Witness for the Prosecution

Play trailer

Witness for the Prosecution

Released Dec 21, 1957

1h 54m

Crime

Drama

Mystery & Thriller

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

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.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Buy Now

Critics Consensus

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

Read Critics Reviews

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

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

Artin S

Legendary at times. Some styles are primitive, only natural for the time.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

11/05/24

Full Review

Alec C

In court, everyone has something that contradicts what's true and what isn't! As an aging lawyer takes on a client accused of a murder, he starts to suspect that there are much deeper secrets that both the defendant and the the defendants wife are hiding. A twisted thriller that only Agatha Christie can come up with, this legal mystery has us on the edge of our toes!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/21/24

Full Review

Grant H

A delight from the opening credits to the closing. Charles Laughton at the height of his skills and supported by a stellar cast. It's a shame they don't make them like this anymore.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/06/24

Full Review

Tim M

Keeping the crisp dialogue and plot machinations from Agatha Christie's seminal play, Billy Wilder's Witness for the Prosecution remains a tentpole courtroom drama.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/04/24

Full Review

Tom R

Dated, yes, at times hammy, certainly. But awesome performances from both Laughton and Dietrich. Very enjoyable overall.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

12/10/23

Full Review

Lanfranco C

One of the best Legal Thrillers in the history of the cinema

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

11/12/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Billy Wilder

Director

Tyrone Power

Leonard Stephen Vole

Marlene Dietrich

Christine Helm Vole

Charles Laughton

Sir Wilfrid Robarts

Elsa Lanchester

Miss Plimsoll

John Williams

Mr. Brogan-Moore

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

Killer's Kiss

82%

58%

Killer's Kiss

Watchlist

A Kiss Before Dying

100%

48%

A Kiss Before Dying

Watchlist

Anatomy of a Murder

100%

91%

Anatomy of a Murder

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Anatomy of a Murder

Dial M for Murder

90%

92%

Dial M for Murder

Watchlist

Rififi

93%

95%

Rififi

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Know Your Critic: Angelica Jade Bastién, Critic at Vulture/New York Magazine

Mystery Science Theater 3000 and More on Netflix This Week

Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly Reunite to Play Holmes and Watson, Plus More Movie News

View more photos

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

Most Popular at Home Now