Witness for the Prosecution (1957)

An outstanding film
To put it concisely, this is an outstanding film, with first rate performances from the three leads, and the supporting cast. Not sure if there is a direct connection, but Charles Laughton's character seems to have been the inspiration for the outstanding Rumpole of the Bailey series.

More twists than a pretzel factory (4.5 stars)
If I could remember who suggested I watch this film, I'd thank them publicly here. "Witness for the Prosecution" is one of the funniest and most fascinating stories I have watched. Leave it to Billy Wilder and Agatha Christie to concoct a story that'd keep viewers on the edges of their seats.

Sir Wilfrid Robarts (Charles Laughton) is known as the 'champion of lost causes.' He's the barrister's barrister and the fox. He's also just recovering from a heart attack. The old curmudgeon is also stuck with a nurse, Miss Plimsoll (Elsa Lancaster), who continously talks babytalk to him.

"Just roll up your mouth, you talk too much. If I'd known how much you talk I'd never have come out of my coma," he tells her--and worse.

Doctors have ordered Sir Wilfrid to rest, stop smoking, drinking, and only try civil suits. When he hears about the case where gigolo Leonard Vole (Tyrone Power) is accused of killing Emily Jane French a wealthy older woman, he cannot resist to try the case.

Everything's going well til Christine Helm-Vole (Marlena Dietrich) takes the stand and unbeknowst to Sir Wilfred beforehand testifies for the prosecution.

Can the old fox still get his client off? This story has more twists than a pretzel factory. The dialog, particularly Sir Wilfrid's, is some of the best I have heard. The end literally had me up and out of my seat.

My only reason for a half-star deduction is because the black and white rendering on the DVD is very dark and makes it occasionally difficult to view without doing some contrast adjustments. Still, this film is very worth watching and I suspect I will want to see it again and again.

More twists than a pretzel factory (4.5 stars)
If I could remember who suggested I watch this film, I'd thank them publicly here. "Witness for the Prosecution" is one of the funniest and most fascinating stories I have watched. Leave it to Billy Wilder and Agatha Christie to concoct a story that'd keep viewers on the edges of their seats.

Sir Wilfrid Robarts (Charles Laughton) is known as the 'champion of lost causes.' He's the barrister's barrister and the fox. He's also just recovering from a heart attack. The old curmudgeon is also stuck with a nurse, Miss Plimsoll (Elsa Lancaster), who continously talks babytalk to him.

"Just roll up your mouth, you talk too much. If I'd known how much you talk I'd never have come out of my coma," he tells her--and worse.

Doctors have ordered Sir Wilfrid to rest, stop smoking, drinking, and only try civil suits. When he hears about the case where gigolo Leonard Vole (Tyrone Power) is accused of killing Emily Jane French a wealthy older woman, he cannot resist to try the case.

Everything's going well til Christine Helm-Vole (Marlena Dietrich) takes the stand and unbeknowst to Sir Wilfred beforehand testifies for the prosecution.

Can the old fox still get his client off? This story has more twists than a pretzel factory. The dialog, particularly Sir Wilfrid's, is some of the best I have heard. The end literally had me up and out of my seat.

My only reason for a half-star deduction is because the black and white rendering on the DVD is very dark and makes it occasionally difficult to view without doing some contrast adjustments. Still, this film is very worth watching and I suspect I will want to see it again and again.