Rating: 
Summary: Wilder makes films to relish and return to
Review: Even with the plot twists, I can still come back to this film and enjoy every second of it; pure entertainment. (...) The timing of the dialogue/banter in the film is wonderful. The comedic chemistry between Laughton and Elsa Lanchester unbeatable; nearly high camp, but also concise. Laughton in general is great here--switching from faking frivolity to grave seriousness. And Dietrich wonderful in this late time of her career; her legs are still amazing at that age.But the real star of the film is Wilder's direction of the taut script. A device that I love of his is that he includes details that seem to be incidental, but later turn out to be crucial information. Only then does the viewer realize that they were supposed to notice them earlier. If only more new Hollywood films had the same attention to nuance and dialogue. This film, for a great combo of artistry and sheer entertainment, makes it one of my favorites.
Rating:
Summary: This was when they made real movies.
Review: Excellent movie. This movie was riveting enough to hold the attention of my "not into old movies" husband and my "Mommy can't we watch something else" 12 year old daughter. Need I say more?
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Courtroom Drama
Review: Fans of mystery will love this gem starring two of Hollywood's greatest, Charles Laughton and Elsa Lanchester (did anyone think I was going to say Tyrone Power?). This is one of the few films that Laughton did with Elsa, his wife (along with "The Private Life of Henry VIII") and the warfare between Laughton's character, an aging barrister, and Lanchester's, that of a nagging nurse, is alone worth the price of the video. The plot centers on aging British lawyer Sir Wilfred Robarts, who must defend a man accused of murder (played by Power, who is adequate) while trying to figure out his enigmatic, vindictive wife (played by Dietrich). Both Laughton and Lanchester were nominated for Oscars (I don't have to tell you they lost - 90% of the time the great performances do). Definitely the best Agatha Christie adaptation to film, rich with great characterization and a startling ending. Highly recommended viewing (rent or buy this one, instead of "Star Wars: Episode One")
Rating:
Summary: Excellent movie, excellent DVD
Review: Good summaries of the plot of this movie appear in other reviews - I won't repeat them. The acting is superb especially by Charles Laughton. The ensemble cast is also excellent including several fine character actors. This movie is an example of that rare animal: a film that is better than the book. The Agatha Christie short story, on which this movie is based, is only 24 pages long and spends only 2 pages on the trial! The Charles Laughton character, Sir Charles, appears briefly with only a few lines. Billy Wilder wrote the screenplay and it expands a throw away Christie story into a powerful courtroom drama. The DVD transfer is excellent: the picture is sharp, gray level detail is very good, and the sound is superb. Great care was taken in the preparation of this DVD. I can't recommend this film and DVD enough. Even if you don't like "old" or B&W films you will like this one. Buy it! Don't wait! You won't be sorry.
Rating: 
Summary: Cheesy by today's standards
Review: I agree that this movie is a prototype for countless future courtroom dramas, but that said, it wasn't too terribly exciting. Marlene Deitrich- icon at large- has always been a bit creepy to me- she's so cold- even when she's not supposed to be & don't get me started on her singing! I still like to watch films she stars in, because I believe one day I'll crack & understand what made her deeply sought after. If I had seen this in 1957, I'm sure I would have ooohed & aaahed at the twists aplenty, but they were lackluster in comparison to the many mystery books & movies I've read & seen. Most of it takes place in the courtroom- so I found I could just listen to it in the background without really paying attention to the screen. If you're interested in watching a film that helped make courtroom dramas what they are today, then you should check it out. I'm glad I watched it. Just don't expect to be thrilled beyond compare.
