WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION - 1957
RATED - NR but probably PG for brief, strong language and adult themes.
RATINGS - 81 Amazon (5/5), 114,897 Netflix (4.1/5), 11,245 IMDB (8.2/10).
STARRING - Tyrone Power, Marlene Dietrich,Charles Laughton & directed by Billy Wilder.
AWARDS - 6 Academy Award nominations including BEST PICTURE and BEST ACTOR (Charles Laughton), BAFTA BEST ACTOR (Laughton) nominee and 5 Golden Globe nominations including BEST ACTOR, BEST ACTRESS & BEST MOTION PICTURE. Just recently named to AFI All Time Top 10 Courtroom Dramas.
STORY - I'm not going to spoil the plot since this Agatha Christie-based movie directed by Billy Wilder takes so many twists and turns, especially at the end. The AWARDS speak for themselves as to the quality of this film. Charles Laughton portrays the huge hunk of a man, barrister Sir Wilfrid, who, as the film opens, is returning home from an extended stay in the hospital for a near fatal heart attack. He is accompanied by his eccentric nurse whose sole job is to keep him away from everything he craves-cigars, brandy, women and high stress criminal cases. Of course, he immediately becomes intrigued with the case of Leonard Vole (Power) who is accused of killing a wealthy widow. His curiosity gets the best of him when he meets Christine Helm/Vole (Dietrich), Leonard's wife and only alibi, and so he decides to take Leonard's case. The rest of this fast-paced film concentrates on the courtroom drama with it famous surprises and great acting and is spiced with some very funny scenes and lines. Definitely one of the all time great courtroom films-put this at the top of the list. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 06-21-2008.
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