie I was quite amazed at how good it was, considering I really didn't like Marlene Dietrich.… More
  When it started, I was like 'ZOMG this fat guy suckzz!I!#!@#!'. But, I got used to him. Then when the trial actually started, I started to really enjoy it. By the end of the movie I was quite amazed at how good it was, considering I really didn't like Marlene Dietrich. BUT, at the end of the movie I realized she wasn't that bad. I was happy at the ending, until the last thing ended and was almost tempted to take down the rating but didn't.

• Anastasia B

  
  I can't tell you how much I enjoy these old classics, especially Billy Wilder's work. It's almost immaculate. Particularly I admire the wit and the style of his film-making, evident here as well. Marlene Dietrich is her legendary self, and Charles Laughton's… More
  I can't tell you how much I enjoy these old classics, especially Billy Wilder's work. It's almost immaculate. Particularly I admire the wit and the style of his film-making, evident here as well. Marlene Dietrich is her legendary self, and Charles Laughton's unforgettable... Enjoy!!!!!

• Audrey L

  
  Now this is classic film noire from the golden age of movies.What a performance by Marlene Dietrich.Delicious plot twists and a great performance from Charles Laughton as the shrewd and jaded defense lawyer. Finally-Tyrone Power as the accused.What a cast-what a movie!!

• Sunil J

  
  Good performances. Not Billy Wilder's best but still well executed.

• MJS M

  
  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… More
  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.

• Anthony V

  
  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?

Read all 16 featured audience ratings