Witness for the Prosecution

Rating:
Summary: To Cherish
Review: What a great movie. First of all, it's somewhat astonishing that this is a Billy Wilder film. The only thing it has in common with his other classics like "The Apartment," "Sunset Boulevard," or "Some Like it Hot" is its intelligence and sophistication. Otherwise, it is an entirely different kind of experience--a courtroom drama, a twisty mystery, an excursion into what is most British, and a vehicle for great performances by Charles Laughton, Elsa Lanchester and Marlene Dietrich. Laughton is especially wonderful as a barrister with a bad heart, who duels throughout with his scornful, but ultimately devoted, nurse who tries vainly to keep him away from cigars and bad food. Laughton survives this bodily assault, because in the end, he is shown to be essentially a servant of truth. The cynicism of American jurisprudence is absent here--Laughton's character does not give into easy rationalizations about his role(and to say more would be unfair to those who haven't seen it.) Laughton strives for nobility. And yet, despite the wig and the courtliness, he is very alive in this role. I just loved this film.

Rating:
Summary: Many delights, some disappointments
Review: When I first saw this movie as a teenager I loved the courtroom drama and attendant plot twists. But Wilder also has a rare genius for creating fully-fledged comic characters with a few deft, witty lines, and that's what delights me now. Charles Laughton is hilarious as the acerbic barrister Sir Wilfrid Robarts, battling with a fussy nurse, a cranky elderly witness, and a sarcastic judge, and the film has several laugh-out-loud moments. I still think the plot is entertaining, but it does have some mighty creaky sections. The screenplay is based on a short story and play by Agatha Christie, and Christie's plot twists are perhaps more notable for their ingenuity than their plausibility. Incidentally, the short story has a different and to me preferable ending.

It's true that Tyrone Powers is pretty hard to watch, but that's not all his fault -- he's given some terrible lines to work with, and after the past decade of seeing stony-faced defendents on Court TV, it seems crazy when Powers starts emoting all over the courtroom. As for Dietrich, her performance varies wildly. At times such as the flashback scene to Germany, she's very naturalistic -- interesting, even fascinating to watch. At other times, you can almost hear Wilder yelling through a megaphone, "Now let's see some ACTING", and Dietrich, like the British soldiers in the trenches of Ypres, goes bravely over the top.

Overall, however, "Witness for the Prosecution" is great. Itt belongs to the set of films that I will always stop and watch while flipping through the cable channels late at night.

Rating:
Summary: Many delights, some disappointments
Review: When I first saw this movie as a teenager I loved the courtroom drama and attendant plot twists. But Wilder also has a rare genius for creating fully-fledged comic characters with a few deft, witty lines, and that's what delights me now. Charles Laughton is hilarious as the acerbic barrister Sir Wilfrid Robarts, battling with a fussy nurse, a cranky elderly witness, and a sarcastic judge, and the film has several laugh-out-loud moments. I still think the plot is entertaining, but it does have some mighty creaky sections. The screenplay is based on a short story and play by Agatha Christie, and Christie's plot twists are perhaps more notable for their ingenuity than their plausibility. Incidentally, the short story has a different and to me preferable ending.

It's true that Tyrone Powers is pretty hard to watch, but that's not all his fault -- he's given some terrible lines to work with, and after the past decade of seeing stony-faced defendents on Court TV, it seems crazy when Powers starts emoting all over the courtroom. As for Dietrich, her performance varies wildly. At times such as the flashback scene to Germany, she's very naturalistic -- interesting, even fascinating to watch. At other times, you can almost hear Wilder yelling through a megaphone, "Now let's see some ACTING", and Dietrich, like the British soldiers in the trenches of Ypres, goes bravely over the top.

Overall, however, "Witness for the Prosecution" is great. Itt belongs to the set of films that I will always stop and watch while flipping through the cable channels late at night.

Rating:
Summary: Another Triumph for Billy Wilder !
Review: With a number of excellent reviews for this classic court-room film, there is not much for me to add. You expect Charles Laughton to be superb, and he doesn't let you down--this is another one of his great roles, and he attacks it with relish.
However, as another reviewer notes, the surprise here is Tyrone Power--his performance is low-key at first, but it builds to a shattering climax--he was much more than just a great-looking man. Sadly, this turned out to be his last film--he succumbed to a heart attack during his next film, "Solomon and Sheba" ( to be replaced by Yul Brynner ). However, with "Witness for the Prosecution", Mr. Power certainly went out "on top".
What else can you say about Billy Wilder--a great director at the top of his game !
This is one film where revealing too much of the plot would be unthinkable, and the finale is one of the great "surprise endings" in the history of the motion picture. In fact, in the 50s when this film was released, audiences were asked not to reveal the ending to their friends. I wonder how closely such "advice" would be followed today !? I remember when the "secret" in "The Crying Game" was spoiled for many viewers, even by film "critics". ( Late note dated 10 August 2003--well--guess what ? Some guy named "Nick" in Windsor, Ontario--who is not so impressed with the film--his privilege, of course--doesn't hesitate to spoil one of the film's key surprises for anyone who has yet to see it. It's like sitting in a movie theatre, and having someone talking behind you, telling you what's going to happen next--well done, Nick ! )
As for the DVD, for a 45 year old movie, the black and white picture is excellent. Highly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: Agatha Christie brought to life in the court
Review: Witness for the Prosecution, a movie based on an Agatha Christie story of the same name, portrays a defense lawyer ridden with health issues and his attempt to win what will probably be his last, or maybe even biggest, case. Starting early with misdirections on all sides, the story builds with intrigue as the "guess who" murder trial unfolds. The lawyer for the defense, played by Charles Laughton, is the humor throughout. With amazingly good timing and wit his character keeps the intrigue going as the case unravels. Black and white as it may be, this movie is still a good film to see. Hey, that rhymes.