Witness for the Prosecution (1957) Review

Veteran British barrister Sir Wilfrid Robarts must defend his client Leonard Vole in a murder trial, with many different surprises and twists and turns along the way! Who can really be trusted and what is the actual truth.

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Witness for the Prosecution is a truly outstanding courtroom drama that really does push the boundaries on what people are willing to do to either tell the truth or hid the truth, how can you then work out what is a lie when everything is so convincing. I pretty much changed my mind at least five times on what I thought the outcome was going to be and that really does highlight the fantastic writing and storytelling in the way that it changes so many times during the course of the film.

Sir Wilfrid had been doing less work and was struggling with his health, constantly watched by Miss Plimsoll who had his best interests at heart but once he was involved with Leonard and part of the case that it would consume him. His curiosity of finding the truth would lead him down many different paths. Leonard’s wife Christine certainly blew everything away in so many ways and that was utterly amazing!

Naturally I am not going to spoil the plot twists but it really did leave me thinking “wow” as I did not see the double twist at the end coming at all and found myself totally blown away by that! I mean come on the film even asks viewers to keep the secrets, I don’t even care that the film was released in 1957 and based on the play by Agatha Christie.

Billy Wilder directing and co-writing was always going to be onto a winner for me as the films of his I have watched so far I have totally loved and this was another to add to that ever growing list. Some directors you really do just seem to click with and enjoy!

Charles Laughton has such an amazing on screen presence and reminds me of Zero Mostel, an inspired performance. Elsa Lanchester, yes that’s right you would recognise her from Mary Poppins (as I did). Tyrone Power was charming at the right times and really draws you into it all. Marlene Dietrich was a total scene stealer and delivers an unbelievable performance to really round everything off with the three main characters that we follow throughout.

This is another film though that really does confirm even more than I absolutely adore courtroom dramas, there’s something special about the tension that is already in place and how great performances can bring about so many different ideas and issues. It also makes me really hope I never get called up for jury duty as that really does look like one of the most difficult things you could be asked to do!

Seriously though if you have not seen this film before I really do recommend it as it still has so many social issues that are relevant to this day and will provoke some interesting thoughts.