Witness For the Prosecution [G]

When a wealthy widow is found murdered in her home Leonard Vole, her young married suitor, is instantly fingered as the murderer. Although there is much evidence against him, Vole enlists the help of an aging champion barrister in his defence and soon an airtight alibi is constructed. But during the trial the prosecution calls a surprise witness, his wife Christine, and Vole’s hopes of acquittal are quickly dashed as she reveals some shocking secrets of her own. 

This film is an intrigue right from the get-go with never a dull moment on the screen. The performances are airtight and brilliant, the script is wonderful, and the courtroom drama is so delightfully juicy and scandalous that it’s impossible to even consider blinking lest something crucial be missed! 

When a wealthy widow is found murdered in her home Leonard Vole, her young married suitor, is instantly fingered as the murderer. Although there is much evidence against him, Vole enlists the help of an aging champion barrister in his defence and soon an airtight alibi is constructed. But during the trial the prosecution calls a surprise witness, his wife Christine, and Vole’s hopes of acquittal are quickly dashed as she reveals some shocking secrets of her own. 

I have always found movies set in court really juicy and highly enjoyable: maybe it’s the passionate performances that come from the attorneys defending the rights of their clients or maybe it’s the detective story element of finding hidden clues within the statements of the multitude of characters that we have. Whether it’s James Stewart in Anatomy of a Murder, Gregory Peck in To Kill a Mockingbird, or even Reese Witherspoon in Legally Blonde, the courtroom setting never fails to entertain and enthral and its role as a dramatic setting in this film is no exception to the rule. 

Witness For the Prosecution has absolutely everything! Chronicling the 3-5 day trial of the accused with the remainder of the movie being told in flashback with voice-over narration, the movie contains fabulous and compelling performances left, right, and centre, a great script with filled with wonderful and empowering speeches, and so many surprising plot twists and misdirections that it’s hard to get your head to stop spinning! Even at the very end when the credits are up a voice comes over the screen forewarning viewers not to divulge any of the secrets regarding the surprise at the film’s conclusion to those who have not seen the movie! 

Starring Tyrone Power, Marlene Dietrich, Charles Laughton, Elsa Lanchester, John Williams, Henry Daniell, Ian Wolf, Torin Thatcher, Una O’Connor, Francis Compton, Philip Tonge, Ruta Lee, and Norma Varden, Witness For the Prosecution is quite possibly one of the cleverest and most delightfully misdirecting courtroom movies ever! Filled with comedy, drama, romance, and a fair few unfathomed twists of the plot, I was hooked right from the start!