Witness for the Prosecution

Billy Wilder, one of Hollywood's greatest writer-directors, takes on the venerable Agatha Christie stage play in this 1957 classic, injecting the tale with his own brand of humor, snappy dialogue, and barbed storytelling. Charles Laughton stars as Sir Wilfrid, a legendary barrister who defies doctor's orders and a heart condition to defend amiable but shiftless American Leonard Vole (Tyrone Power) from a murder charge, even as Vole's cool, suspicious German wife, Christine (Marlene Dietrich), delivers testimony that appears to doom her husband's chances for acquittal. Of course, this is a Christie plot, so nothing is as simple as it seems, especially after incriminating letters are sold to Sir Wilfrid, but the twisty plot is ultimately less interesting than the characters themselves. Laughton takes what might have been a hammy role—a brilliant legal mind, theatrical courtroom performer, and wily curmudgeon sneaking brandy and cigars over the objections of his nurse, Miss Plimsoll (Elsa Lanchester)—and invests it with a palpable sense of duty and honor. Power meanwhile plays to his strengths, mixing cocky American brashness and showy earnestness, while Dietrich enters with a defining dignity and then upends all expectations. The Old Bailey set is itself a character, one that Wilder uses well in the dramatic courtroom scenes. Offering a beloved mix of classic British mystery and American wit, Witness for the Prosecution has been newly remastered for this DVD re-release and Blu-ray debut. Extras include a brief archival interview with Wilder. Recommended. (S. Axmaker)