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Witness for the Prosecution

Play trailer Poster for Witness for the Prosecution 1957 1h 54m Crime Drama Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
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100% Tomatometer 41 Reviews 95% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
The affable Leonard Vole (Tyrone Power) is being tried for the murder of a wealthy woman, and legendary lawyer Sir Wilfrid Robarts (Charles Laughton) has chosen to represent him. Unfortunately, Leonard's alibi depends on the testimony of his callous wife, Christine (Marlene Dietrich) -- who, after the discovery of a legal loophole, makes the shocking decision to appear in court against him. To Sir Wilfrid's surprise, this is only the first in a series of puzzling revelations and reversals.
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Witness for the Prosecution

Witness for the Prosecution

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Critics Consensus

Witness for the Prosecution combines a fascinating character study with a brilliantly unpredictable plot to produce a practically flawless Agatha Christie adaptation.

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Critics Reviews

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Clayton Dillard Slant Magazine The film is an alchemic triumph of effortless story execution, pinpoint humor, and acting masterclass. Feb 13, 2024 Full Review Wendy Ide The Times (UK) [A] witty and gripping adaptation of her [Agatha Christie's] twist-heavy courtroom stage drama. Aug 25, 2022 Full Review Noel Murray The Dissolve Witness For The Prosecution has the pace and patience of live theater, but not the look. Wilder doesn't get overly flashy with camera moves and angles, but he does shift positioning subtly and effectively. Rated: 4.5/5 Jul 22, 2014 Full Review Josh Larsen LarsenOnFilm Laughton cantankerously carries every scene... Rated: 3.5/4 Sep 25, 2024 Full Review Diana Tuova Spotlight on Film Witness for the Prosecution is a film worthy of all its accolades. Rated: 4.5/5 Aug 4, 2024 Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy Along with 1945’s And Then There Were None, this is the greatest of all the Agatha Christie adaptations that have been brought to the screen. Rated: 4/4 Feb 10, 2024 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Fifty T A Classic That Still Packs a Punch, Even If You See the Twists Coming: Billy Wilder’s Witness for the Prosecution is a masterclass in suspense, wit, and acting. Even after all these years, the film’s tension and craftsmanship hold up remarkably well. Charles Laughton is a force of nature as Sir Wilfrid Robarts, chewing scenery with relish, while Marlene Dietrich’s icy, enigmatic Christine Vole steals every scene she’s in. The non-linear storytelling and Wilder’s razor-sharp direction keep you on the edge of your seat, even if the twists, once groundbreaking, now feel familiar after decades of imitators. The black-and-white cinematography and period details are immaculate, and the courtroom scenes crackle with energy. My only quibble? The twists, while brilliantly executed, have been copied so often that their impact is slightly dulled for first-time viewers today. Still, the acting and direction are top-notch, and the emotional payoff lands beautifully. 7/10: a must-watch for fans of classic cinema, even if it’s not quite the revelation it once was. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 11/19/25 Full Review DanTheMan 2 I'm actually seeing this onstage later this evening and wanted to become acquainted with this Agatha Christie story before then. What I didn't expect was a full on alchemic triumph of effortless story execution, pinpoint humour and mystery until the very end, Witness for the Prosecution is all parry and punch from the moment it begins, crackling with emotional electricity. Billy Wilder skilfully skirts the guidelines of the Hayes Code to deliver plenty of biting humour in his dialogue, lightening the mood with amusing consistency, punctuating the accumulating evidence weighing against the defendant. What's incredible is that despite having no British personnel among the film's principal creative team and only one British name in its trio of stars, the film feels remarkably British for a 1950s American adaptation. Backed by an incredible set of performances largely from Charles Laughton who takes what could be a hammy role, the brilliant legal mind, theatrical courtroom performer, and wily curmudgeon, and invests it with a sense of passion for his work and a sense of duty and honour beyond winning. The double act energy he shares with Elsa Lanchester, absolutely makes the film. Absolutely gripping from beginning to end, I can’t wait for tonight. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 11/10/25 Full Review Kyle M May seem like your ordinary courtroom drama except it’s not when remains truly one of cinema’s best case of unpredictability as the accumulating impact generally surprises, attributing to performative heft’s captivating showcases in differential degrees of satisfaction, solely by stellar execution and noted exhaustion. With little compelled exposure, this is certainly an adapted testament to Agatha Christie’s engaging literature that distinctively sweeps. (A-) Rated 4 out of 5 stars 09/30/25 Full Review Josh W I sat through this film thinking it seemed like a pretty ordinary but fun murder mystery, wondering why it was ranked 64th greatest movie of all time. Don't worry. By the time the ending credits roll, you will know why this film stands out as one of the greatest films of all time. Charles Laughton -I'd heard the name before- now I can put an acting performance to the name- is great. And Marlene Dietrich adds an iconic performance you will never forget. She was the inspiration for Blazing Saddles's Lili Von Shtüpp. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 09/21/25 Full Review Isaiah Y Classic Billy Wilder film with great performances from Charles Laughton and Marlene Dietrich Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 09/04/25 Full Review Esther D Muy buena! Buenos diálogos, buen concepto, buenas actuaciones, y el plot twist más plot twist que he visto en años! Me encantó. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/10/25 Full Review Read all reviews
Witness for the Prosecution

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Movie Info

Synopsis The affable Leonard Vole (Tyrone Power) is being tried for the murder of a wealthy woman, and legendary lawyer Sir Wilfrid Robarts (Charles Laughton) has chosen to represent him. Unfortunately, Leonard's alibi depends on the testimony of his callous wife, Christine (Marlene Dietrich) -- who, after the discovery of a legal loophole, makes the shocking decision to appear in court against him. To Sir Wilfrid's surprise, this is only the first in a series of puzzling revelations and reversals.
Director
Billy Wilder
Producer
Arthur Hornblow Jr.
Screenwriter
Agatha Christie, Lawrence B. Marcus, Billy Wilder, Harry Kurnitz
Distributor
United Artists, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Production Co
United Artists
Genre
Crime, Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Dec 21, 1957, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Sep 16, 2008
Runtime
1h 54m
Sound Mix
Mono
Aspect Ratio
35mm, 1.66:1
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