Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Latest
    • Thank You
    • 4000. Scenes From A Marriage (1973)
    • 3999. The Pianist (2002)
    • 3998. Philadelphia (1993)
    • 3997. Jeanne Dielman, 23 Quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles (1975)
    • 3996. The Green Mile (1999)
    • 3995. Doctor Zhivago (1965)
    • 3994. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022)
    The Mad Movie Man
    • Home
    • Blog
      • All Posts
      • Best Of The Year
        • Best Of 2015
        • Best Of 2016
        • Best Of 2017
        • Best Of 2018
        • Best Of 2019
        • Best Of 2020
        • Best Of 2021
        • Best Of 2022
      • The Decade In Review
      • Box Office Analysis
      • James Bond
      • Oscars
      • RANKED
      • Star Wars
      • The Big Questions
      • Top 10
      • World Cinema
    • Ratings
      • Top 250
      • Top 100 Foreign Films
      • Bottom 50
      • 0 – 1.9
      • 2 – 3.9
      • 4 – 5.9
      • 6 – 7.9
      • 8 – 10
    • Genres
      • Action
      • Anthology
      • Animation
      • Christmas
      • Comedy
      • Crime
      • Documentary
      • Drama
      • Fantasy
      • Film-Noir
      • History
      • Horror
      • Kids’
      • Musical
      • Psychological
      • Romance
      • Sci-Fi
      • Short
      • Silent
      • Sport
      • Superhero
      • Survival
      • Thriller
      • Western
    • Release Year
      • 2020s
      • 2010s
      • 2000s
      • 1990s
      • 1980s
      • 1970s
      • 1960s
      • 1950s
      • 1940s
      • 1930s
      • 1920s
    • Country
      • Afghanistan
      • Argentina
      • Australia
      • Austria
      • Belgium
      • Brazil
      • Cambodia
      • Canada
      • Chile
      • China
      • Colombia
      • Costa Rica
      • Czechoslovakia
      • Czech Republic
      • Denmark
      • East Timor
      • Faroe Islands
      • Finland
      • France
      • Germany
      • Georgia
      • Greece
      • Hong Kong
      • Hungary
      • Iceland
      • India
      • Indonesia
      • Iran
      • Iraq
      • Ireland
      • Israel
      • Italy
      • Japan
      • Latvia
      • Lebanon
      • Laos
      • Malaysia
      • Mexico
      • New Zealand
      • Nigeria
      • North Korea
      • Norway
      • Paraguay
      • Peru
      • Philippines
      • Poland
      • Romania
      • Russia
      • Saudi Arabia
      • Singapore
      • South Korea
      • South Africa
      • Soviet Union
      • Spain
      • Sweden
      • Switzerland
      • Syria
      • Taiwan
      • Thailand
      • Turkey
      • Uganda
      • United Kingdom
      • United States
      • Uruguay
      • Vietnam
      • Zambia
    • About
    The Mad Movie Man
    You are at:Home»Review»1700. Witness For The Prosecution (1957)

    1700. Witness For The Prosecution (1957)

    0
    By The Mad Movie Man on March 22, 2017 110-119 mins, 1957, 8 - 10, Crime, Drama, Mar 17, Movies Of 2017, Review, Thriller, United States
    8.1 Enthralling
    • Acting 8.1
    • Directing 8.1
    • Story 8.2
    • User Ratings (0 Votes) 0

    Starring: Charles Laughton, Tyrone Power, Marlene Dietrich

    Director: Billy Wilder

    Running Time: 116 mins


    Witness For The Prosecution is an American film about an experienced but ailing barrister who decides to take on the role of lawyer for the defence in a hot murder trial at the Old Bailey.

    Given that this is based on an Agatha Christie story, you can expect it to be full of surprises from start to finish. Not only does that come to fruition, however, as with a series of excellent central performances, strong direction and a brilliantly adapted screenplay, Witness For The Prosecution is a thoroughly engrossing, entertaining and unpredictable courtroom drama.

    But above all, it’s the story that really makes this film. Although it may seem like it’s not really moving anywhere in its opening act, the overall plot arc is so fascinating that you’ll still want to learn every possible detail right from the beginning.

    That’s why I suggest that you make sure you’re really concentrating when you watch this film. It’s not a mind-bending sort of drama, but its fiercely detailed and unpredictable screenplay means that you need to know what’s going on and what’s changing at every moment, whilst better concentration also makes the topsy-turvy case all the more exciting to watch.

