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Witness for the Prosecution
Witness for the Prosecution
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Witness for the Prosecution

Witness for the Prosecution

1957
Drama, Suspense/Thriller
1h 56m
Agatha Christie tale of a man on trial for murder: a trial featuring surprise after surprise. (imdb)

Directed by:

Billy Wilder

Screenwriter:

Billy Wilder, Harry Kurnitz, Agatha Christie, Larry Marcus

Starring:

Marlene Dietrich, John Williams, Charles Laughton, Ian Wolfe, Henry Daniell, Elsa Lanchester, Torin Thatcher, Tyrone Power, Una O'Connor, Philip Tonge, Norma Varden, Francis Compton

Franchise:

Witness for the Prosecution

Genres:

Drama, Suspense/Thriller, Crime, Mystery

Country:

USA

Languages:

English, German
imdb IMDb
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Witness for the Prosecution

1957
Drama, Suspense/Thriller
1h 56m
Your probable score
Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer
Avg Percentile 76.93% from 2178 total ratings
Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

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billyshearsBillyShears
Rated 29 Apr 2015
100
98th
I watch a lot of crap but it's worth it for when I stumble on something terrific like this. My jaw dropped, then it dropped some more, then it fell right off.
Rated 29 Apr 2015
nathan_sNathan S
Rated 14 Jul 2009
4
74th
One of the best screenplays ever written, managing taut suspense but also some dark humor. The first half provides generous character establishment to prepare the second half as a completely engrossing courtroom potboiler. By the time all the pieces come together you're left reeling at how cleverly constructed the entire thing has been. The cast is absolutely stellar, especially Laughton, though Power botches a few lines.
Rated 14 Jul 2009
icarusIcarus
Rated 07 Jan 2009
90
89th
Excellent narrative and dialogue, as to be expected from Wilder. Dietrich and Laughton are fabulous in this. She's got a scene of testimony where she offers a fine, hard-edged performance, while Laughton has an extended close-up and monologue where he maintains the viewer's interest simply through his facial expressions and tone of voice. The film is largely skeptical of institutional justice, but hopeful for the existence of a higher justice.
Rated 07 Jan 2009
martintellerMartinTeller
Rated 01 Mar 2007
83
77th
Very good courtroom drama. Interesting in that it plays out exactly like every other courtroom drama, but subverts the viewer's expectations in the end. I can't say any more but trust me, it's worth checking out. Good performances from the cast, and the tight script sparkles with Billy Wilder's wit.
Rated 01 Mar 2007
peaceanarchyPeaceAnarchy
Rated 12 Dec 2006
90
94th
The twist is pretty good even when you know it's coming and the entire film is just a perfectly constructed mystery.
Rated 12 Dec 2006
cclzaCCLZA
Rated 08 Mar 2009
90
95th
Tight, witty script and some unforgettable performances. The ending, even while you've been thinking about the posibilities, is truly shocking and exciting.
Rated 08 Mar 2009
icebloxiceblox
Rated 17 Nov 2008
91
98th
Being a big time courtroom drama junkie, this was just what the doctor ordered, for me. All along I expected some kind of twist to be thrown at me, and I did my own speculations along the course of the movie, but I didn't really see what was coming. And when a movie gets the better of me - this means that the movie deserves a pat on the back.
Rated 17 Nov 2008
kasperlKasperL
Rated 07 Jan 2013
90
97th
Great courtroom mystery. The short story it was based on is awesome as well.
Rated 07 Jan 2013
judge_holdenJudge Holden
Rated 28 Jan 2012