Rating:
Summary: Cheesy by today's standards
Review: I agree that this movie is a prototype for countless future courtroom dramas, but that said, it wasn't too terribly exciting. Marlene Deitrich- icon at large- has always been a bit creepy to me- she's so cold- even when she's not supposed to be & don't get me started on her singing! I still like to watch films she stars in, because I believe one day I'll crack & understand what made her deeply sought after. If I had seen this in 1957, I'm sure I would have ooohed & aaahed at the twists aplenty, but they were lackluster in comparison to the many mystery books & movies I've read & seen. Most of it takes place in the courtroom- so I found I could just listen to it in the background without really paying attention to the screen. If you're interested in watching a film that helped make courtroom dramas what they are today, then you should check it out. I'm glad I watched it. Just don't expect to be thrilled beyond compare.
Rating:
Summary: Witness for the Prosecution
Review: I first saw this movie as I was walking out the door, and continued to stand mezmirized by the twists and turns. To see these two great actors, not playing their normal roles but so opposite of what I normally see them as.
I was 2 hours late for an appointment, because I was literally glued to the TV
Rating:
Summary: Witness for the Prosecution
Review: I first saw this movie as I was walking out the door, and continued to stand mezmirized by the twists and turns. To see these two great actors, not playing their normal roles but so opposite of what I normally see them as.
I was 2 hours late for an appointment, because I was literally glued to the TV
Rating:
Summary: Witness To A Classic
Review: I have owned the VHS version of this film for several years and was delighted to purchase it in DVD. If one has the choice, go for the DVD. It's widescreen, the transfer is flawless, and the sound is better. It's funny, but I enjoyed the VHS version for years until I saw how much better it became on DVD. I had to cut the contrast on my television by a couple of notches to get the right tone of grays, as happens often with these B/W films. This is indeed one of the best transfers of a Christie work to film. Unlike so many of her books, there is no hidden clue or plot twist that leaves one feeling cheated at the end of the film. It's the cast, of course, that makes the movie for us. Laughton and Lanchester take to their parts like they were born for them, filling their roles with obvious relish and enjoyment. It reminds us how liberating roles can be when the actors aren't young and trying to appear sexy! Marlene Dietrich plays her part to near-perfection. Considering she was 'way up in her fifties when this movie was made, she is effortless in her grace, if not also her beauty. Who could play this part at that age in today's films? No one I know. Ms. Dietrich always knew her best wardrobe and lighting, and she uses it to great advantage here. ..., Tyrone Power has never seemed to fit so well with the rest of this cast. I've always felt that he acted too 'young' for his part, for, like Ms. Dietrich, he is very obviously middle-aged, and not aging as well as she. While still a handsome man, he seems a good ten years too old for his part. He does his best, though, and certainly doesn't ruin the overall impression of the movie. As the movie requests, I won't go into the plot or the surprise ending, leaving that for the viewer. I will say that the courtroom scene is one of the best ever made re British courts, as enjoyable as that in "QB VII", being so different from our American system. This is a movie to treasure and watch over again whenever one feels the need for a 'feel good' film with good guys and bad ones, too. As always, we are so fortunate to be able to preserve these on digital media to enjoy for many years to come.
Rating: 
Summary: Not for everyone
Review: I love old movies; The Maltese Falcon, The Third Man, Notorious, etc. I do not love Witness For The Prosecution. I bought it because of Leonard Maltin's fawning review, but found it to be stagey, even for a movie based on a play, and the characterizations (Dietrich's the exception) mightily ham-fisted. Every scene with Dietrich is great, but she's really not in the movie much, leaving us with unfunny, in fact embarrassing, humor relief from Elsa Lanchester. If you liked the corny humor of such duos as the two jokers in "Stalag 17" you won't mind her, but she didn't make me laugh even once. In addition, the courtroom scenes are laughable as far as realism goes, which I can occaisonally handle, but this film went overboard. Laughton's character should amaze us with his courtroom abilities, but instead Wilder just wrote a smattering of flowery lines for him to spout and allows him to steam through the trial nearly unopposed by the apparently incompetent prosecutor. Perry Mason's arch-nemesis Burger had more luck than this guy. I can see from the other reviews that many people love this film, but I just want to give warning that it's not for everyone.
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