Witness for the Prosecution (1957)
November 19, 2017 12:03 PM - Subscribe
In this film based on Agatha Christie's short story and play, Leonard Vole (Tyrone Power) is accused of murdering an elderly rich woman, and the only alibi to him depends on his wife.
Haven't seen this, but there's a very good remake that was done by the BBC recently. Track it down if you can. I was astonished that an Agatha Christie story had such thematic and character depth because she's mostly just about the intellectual puzzle of the plot. Turns out, most of that material was added. But it really makes this a more compelling story than just a trick of legal procedure.
posted by Naberius at 9:39 AM on November 20, 2017
posted by Naberius at 9:39 AM on November 20, 2017
I remember this as having excellent performances from Dietrich and Laughton that more than live up to the demands of the plot. I haven't watched it in years but maybe it's time for a re-watch; it certainly beats the pants off the majority of recent mystery movies.
posted by Nerd of the North at 11:31 AM on November 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Nerd of the North at 11:31 AM on November 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
I believe this is the only Marlene Dietrich movie I've seen.
If you can tolerate the absurdity of Charlton Heston playing a Mexican, Touch of Evil is otherwise an interesting film.
posted by juiceCake at 2:54 PM on November 21, 2017
If you can tolerate the absurdity of Charlton Heston playing a Mexican, Touch of Evil is otherwise an interesting film.
posted by juiceCake at 2:54 PM on November 21, 2017
I was astonished that an Agatha Christie story had such thematic and character depth because she's mostly just about the intellectual puzzle of the plot. Turns out, most of that material was added.
I only know Christie by reputation, and I thought it was pretty open and shut for a mystery book. Obviously the title gives away the first plot twist -- his wife testifies against him. The twist(s) at the final scene are dramatic but also somewhat telegraphed, since she promised early on that the jury would believe her crying testimony.
Apparently the original is a short story, rather than the novels I imagined she was famous for. I guess that explains the barrister's health sub-plot; they needed a b plot -- something engaging enough to characterize and develop as a third personality while remaining immaterial to the main court case mystery.
posted by pwnguin at 8:50 PM on August 10, 2024
I only know Christie by reputation, and I thought it was pretty open and shut for a mystery book. Obviously the title gives away the first plot twist -- his wife testifies against him. The twist(s) at the final scene are dramatic but also somewhat telegraphed, since she promised early on that the jury would believe her crying testimony.
Apparently the original is a short story, rather than the novels I imagined she was famous for. I guess that explains the barrister's health sub-plot; they needed a b plot -- something engaging enough to characterize and develop as a third personality while remaining immaterial to the main court case mystery.
posted by pwnguin at 8:50 PM on August 10, 2024
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I think it's still on Netflix.
posted by rhizome at 1:04 PM on November 19, 2017