WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION (DVD/WS-1.66/SENSORMATIC/UA/AFI O-RING) DVD

Witness for the Prosecution
Having just recovered from a heart attack, fabled British barrister Sir Wilfred Robards (Charles Laughton) has been ordered by his doctor to give up everything he holds dear-brandy, cigars and especially courtroom cases. Robards' already shaky resolve to follow doctor's orders flies out the window when he takes up the defense of Leonard Vole (Tyrone Power), a personable young man accused of murdering a rich old widow. The case becomes something of a sticky wicket when Vole's "loving" German wife Christine (Marlene Dietrich) announces that she's not legally married to Robards' client-and she fully intends to appear as a witness for the prosecution! At the close of this film, a narrator implores the audience not to divulge the ending; we will herein honor that request. A delicious Billy Wilder mixture of humor, intrigue and melodrama, Witness for the Prosecution is distinguished by its hand-picked supporting cast: John Williams as the police inspector, Henry Daniell as Robards' law partner, Una O'Connor as the murder victim's stone-deaf maid, Torin Thatcher as the prosecutor, Ruta Lee as a sobbing courtroom spectator, and Charles Laughton's wife Elsa Lanchester as Robards' ever-chipper nurse (a role especially written for the film, so that Lanchester could look after Laughton on the set). And keep an eye out for that uncredited actress playing the vengeful-and pivotal-cockney. Adapted by Wilder, Harry Kurnitz and Larry Marcus from the play by Agatha Christie, Witness for the Prosecution was remade for television in 1982. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Cast Tyrone Power as Leonard Stephen Vole Marlene Dietrich as Christine "Helm" Vole Charles Laughton as Sir Wilfrid Robarts Elsa Lanchester as Miss Plimsoll Una O'Connor as Janet MacKenzie Ian Wolfe as Carter Henry Daniell as Mayhew Torin Thatcher as Mr. Meyers John Williams as Brogan-Moore Francis Compton as Judge Norma Varden as Mrs. Emily French Philip Tonge as Inspector Hearne Ruta Lee as Diana Molly Roden as Miss McHugh Ottola Nesmith as Miss Johnson Marjorie Eaton as Miss O'Brien

Crew Alexandre Trauner - Art Director Edith Head - Costume Designer Joe King - Costume Designer Emmett Emerson - First Assistant Director Billy Wilder - Director Dan Mandell - Editor Matty Malneck - Composer (Music Score) Ernest Gold - Musical Direction/Supervision Ralph Arthur Roberts - Songwriter Jack Brooks - Songwriter Harry Ray - Makeup Gus Norin - Makeup Ray Sebastian - Makeup Russell Harlan - Cinematographer Edward Small - Producer Arthur Hornblow, Jr. - Producer Howard Bristol - Set Designer Fred Lau - Sound/Sound Designer Harry Kurnitz - Screenwriter Lawrence B. Marcus - Screenwriter Billy Wilder - Screenwriter Frank Losee - Second Assistant Director Agatha Christie - Play Author

Witness for the Prosecution
Witness for the Prosecution is multi-faceted director Billy Wilder's stab at the courtroom genre, and he handles it with aplomb. Reworking Agatha Christie's stage play, based on Christie's own short story, Wilder retools the play in order to develop a humorous subtext in the interplay between the physically fragile defense attorney (Charles Laughton) and his overbearing but well-meaning nurse (real-life wife Elsa Lanchaster). Laughton and Lanchaster have great chemistry and give fully realized performances that transcend the limitations of the genre. Wilder also jiggers Marlene Dietrich's role, wife of the accused, to make use of moments from her personal life, particularly the wonderful "Berlin cabaret" flashback sequence. The twists and turns of the plot are allowed to emerge unobtrusively in this methodically paced drama, and while the finale stretches credulity in order to circumvent the inevitable Production Code restrictions, Wilder's film is a completely satisfying experience anchored by a handful of memorable performances, including the last in Tyrone Power's illustrious career. Witness for the Prosecution was nominated for six Academy Awards, but ran up against David Lean's The Bridge on the River Kwai juggernaut, and was shut out. ~ Dan Jardine, All Movie Guide
 

Billy Wilder: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Director (nominated) Billy Wilder: Directors Guild of America, Best Director (nominated) Billy Wilder: Golden Globe, Best Director (nominated) Charles Laughton: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Actor (nominated) Charles Laughton: Golden Globe, Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama (nominated) Dan Mandell: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Editing (nominated) Elsa Lanchester: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Supporting Actress (nominated) Elsa Lanchester: Golden Globe, Best Supporting Actress (winner) Gordon Sawyer: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Sound (nominated) Marlene Dietrich: Golden Globe, Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama (nominated)

Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Picture (nominated) Golden Globe, Best Picture - Drama (nominated)

General Specifications: Language Options: English, French Subtitle Options: English, French, Spanish Sound Processing: 5.1: 5 full-range channels. Includes 3 for the front speakers, 2 surround channels for rear speakers, & 1 low-frequency effects (LFE) channel to carry deep bass effects 1: PCM mono Additional Features: Original theatrical trailer English: Mono French: mono French & Spanish language subtitles DVD Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1: Vistavision MPAA Rating: NR DVD Discs Included: 1 DVD Sides: 1 DVD DVD Region Code: 1 Content Length: 116 min   DVD Chapters: Side #1 -- 0. Scene Selections 1. Main Title [1:50] 2. Sir Wilfrid [1:13] 3. Welcome Back! [5:37] 4. A Criminal Matter [8:26] 5. Murder & Monocles [8:15] 6. Warrants & Wives [7:47] 7. A Remarkable Woman [5:36] 8. Clutching a Razorblade [11:43] 9. Trial/Cutting Testimony [2:41] 10. A Will-Ful Woman [8:47] 11. Calling Christine Helm [9:12] 12. Calling Leonard Vole [8:19] 13. Letters [8:02] 14. "Damn You!" [8:06] 15. A Perfect Execution [8:05] 16. End Credits [11:58]