5
69th
I just didn't find it particularly well-written or engrossing. It has an interesting, albeit completely ridiculous, twist at the end, but everything else about this is so painfully familiar and obvious. And while Laughton is certainly great, the rest of the cast is really boring.
Rated 28 Jan 2012
sebbysebby
Rated 12 Jul 2011
65
59th
Loved the first 3/4, but the suspension of disbelief required for the last 20 minutes was just too much for me. It was not unlike a Bond film, where the villain needlessly divulges everything after already triumphing. It just came off as sloppy and ridiculous, which is a shame because the rest of the film is utterly fantastic.
Rated 12 Jul 2011
jasoo2jasoo2
Rated 20 Jan 2022
50
38th
The movie is carried by the fat-assed defense attorney, who acts superlatively. Meanwhile, the character who is the defendant in the case cannot act for shit. Notable dichotomy there. Fat ass Charles Laughton carries a lot of weight but in the end this movie drowns in words and not enough scenery changes.
Rated 20 Jan 2022
jarobmuljarobmul
Rated 31 Oct 2021
93
98th
This was great. The main character felt off-putting to start but quickly grows on you. So many engaging plot twists and it was fascinating to see a spoiler warning at the end of the film. Not so different from today.
Rated 31 Oct 2021
chmulcr0nchmul_cr0n
Rated 19 Sep 2018
69
53rd
Warning: Contains spoilers. Fun movie. I'll say the performances (of Dietrich, Laughton and Power especially) are mainly responsible for the movie's....main elements to work. I don't know much about Agatha Christie (so little, in fact, that I've never actually read any of her books, all I know is a couple of movies based on them), but her apparent infatuation with silly, yet brilliant men is very cute. :) Loved how they ask the viewers to not give out spoilers to their friends at the end. :D
Rated 19 Sep 2018
ununniliumUnunnilium
Rated 18 May 2014
85
80th
At first, many parts of the story seem kind of obvious and cliched - then one by one they get flipped on their heads. And Marlene Dietrich is, naturally, fantastic.
Rated 18 May 2014
ocelotOcelot
Rated 26 Feb 2014
70
73rd
WHAT A TWEEST! Marlene Dietrich is one of the most gorgeous women who has ever lived. She was 56 in this movie. Holy fuck.
Rated 26 Feb 2014
actionbergActionberg
Rated 07 Jan 2012
85
84th
The script here is a hell of a winner; when it needs to be, it's witty, sexy and thrilling, sometimes all at once. Charles Laughton is hilarious, Marlene Dietrich is deliciously complex, and Tyrone Power is simply helpless. I love it when a film takes place in just a few interiors and dynamically exploits every angle it can to avoid getting stale. It's just a great, fun courtroom thriller.
Rated 07 Jan 2012
henrikHenrik
Rated 29 Oct 2011
85
90th
Witty, wry and tightly scripted, Billy Wilder puts his clear mark on this Agathta Christie mystery. Especially the heart problem of Laughton's barrister and his amusingly annoying nurse (created by Wilder for the film) is a funny and welcome addition to the whodunit machinations. Laughton (with elegant, threathening use of a monocle!) is of course as incredible as ever, and Dietrich plays her dame with proper exaggeration in court (hint..wink).
Rated 29 Oct 2011
wetwillieswetwillies
Rated 12 Jul 2011
100
98th
This is a picture that has it all - humor, suspense and a hell of an ending. It's one of those movies where you sit and as you watch, you quietly whisper "wow" to yourself over and over. Highly recommended.
Rated 12 Jul 2011
tonydaltonydal
Rated 26 Apr 2010
75
57th