    Now, there’s very little I can say about the events of the main plot without spoilers, but suffice to say that this is right up there in terms of thrilling courtroom dramas with the likes of To Kill A Mockingbird and 12 Angry Men, so if you’re a fan of the genre, or just someone who loves a riveting read, then Witness For The Prosecution is definitely for you.

    Of course, it’s not all about the murder case. Whilst the countless surprises in the courtroom are the central focus of the film, the excellent screenplay features a whole host of brilliant lead characters that add even more life to proceedings.

    At the centre of it all is the experienced barrister played by Charles Laughton. Apart from the fact that Laughton plays him with such gusto, the character is particularly memorable simply because he’s so cool. An absolute genius when it comes deciphering a difficult case, but also a sharp-witted and funny man who doesn’t hesitate to speak his mind to anybody, whether they’re on his side or not.

    If it weren’t for him, the film would have felt quite a bit drier, as if it were a simply bog-standard courtroom drama, but thanks to Laughton’s performance and Billy Wilder’s screenplay, he’s an absolute joy to watch throughout.

    Alongside Laughton are Tyrone Power and Marlene Dietrich. Power plays the man accused of murder, and does a great job at getting you as much on his side as possible, making it all the more fun to support the barrister as he attempts to defend the accused in what seems like an open-and-shut case. Meanwhile, Dietrich plays the accused man’s stern German wife. Although she may not thrill in the opening stages, Dietrich’s subtly unnerving performance makes her character’s hugely unpredictable arc all the more convincing and exciting.

    Finally, we come to the direction. Billy Wilder always knows how to make any genre effortlessly riveting, but it’s even better when he works his magic on the courtroom. Although featuring a few flashbacks, this film plays out almost entirely in two locations, the barrister’s office and the Old Bailey, both of which don’t always sound like the sort of places for a truly engrossing and topsy-turvy thriller.

    However, Wilder pulls it off, and makes for a properly entertaining watch from start to finish even when the story doesn’t seem to be moving at the most rapid pace. With excellent directing mixed with fine editing particularly in the courtroom sequences, this film is always on edge, keeping its hugely unpredictable plot nail-biting right up to the last, and that’s why I’m giving Witness For The Prosecution an 8.1 overall.

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    The Mad Movie Man
    • Website
    • Facebook
    • Twitter

    The Mad Movie Man, AKA Anthony Cullen, writes articles and reviews about movies and the world of cinema. From January 1st, 2013 to December 31st, 2022, he watched and reviewed a movie every day. This is the blog dedicated to the project: www.madmovieman.com

    Related Posts

    8.2

    4000. Scenes From A Marriage (1973)

    7.8

    3999. The Pianist (2002)

    8.2

    3998. Philadelphia (1993)

    Follow Me Online!
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
    • Tumblr
    New Releases
    8.2
    December 25, 2022

    3994. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022)

    5.6
    December 10, 2022

    3969. Falling For Christmas (2022)

    6.9
    December 4, 2022

    3956. The People We Hate At The Wedding (2022)

    5.4
    December 3, 2022

    3954. Disenchanted (2022)

    7.4
    December 3, 2022

    3953. Meet Cute (2022)

    7.6
    November 23, 2022

    3934. Do Revenge (2022)

    7.0
    November 18, 2022

    3929. The Wonder (2022)

    6.7
    November 13, 2022

    3924. See How They Run (2022)

    Recommended Movies
    8.0
    Review
    June 14, 20200

    2987. Da 5 Bloods (2020)

    8.1
    Review
    August 4, 20130

    243. The Sixth Sense (1999)

    8.3
    Review
    August 15, 20160

    1452. Song Of The Sea (2014)

    8.4
    Review
    October 16, 20160

    1519. Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011)

    8.9
    Review
    October 9, 20150

    1114. The Bridge On The River Kwai (1957)

    Popular Posts
    December 31, 2022

    Thank You

    8.2
    December 31, 2022

    4000. Scenes From A Marriage (1973)

    7.8
    December 30, 2022

    3999. The Pianist (2002)

    8.2
    December 29, 2022

    3998. Philadelphia (1993)

    7.5
    December 28, 2022

    3997. Jeanne Dielman, 23 Quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles (1975)

    9.1
    December 27, 2022

    3996. The Green Mile (1999)

    7.6
    December 26, 2022

    3995. Doctor Zhivago (1965)

    © 2023 ThemeSphere. Designed by ThemeSphere.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.