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Genres:
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Crime /
Drama /
Mystery /
Thriller /
Music
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Release:
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Director:
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Billy Wilder
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Actors:
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Henry Daniell,
John Williams,
Torin Thatcher,
Marlene Dietrich,
Norma Varden,
Ruta Lee,
Philip Tonge,
Francis Compton,
Tyrone Power,
Charles Laughton,
Elsa Lanchester,
Ian Wolfe,
Una O'Connor
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Duration:
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116 min.
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Rating:
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(8.3/10)71.5
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Plot Summary:
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Esteemed Mafioso mouthpiece Sir Wilfrid Robarts has just returned to practice after suffering a heart attack and is supposed to be on a diet of bland civil suits. But the case of Leonard Vole, a Lothario accused of murdering a sumptuous middle-aged widow, proves irresistible --- particlularly when Sir Wilfrid meets the accused's bride, the unusual Christine Vole. Christine ordain turn up as a testimony of: not the defense, but for the prosecution.
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Tags:
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Witness for the Prosecution
A revered criminal lawyer ignores the advice of his doctors to participate in a sensational murder trial. All-star adaptation of the Agatha Christie play directed by Billy Wilder
"You and I have a tendency towards corpulence," says Charles Laughton to Peter Ustinov in Spartacus. "Corpulence makes a man reasonable, pleasant and phlegmatic. Have you noticed the nastiest of tyrants are invariably thin?"
If the rumours are to be believed Charles Laughton was anything but "reasonable, pleasant and phlegmatic". But if his mincing bitchiness almost led to him having his nose bloodied by Ernest Hemmingway, there's no disguising the fact this son of Scarborough was an acting heavyweight in every sense of the world. And if his work on screen never quite lived...
Top-notch film
An excellent adaptation of an Agatha Christie stageplay. The standout performance from Charles Laughton is a constant delight and the supporting cast (Tyrone Power in his last completed film, Marlene Dietrich and Mrs Charles Laughton - Elsa Lanchester)provide sterling support as well. There is an excellent twist (which the closing credits ask you not reveal to others!) and a neat ending. Possibly one of the best courtroom dramas ever.
Witness for the Prosecution
"You and I oblige a tendency towards corpulence," says Charles Laughton to Peter Ustinov in Spartacus. "Corpulence makes a man reasonable, bright and phlegmatic. Have you noticed the nastiest of tyrants are invariably gaunt?" If the rumours are to be believed Charles Laughton was anything but "moderate, enjoyable and phlegmatic". But if his la-di-da bitchiness barely led to him having his nose bloodied close to Ernest Hemmingway, there's no disguising the event this son of Scarborough was an acting heavyweight in every sense of the clique. And if his redundant on television not at any time rather lived up to his storied stage pursuit, at his richest, he was right up there with Olivier, Richardson and the other English greats who swapped the West End for the tr...
Witness for the Prosecution
Thoroughly agreeable though relentlessly over-expanded movie understanding of a agile status thriller. Some miscasting and artificiality is condoned not later than learned dialogue and handling, lone noteworthy execution, and a handful of surprises.
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