Wildly implausible ending mars it considerably. And the Lanchester-Laughton matchup grew pretty sitcommy after a while. Still, Laughton is a lot of fun, and Marlena is cool. Power hams it up unmercifully in places (sure, it turns out that was for a purpose, but still...).
Rated 26 Apr 2010
moraesfelipemoraesfelipe
Rated 06 Mar 2010
91
96th
A trial drama packed with a spectacular finale. Billy Wilder gives insightful and poignant dialogues all around, and then there is Charles Laughton, who deserves a sentence of his own. He delivers a tremendously energic, sincere and overwhelming perfomance as Sir Wilfrid Robarts.
Rated 06 Mar 2010
bestauntiebestauntie
Rated 07 Nov 2009
83
62nd
It's good, but some of the acting was outdated to me. The outbursts by Tyrone Power's character didn't feel right and seemed out place. Plus, he was supposedly a British citizen and yet had an American accent when everyone else had a British one (except of course, for Marlene Dietrich who was flawless). The ending is a surprise even by today's standards. Well worth the watch.
Rated 07 Nov 2009
stainStain
Rated 31 Mar 2007
100
95th
Clever, funny, brilliantly done. Chalk another one up for Mr. Wilder
Rated 31 Mar 2007
moribunnyMoribunny
Rated 02 Dec 2006
58
49th
A decent courtroom drama with several funny moments, but the cast is very uneven. Tyrone Power's performance as the defendant Leonard Vole is screamingly horrid in contrast to Charles Laughton's captivating Sir Wilfred, Vole's defense attorney. Marlene Dietrich's acting irritated me as well in this instance. I'd say Laughton is the film's only irreproachable merit.
Rated 02 Dec 2006
ofterdingenOfterdingen
Rated 04 Dec 2024
75
87th
One plot twist too many though constantly entertaining and well-made.
Rated 04 Dec 2024
applepieapplepie
Rated 30 Nov 2024
80
80th
2024-11-29: floored
Rated 30 Nov 2024
bzymusbzymus
Rated 27 Mar 2024
88
88th
audiovisual 85 acting 92 overall feeling 88 avg 88
Rated 27 Mar 2024
ttoshittoshi
Rated 13 Jan 2024
58
68th
Fun movie—worth a watch
Rated 13 Jan 2024
frederikaFrederikA
Rated 17 Dec 2023
85
92nd
Wonderfully witty and charming courtroom drama, with a pitch perfect leading performance from Laughton.
Rated 17 Dec 2023
fredericg54frederic_g54
Rated 27 Nov 2023
8
78th
It gets by on a snappy script and some excellent performances, particularly Charles Laughton as the jokingly sarcastic Sir Wilfrid. I think the reason I don’t like watching American movies up until the late 50’s is that most of them - at least compared to European productions - looked very flat and unexciting while I tend to enjoy and scrutinise cinematography first and foremost. But I remained invested nonetheless and it ends with a nice twist.
Rated 27 Nov 2023
amirbazyaramirbazyar
Rated 24 Sep 2023
90
68th
A good start and a better end
Rated 24 Sep 2023
heynicefilmHeyNiceFilm
Rated 18 Jun 2023
89
88th
Billy Wilder near the top of his game. As the ending of the film states, I will not comment on the ending. The plot is well paced, good acting all around, and that sharp Wilder dialogue. Gets me every time. Court room drama up, double feature with 12 Angry Men. Charles Laughton is who Orson Welles want to be in this one.
Rated 18 Jun 2023
myfavchordsmyfavchords
Rated 11 Jun 2023
76
57th
This film has a good script with some twists and turns. The one thing the script could have improved on was the first part of the film has some boring parts. The cast does a good job here, especially Marlene Dietrich. Overall I would recommend this film.
Rated 11 Jun 2023
sybaritesybarite
Rated 17 Sep 2022
72
71st
Everything hinges in the last three minutes, which are perhaps a bit too high-concept for my taste.
Rated 17 Sep 2022
overratedoverrated
Rated 06 Jul 2022
55
56th
