Witness for the Prosecution (1957)

Directed by Billy Wilder. Starring Charles Laughton, Marlene Dietrich, Tyrone Power, Elsa Lanchester, Torin Thatcher, Henry Daniell, John Williams, Ian Wolfe, Francis Compton, Norma Varden, Una O’Connor, Ruta Lee.

Top-flight film adaptation of the Agatha Christie potboiler about ailing barrister Laughton defending Power, accused of murdering an older woman (Varden) who conveniently changed her will to leave him her fortune just a week prior to her death. Dietrich is Power’s impassive wife providing the alibi…and plenty more as the story further unfolds. An engrossing courtroom drama, witty and suspenseful, directed with good energy and polish by Wilder, featuring fine character actor performances and the delightful pairing of real-life spouses Laughton and Lanchester (playing the barrister’s private nurse). Hampered a bit by a rushed and melodramatic denouement that goes a step too far after revealing the not-hard-to-guess twist (were viewers not supposed to immediately recognize the truth behind a certain character?), but it’s almost worth it for Laughton’s final comment. Final completed film for both O’Connor and Power, the latter dying of a heart attack while shooting his next movie (Solomon and Sheba).

91/100