Witness for the ProsecutionDirected by Billy WilderScreenplay by Larry Marcus, Billy Wilder and Harr

Witness for the ProsecutionDirected by Billy WilderScreenplay by Larry Marcus, Billy Wilder and Harry Kurnitz (based on the play by Agatha Christie)USA, 1957 Watched on 2nd August 2014First viewing I’ve been a fan of Billy Wilder almost as long as I’ve been a fan of classic films in general, and I sought out nearly all his classics in quick succession. As such, it’s been years since I saw a Billy Wilder film I’d never seen before. And what a treat it is! Witness for the Prosecution is Wilder’s take on courtroom drama. The film actually focuses more on the barrister for the defence, Sir Wilfrid Robarts (Charles Laughton). Sir Wilfrid has just returned to work (against his doctor’s orders) after a heart attack, and is constantly pestered by his nurse, Miss Plimsoll – played by Laughton’s actual wife Elsa Lanchester. Their scenes together are delightful, full of spirited bickering and Wilder-esque humour. [THE FOLLOWING CONTAINS SPOILERS] The defendant is Leonard Vole (Tyrone Power), accused of murdering a rich old widow who had made him the main beneficiary in her will. Circumstantial evidence points to his guilt, and even his glamorous German wife Christine (Marlene Dietrich - who else?) seems unwilling to corroborate his alibi. Leonard’s case only starts turning his way when a mysterious stranger discredits Christine’s testimony. The delightfully twisty plot would be a lot more effective were it not for the fact that the mysterious stranger is quite clearly Marlene Dietrich in disguise, sporting a very dodgy cockney accent. The pay-off is still a surprise, but a lot less of a surprise than it could have been. Still, most of the rest of the film was wonderful. I was pleasantly surprised by Tyrone Power, unsurprisingly beguiled by Marlene Dietrich, and greatly amused by the interplay between Laughton and Lanchester. Good stuff. Now, I wonder what other Wilder films I have left to see… -- source link

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