Carried almost entirely by Laughton and to a lesser extent Dietrich. The twists would have been thrilling in 1957 but seem corny and ridiculous now. I'm also not a fan of courtroom dramas in general and the second half of the film is non-stop courtroom porn.
Rated 06 Jul 2022
vialov3sgyuvia_lov3sgyu
Rated 10 May 2022
100
70th
oh yeas. this movie has long been one of if not my fav movies ever. acting on pointttt. but also the story is compelling and griping
Rated 10 May 2022
alwayshere88alwayshere88
Rated 12 Apr 2022
80
84th
Note to myself: only rewatch if nothing else available.
Rated 12 Apr 2022
ab_i_hayaAb-ı Haya
Rated 13 Mar 2022
77
52nd
04.17 Hobbit
Rated 13 Mar 2022
gamul1Gamul1
Rated 28 Dec 2021
90
82nd
Really good for an old movie.
Rated 28 Dec 2021
jnsonejijnsoneji
Rated 25 Sep 2021
95
83rd
Witty dialogues and excellent investigation, court room trial scenes. Must watch.
Rated 25 Sep 2021
difontaineDifontaine
Rated 13 Sep 2021
88
93rd
Well constructed and acted. It's a shame about some of the accents.
Rated 13 Sep 2021
angrypierreangrypierre
Rated 04 Sep 2021
87
89th
While the courtroom stuff is a bit over the top in places, it's got a cracking mixture of Agatha Christie's panache for storytelling and characters, along with several superb performances. Probably best unspoiled, but I think it would stand up even if you've been tipped off how it ends.
Rated 04 Sep 2021
metismetis
Rated 06 Aug 2021
94
95th
? ?????????????/?????????…
Rated 06 Aug 2021
hssnozdagghssnozdagg
Rated 23 May 2021
87
86th
A brilliant classic.
Rated 23 May 2021
xakkmasterXakkMaster
Rated 18 Apr 2021
85
76th
A tightly made and wonderfully told story with twists that you won't always see coming. A few unbelievable moments or era-reflected acting hold it back from being perfect, but it's definitely a classic.
Rated 18 Apr 2021
esperhartEsperHart
Rated 05 Mar 2021
97
67th
https://esperwatchesfilms.tumblr.com/post/644854740997537792/witness-for-the-prosecution-1957
Rated 05 Mar 2021
msenturk80msenturk80
Rated 23 May 2020
79
73rd
75
Rated 23 May 2020
psimpsim
Rated 09 Nov 2019
81
78th
A very fun courtroom drama with good leading performances and interesting characters. Probably responsible for decades of lawyer TV shows.
Rated 09 Nov 2019
napolenbradynapolenbrady
Rated 12 Mar 2019
92
88th
92.00
Rated 12 Mar 2019
evilmangoesEvilMangoes
Rated 14 Oct 2018
91
73rd
A-
Rated 14 Oct 2018
mandymandy
Rated 13 Nov 2017
7
73rd
Entertaining - witty and keeps you guessing but a bit dated
Rated 13 Nov 2017
radumsmnradumsmn
Rated 27 Jan 2017
85
96th
The praise is justified entirely for this Agatha Christie adaptation of the highest quality by an incredible director whose movies I should see more of.
Rated 27 Jan 2017
ribcageribcage
Rated 29 Aug 2016
94
96th
Laughton demands your attention whenever he's on screen and also supplies perfectly timed comic relief. The story is exceptional and told in a way that keeps the film alive despite its confinement to a courtroom. Dietrich delivers her own hammering performance and scenes between her and Laughton leave a lasting impression.
Rated 29 Aug 2016
timmotimmo
Rated 11 Aug 2016
80
44th
A solid old-school legal drama, with fun Christie twists. It unfolds more like a play than anything, but works pretty well nonetheless. I didn't get the sense that Wilder was fully committed, though. I'm not sure why.
Rated 11 Aug 2016
hawkinsHawkins
Rated 09 Jun 2016
91
92nd
Crafty, and with great personality. Wilder's snappy direction and Laughton's adorable grumpiness really carry this typical A.C. courtroom drama through to its bold conclusion.
Rated 09 Jun 2016
thedicemanTheDiceman
Rated 29 Jan 2016
85
98th
Excellent.
Rated 29 Jan 2016
sirstuckeySirStuckey
Rated 06 Sep 2015
75
67th
