WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION

I have always been very partial to films with a surprise ending and "Witness for the Prosecution" has a real stunner. I also enjoy courtroom dramas and this is one of the best. Add to this great performances by a exemplary cast and one of my favourite directors Billy Wilder (who also co-wrote the screenplay) and you can't lose! Charles Laughton's performance alone makes the film well worth seeing. "Witness for the Prosecution" is from a play by Agatha Christie but it also has the feel of Hitchcock about it. Tyrone Power plays Leonard Vole who is the prime suspect in the murder of a lonely wealthy widow Emily Jane French (Norma Varden). Charles Laughton is Sir Wilfrid Robarts - a most distinguished and respected London barrister - who takes on the difficult task of defending Vole. He is reluctant to accept the case at first but then becomes intrigued with the complexities of the murder and can't make up his mind whether Vole is innocent or guilty. Vole's only hope is the testimony of his wife (Marlene Dietrich) but his airtight alibi falls apart when she reveals some shocking secrets of her own. The film will keep you glued to the edge of your seat with many red herrings, plot twists, double crosses and surprises galore. In one scene Vole tells Mrs French that the film they go to see at a visit to the cinema is about the famous outlaw Jesse James. This was probably an "in joke" as Power had played the title role in "Jesse James" (1939). William Holden was first choice for the part of Leonard Vole but was unavailable. Other actors considered included Kirk Douglas, Gene Kelly, Glenn Ford and Jack Lemmon. Eventually Tyrone Power accepted the part when he was offered $300,000. This was sadly Tyrone Power's last film who died shortly after its completion.
Ava Gardner and Rita Hayworth were both approached to play Christine Helm but the role went to Marlene Dietrich. The film was remade in colour as a TV movie in 1984 with Ralph Richardson, Beau Bridges and Diana Rigg.
Favourite lines:
Tyrone Power: "But this is England, where I thought you never arrest, let alone convict, people for crimes they have not committed".
Charles Laughton: "I am constantly surprised that women's hats do not provoke more murders".
Elsa Lanchester: "Wilfrid the Fox! That's what they call him, and that's what he is!".
Elsa Lanchester: "Sir Wilfrid, you forgot your brandy!". (closing line).