Witness for the Prosecution (1957)
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Movie Info & Cast
Synopsis
A veteran British barrister must defend his client in a murder trial that has surprise after surprise.
Cast
- Tyrone Power
- Marlene Dietrich
- Charles Laughton
- Elsa Lanchester
- John Williams
- Henry Daniell
- Ian Wolfe
- Torin Thatcher
- Norma Varden
- Una O'Connor
Letterboxd User Reviews
4.4
151.3K
62.5K
53.6K
- Sep 25, 2014
12 Angry Men is the best courtroom drama outside of the courtroom. This is probably the best one inside it.
MattDec 18, 2019“in order to show just one of marlene dietrich’s famous legs, an entire scene was written that required 145 extras, 38 stunt men, and $90,000.” marlene dietrich’s left leg has more power than any of us mere mortals could ever even dream of having.
eelyFeb 11, 2024That ending was BRUTAL, it was so clever and unexpected, it's a classic example of a film with a visceral and extremely well executed ending. The storytelling techniques and character development are perfect, and will leave you completely hypnotized, I highly recommend it.
noen - Sep 12, 2018
Anyone who tells you that this film is boring is, in fact, a chronic and habitual LIAR
NickMay 1, 2024sir wilfrid deserves to smoke a big fat one after all that nonsense
corey👻Jun 29, 2017If you try to look up the definition of "plot twist" this movie shows up
Sara Clements - Sep 22, 2014
A top-tier example of storytelling perfection, Witness for the Prosecution is a seamlessly narrated, eloquently written, crisply shot, wonderfully witted & magnificently acted courtroom drama that not only qualifies as one of the finest examples of its genre but is one…
CCApr 17, 2020Charles Laughton and Marlene Dietrich doing Billy Wilder in turn doing an Agatha Christie courtroom drama???? Insane. Takes a bit to get going but the climactic 15m or so are as thrilling as advertised.
Josh LewisMar 30, 2017I haven't seen an ending as shocking and as unexpected since Psycho. This is Charles Laughton's movie, how he only has third billing is beyond me.
cassandra
Queue Community Reviews
96%
Community 1,072
Top Reviews
- yixi lovedWitness for the Prosecution
"Predictable plot," astonishing truth, and an aftertaste that lingers. The funniest part is how Leonard Vole still managed to stage an ethical drama at the end, closing with an absurd conclusion, while Sir Wilfrid wrapped it up by saying, "Defending Christine."
Danial lovedWitness for the ProsecutionThe most beautiful law movie I've seen in my life, moments you wouldn't expect at the end of the movie.🧑🏻⚖️
Murph likedWitness for the ProsecutionRating: 7/10 Overall this movie was interesting, exciting and well done. Twist were presented like a firework show; little burst here or there and then an almost overwhelming finale. Definitely worth a watch if you like court room dramas and mysteries.
- CvptvinHowdy likedWitness for the Prosecution
That's a banger twist right there! I was right in the prediction I made, but I didn't expect more from it and left me flabbergasted. Charles Laughton was fantastic here, and overall excellent courtroom drama.
zxki likedWitness for the Prosecutionit's hard not to like courtroom dramas, this was one of the oldest movies iv watched with such a modern take on what it is. yes it is long but there's segments of this movie were I couldn't stop watching.
Jacob Hall likedWitness for the ProsecutionInteresting court drama up until the very very end. Then it just gets goofy af. I don't care how much ppl like that ending, that was trash. Felt like one of those things you add in just cuz you can.
- Platypus Lord lovedWitness for the Prosecution
👍👍 Great, absorbing, well-written. I'm a sucker for courtroom movies. Brilliant, lovable protagonist acted very well (even while being a total curmudgeon that needs character growth).
Mickerdoo lovedWitness for the ProsecutionNever saw it coming. Not like that. A truly surprising film. Refreshing. Power, Dietrich and Laughton are powerhouses.
jam jammy jambam lovedWitness for the Prosecutioncourtroom drama at its best. twist after twist, yet it doesn't feel forced; everything was laid out for those to see.
Atom User Reviews
Metacritic
While not amongst the greater, more celebrated titles in Billy Wilder’s acclaimed filmography, his big screen adaptation of Agatha Christie’s Witness for the Prosecution boasts a fine, scenery-chewing performance by Charles Laughton, here playing a cantankerous barrister defending a murder suspect.
Martyn Conterio
CineVue
Marlene Dietrich tries not to give anything away as usual while Agatha Christie's whodunit plot whirs tidily about her expressionless beauty.
David Parkinson
Empire
For a courtroom melodrama pegged to a single plot device--a device that, of course, everybody promises not to reveal--the Arthur Hornblow Jr. film production of the Agatha Christie play Witness for the Prosecution comes off extraordinarily well. This results mainly from Billy Wilder's splendid staging of some splintering courtroom scenes and a first-rate theatrical performance by Charles Laughton in the defense-attorney role.
Bosley Crowther
The New York Times
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