I was the typical 2015 cynic who thought he had figured out the ending within the first 45 minutes of the movie. Oh those adorable simple minded fools of 1957 who would be surprised by such an obvious "twist." Turns out even the condescending film-watchers of 2015, like myself, can still be surprised even though we've claimed to have seen it all.
Rated 06 Sep 2015
vassagoVassago
Rated 17 Jul 2015
89
96th
Great movie but I still prefer "Anatomy of a Murder" over this one.
Rated 17 Jul 2015
dardandardan
Rated 05 May 2015
65
64th
A heart condition adds suspense in all the right ways to a movie that should be seen for its comical english banter. The unnecessarily thrashy or soapy ending devalued the entire movie.
Rated 05 May 2015
tarwebroodtarwebrood
Rated 23 Dec 2014
81
73rd
2014-10-something
Rated 23 Dec 2014
ehk2ehk2
Rated 11 Nov 2014
37
51st
this kind of humour puts the viewer into a supposedly imbecile position
Rated 11 Nov 2014
montycircusMontyCircus
Rated 20 Oct 2014
60
69th
In 1957 this movie must have been a sensation! If I had seen it then, or at a younger age, its impact would have been stronger, as there have been similar films in the half-century since that lesson the impact. But Charles Laughton's character is wonderful, and the film is interesting to the end!
Rated 20 Oct 2014
geoffegeoffe
Rated 27 Jul 2014
99
96th
Such believable characters with twist. Charles Laughton is amazing!
Rated 27 Jul 2014
lady_moeLady Moe
Rated 07 May 2014
86
66th
Intelligent film with enjoyable characters. Charles Laughton plays a wonderfully craggy old lawyer and knows exactly how to deliver each sarcasm-laden line of his. The movie has twists all around, and smart ones at that.
Rated 07 May 2014
mb9607mb9607
Rated 26 Mar 2014
80
0th
2x
Rated 26 Mar 2014
ecitizeneCitizen
Rated 19 Feb 2014
40
32nd
A character study on criminal behavior. Tyrone Powers performance was acceptable, but overly dramatic most of the time. Marlene Dietrich was often annoying. Laughton as the defense lawyer was sometimes laughable and full of unnecessary detail. The story is somewhat interesting and there is a surprise ending that was a bit too tidy. The best parts of the movie do not occur in the courtroom.
Rated 19 Feb 2014
hadleyreisHadleyreis
Rated 15 Feb 2014
87
90th
I told the first person I saw what I didn't think wasn't going happen.
Rated 15 Feb 2014
ella_mayElla May
Rated 26 Dec 2013
80
86th
I wish Charles Laughton had been more of a likable curmudgeon and less of a surly misogynist, but this was actually an intriguing and suspenseful mystery and a story well told. Didn't feel as long as it was.
Rated 26 Dec 2013
apm2091apm2091
Rated 01 Dec 2013
85
91st
They don't write movies like this anymore...but I really wish they did.
Rated 01 Dec 2013
roofsrunnerroofs_runner
Rated 08 May 2013
96
96th
Amazing in every way.
Rated 08 May 2013
fra_paolofra paolo
Rated 06 May 2013
37
33rd
'The butler did it!' -- this is a very successful transfer of a stage piece opened out on the film screen, but I didn't find the casting of either Tyrone Power or Marlene Dietrich entirely successful. Laughton and Lanchester were a bit stereotypical, but maybe they helped form the stereotypes?
Rated 06 May 2013
nepetaNepeta
Rated 17 Apr 2013
70
44th
Elsa Lanchester is a bit of a nuisance here, the housekeeper's performance was overdone, and the ending felt laboured and silly (even if there is something delightfully cynical about it). Still, it's mostly entertaining and Charles Laughton is great.
Rated 17 Apr 2013
graveyardtangraveyardtan
Rated 30 Mar 2013
75
44th
Mediocre trial/noir film held together by two strong performances. Laughton in particular is fascinating as the droll barrister. He could have done a great Hitchcock, if need be.
Rated 30 Mar 2013
nbd_rabNBD Rab
