Xenon's Classic Movie Review: Witness for the Prosecution (567 hits)
Category: Movies & TVRating: 0.5 on 4 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by <xenon> (View user info) at 2005-01-05 09:37:58 EST
http://www.ubersite.com/m/46031 - 12 Angry Men
As usual, I prefer a neutral 0 rating for comments, as these reviews are purely informational and opinionated and not written with ratings in mind.
The plot for Witness for the Prosecution is about Leonard Vole (Tyrone Powers) who has been accused of murdering a woman much older than him that he had recently befriended. He enlists the help of Sir Wilfrid Robarts (Charles Laughton) and Mr. Brogan-Moore (John Williams) to defend him in the British courts. Robarts and Brogan-Moore hope that their key witness will be Christine Vole (Marlene Dietrich), Leonard's wife. They are soon disappointed as she is enlisted by the prosecution and testifies against her husband.
Witness for the Prosecution is an original stage-play by a modern master(ette) of the murder mystery, Agatha Christie. The story was adapted by Larry Marcus for theatres before it first aired on the silver screen in 1957. With this fact in mind, it makes me very curious to have seen the original stage version as there are many scenes that I have a hard time imagining how they would have been portrayed on stage. The film was nominated for six categories in the 1958 Oscars, but won none.
The highly-acclaimed director, Billy Wilder, led the cast in the prime of his career. Wilder directed over seventy films between 1929 and 1995 passing away in 2002. Some notable films that he played major roles in include Some Like it Hot, The Seven Year Itch, Sabrina (both versions), The Apartment, Double Indemnity (both versions), and The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes with Gene Wilder.
Now a few little known facts:
Charles Laughton and Ella Lanchester (Miss Plimsoll the nurse) were husband and wife in real life thus making their onscreen chemistry much more realistic.
At the beginning of the film, Robarts is supposed to have just experienced a heart attack and is just returning to his work as a lawyer. Before filming, Laughton wanted to know if he would be convincing enough to portray the victim of a heart attack on screen. He experimented on his wife by faking one in the pool. It is reported that she was very convinced and very angry.
In the original screen version before the film begins, a message appears onscreen saying that to avoid ruining the effect of the surprise ending, patrons should not take their seats during the last few minutes of the movie. As the end title comes on screen, an announcer's voice is heard requesting theatre patrons not to reveal the secret of the movie so as not to spoil the film for those who have not seen it.
Overall, Witness for the Prosecution was a fantastic mystery. The almost unbelievable plot twists will throw even the savviest mystery lover for a loop. Some may find these twists "overkill" or "ridiculous," but I find that they really "make" the film. The dialogue is very "written." That sounds silly, but what I mean is that everything that is said sounds more like it is being read from a book rather than said by real people. It's very rigid and unnatural. Regardless, the wit and flow is pleasing. Though the film is placed in England and most of the characters are British, you need not be a British film lover to appreciate this film. Many will criticize this film on its lack of realism in the court of law. Even I, who knows next to nothing about law, could see quite a few flaws in the way things went in the trial. Regardless of the lack of realism and sometimes corny dialogue, Witness for the Prosecution makes for a suspenseful and intriguing film.
I give it 4 out of 5 Xs.
XXXXx
User Reviews
Submitted by xenon (user info) at 2005-01-06 10:40:23 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
bump for posting at a lousy time
Submitted by xenon (user info) at 2005-01-05 13:55:10 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by Shlongy (user info) at 2005-01-05 10:05:45 (#)
Ranking: -1
I don't like being told what to do.
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I didn't tell you to do anything, bitch.
Submitted by Shlongy (user info) at 2005-01-05 10:05:45 EST (#)
Ranking: -1
I don't like being told what to do.
Submitted by Kent_Weirdo (user info) at 2005-01-05 09:40:29 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Agreed.