The Agatha Christie
play adaptation is about a murder trial, one that features surprise after surprise.
Witness for the Prosecution is
considered to be one of writer-director Billy Wilder’s
five best films, along with: Double
Indemnity, Sunset Blvd.,
Some Like It Hot, and The Apartment (it is my
favorite of his films, followed by Stalag 17 and Sabrina).
Wilder worked with composer Matty Malneck (one of the
musician’s two film scores), cinematographer Russell Harlan (who also shot Red River, Rio Bravo, and To
Kill a Mockingbird), and art director Alexander Trauner on the film.
It stars Charles Laughton
(who is brilliant in it – really, it is worth watching this just for his
performance), Tyrone
Power (who I think is supposed to be British, but is American and decided
against doing an accent), and Marlene Dietrich. Elsa Lanchester, John Williams, Henry Daniell, and
Ian Wolfe
feature in support.
The film was nominated for six
Oscars, including Best Picture, but lost in all its categories (The Bridge on the River Kwai
won that year). It is a must-see for fans of Billy Wilder’s work (one of the
great American auteurs) and fans of wonderful courtroom dramas, as this is one
of the most entertaining. It has so many twists and comedic moments that it
ends up being very fun on top of the strong characters and drama.
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