Rated 23 Feb 2013
90
91st
One of the best courtroom dramas. Smart and full of twists and turns.
Rated 23 Feb 2013
3drevelation3dRevelation
Rated 14 Dec 2012
70
47th
I found this rather stuffy and unexciting at least until the ending. The acting is ok, but I think it could have been better. I think other films of the genre have had a bigger impact. Wilder's worst for me so far.
Rated 14 Dec 2012
damildamil
Rated 16 Sep 2012
80
90th
This is a truly great courtroom drama/murder mystery film. It's based on a story by Agatha Christie, which is not surprising, as it often felt like reading one of her books. Plenty of twists and turns - the ending is fantastic. A nice amount of sly wit too. It's also yet another good film from Billy Wilder. I enjoyed all the varied performances from the actors. It was perhaps a tad long, but it's still a film everyone should see.
Rated 16 Sep 2012
st_bernaSt. Berna
Rated 16 Aug 2012
80
71st
Son yarim saatteki bas donduren(!) twist'lerde tebessum ettim ama "esmer yilisik kiz"la ilgili olan, sondan bi onceki twist'te harbiden guldum artik. Ortaokulda bile Agatha C. okurken "cinayet senaryolari uydurukcusu, hikaye sarlatani" oldugunu dusunurdum zaten. (bizde de bi Nuran Devres vardi bu Agatha ablasinin yan sanayisi, onu anarim hep.) Haa, peki nispeten yuksek sayilabilecek bu puan neden? Cunku seyir zevki yuksek! Diyaloglar guzel. Laughton harika. Ayrica Billy Wilder'i seviyoruz!
Rated 16 Aug 2012
senseisensei
Rated 16 Jun 2012
85
84th
This is a hilarious film, filled with witty dialogue, starring the charismatic and cantankerous Charles Laughton. It occasionally falls flat during the lesser performances of Tyrone Powers and Marlene Dietrich. It also has the usual twists of an Agatha Christie story, which tend to be, at best, funny. At worst, these twists are stupid and anticlimatic: the final 10 minutes are absolute twaddle. I normally hate it when reviews say a film is "a lot of fun," but that's what this film is!
Rated 16 Jun 2012
henrybrhenrybr
Rated 27 Apr 2012
75
45th
For me, what spoils the movie is that absurd ending. The first twist is pretty neat, ok, but then things just get crazy and ridiculous with Vole's lover showing up and everything that happens after that. But still it is a good Billy Wilder.
Rated 27 Apr 2012
stevekimesstevekimes
Rated 31 Mar 2012
86
79th
Just what you want in a court drama. Wonderful twists, entertaining characters, people to hate. And on top of that you've got the amazing direction of Billy Wilder.
Rated 31 Mar 2012
luna6ixLuna6ix
Rated 26 Mar 2012
81
78th
wilder brings nothing to the table here, leaving christie's story to tell it's self, and that turns out to be a wise directorial decision. the biggest downer for me is dietrich, pretty woman, good actress, but that friggin' speech impediment renders her completely unwatchable.
Rated 26 Mar 2012
susmattsusmatt
Rated 20 Feb 2012
75
70th
Good one
Rated 20 Feb 2012
nobletNoblet
Rated 29 Jan 2012
87
89th
An extremely satisfying and well-written film. The dialogue has such perfect timing, whether it's comedic banter or dramatic courtroom diction.
Rated 29 Jan 2012
pigletPiglet
Rated 08 Jan 2012
90
99th
That last half an hour is a show stopper if I've ever seen one. Marvellous!
Rated 08 Jan 2012
kavuKavu
Rated 02 Sep 2011
93
98th
Superb courtroom drama with sublime performances from Laughton and Dietrich and a script decades ahead of it's time.
Rated 02 Sep 2011
chr1sCHR1S
Rated 01 Sep 2011
73
66th
Clever script with lots of jokes. Surprising twist, but disappointing somehow.
Rated 01 Sep 2011
iyisinekiyisinek
Rated 10 Aug 2011
89
96th
