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Directed by: Billy Wilder Starring: Marlene Dietrich, Tyrone Power, Charles Laughton, Elsa Lanchester Witness for the Prosecution may be one of the greatest courtroom dramas ever made. Based on a play by Agatha Christie, it tells the story of Leonard Vole (Power), on trial for the murder of Miss Emily French. Vole's only supporting witness is supposed to be his wife, Christine (Dietrich). But to the shock of her husband and his lawyer, Sir Wilfrid (Laughton), she decides to be a witness for the prosecution instead. Sir Wilfrid is just recovering from a heart attack; Lanchester (his wife in real life) plays his poor, overworked nurse and brings a welcome moment of comic relief to the film. Everything about this film is exceptional. The performances are among the finest I have ever seen in any film (Power's especially). The direction is good, the camerawork superb. This is a Christie adaptation for the ages; indeed, it may be the finest adaptation of Dame Agatha's work ever to grace the screen. 5/5
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# ? May 3, 2004 07:12 |
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# ? May 3, 2024 15:55 |
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Agreed, a classic courtroom drama.
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# ? May 3, 2004 19:44 |