favorite movie #46: witness for the prosecution

Favorite movies that have had an impact on me - #46 - Witness for the Prosecution (1957) - In honor of Agatha Christie's birthday, I'd like to share one of my favorite film adaptations of her work, in this case, a play, Witness for the Prosecution. Directed by Billy Wilder with an all-star cast, the film is primarily a courtroom drama, but there are mystery, thriller, and film noir elements as well. Ailing barrister Sir Wilfred Roberts (Charles Laughton) is urged by his pesky nurse (Elsa Lanchester) and all of his colleagues not to take on the case of Leonard Vole (Tyrone Power), who has been accused of killing an elderly spinster, Mrs. Emily French,  who was enamored with him. Although Vole is clearly a poor schemer who wasn't averse to charming the woman, Sir Wilfred is convinced of his innocence and his sincerity. He also has an alibi provided by his wife Christine (Marlene Dietrich), who appears, confusingly, cold and uncaring of her husband's predicament. Everyone in the cast is terrific, and Wilder had fun with Christie's twists and turns and subterfuges. The supporting cast includes John Williams, Henry Daniell, Torin Thatcher, Una O'Connor, and Ruta Lee. This was sadly Tyrone Power's final film, as he died of a heart attack during the filming of Solomon and Sheba the following year. There's a fun in-joke, when Vole meets Mrs. French at the movies and they are watching Jesse James, one of Power's early film successes.

"Sir Wilfrid, you've forgotten your brandy!"

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