mahkeme, dava, cinayet, sahit ( Leonard Vole, aralarinda yakinlik olan yasli bir kadini öldürmekten suclanir. Hasta ve yasli avukat sir Wilfrid'den yardim ister. Hersey Vole'un aleyhinedir. Ama ortaya beklenmeyen bir sahid cikar.) Finaliyle beni büyüledi. Finali kusursuz.
Rated 10 Aug 2011
helfen419helfen419
Rated 29 Jul 2011
91
91st
Slightly predictable, but very well executed.
Rated 29 Jul 2011
cinematicespCinematicESP
Rated 18 Jul 2011
88
80th
Laughton steals the show. The script is clever and engaging with a nice little twist ending to top it off.
Rated 18 Jul 2011
naikounaikou
Rated 23 Jan 2011
50
41st
As good of dramatist as Wilder is, his comedy does nothing for me. The majority of the gags are so obvious and predictable that you can anticipate them 15 minutes in advance. Laughton's character is good, but there are horrendous instances of overacting throughout the film: the shrill housekeeper, the doting old widow, the distraught defendant. Worst of all, the plot is driven by hairpin twists (true to Agatha Christie form), half of which are unsurprising, while the other half are illogical.
Rated 23 Jan 2011
glmglm
Rated 26 Dec 2010
93
97th
93.375
Rated 26 Dec 2010
launchLaunch
Rated 02 Sep 2010
88
89th
I really enjoyed this, however the ending, while fine conceptually, was poorly executed in my opinion.
Rated 02 Sep 2010
domahdomah
Rated 02 Aug 2010
92
93rd
Back in 1957, this must have been a real doozy of a twisting-and-turning plot.
Rated 02 Aug 2010
theficionadotheficionado
Rated 01 Aug 2010
75
74th
Too clockwork in his machinations (Laughton's right: everything IS a bit too tidy), but SPOILERS the realization that Dietrich never even actually committed perjury provides a damning cynicism for the ideal of legal justice, a cynicism so deep that even Laughton's apparent faith in a cosmic justice cannot entirely obliterate it.
Rated 01 Aug 2010
nunstranglernunstrangler
Rated 06 Mar 2010
86
83rd
Outstanding performances by Laughton, with excellent support by real life wife, Lanchester, as his patient nurse. Power, as the alleged killer, and Dietrich, as his enigmatic wife, are top-notch.
Rated 06 Mar 2010
billkerwinbillkerwin
Rated 05 Jan 2010
86
71st
Excellent performances here--and a great story. It suffers a little from the fact that--in spite of fine, direction--it still feels like a stage play.
Rated 05 Jan 2010
fivecatsfivecats
Rated 02 Jan 2010
88
70th
the movie that my father ruined by giving away the ending just moments before it appeared on screen
Rated 02 Jan 2010
vandelay1Vandelay1
Rated 10 Jul 2009
93
98th
Great Movie
Rated 10 Jul 2009
davidkahaneDavidKahane
Rated 25 May 2009
72
51st
Wilder's personal style is always present but that's the element in short supply in this courtroom drama. As an ailing barrister happily drawn from his sickbed to take on a tricky murder case, Laughton is about the only one given the chance to play around with droll Wilderesque dialogue, and it's no surprise that he delivers it wonderfully. Overall, the sheer mechanics of bringing an Agatha Christie story to the screen overwhelms the personality of the film. It's solid, but somewhat spiritless.
Rated 25 May 2009
pompousasspompousass
Rated 04 Mar 2009
40
71st
Deceitfully plotted according to Christie's wont, and stagily unravelled in courtroom and lawyer's office. It is given a measure of fun by Laughton's performance as the crotchety, sickly defense attorney (in a rush, he snatches the syringe out of his nursemaid's hand and, as he bustles out the door, injects it into the tip of his cigar).
Rated 04 Mar 2009
torontodogtorontodog
Rated 01 Feb 2008
85
90th
I'm not into the courtroom dramas, but this one kept my interest throughout. I guess it is the classic of that genre after all.
Rated 01 Feb 2008

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