Witness for the Prosecution (1957)
The legal mystery thriller film, Witness for the Prosecution (1957), was directed by Billy Wilder. Despite objections from his private nurse Miss Plimsoll, senior barrister Sir Wilfrid Robarts agrees to defend Leonard Vole. He is recovering from a heart attack and his doctor had warned against taking on criminal cases. Vole is accused of murdering Emily French, a wealthy widow who had named him as her main beneficiary after falling in love with him. When speaking with Vole’s German wife Christine, Sir Wilfrid notices her cold and self-possessed demeanor. However, she does provide an alibi for her husband, although it is not entirely convincing. The trial at the Old Bailey sees the Crown presenting evidence that Mrs. French’s murder may have been committed by Vole.
French had spotted Vole with a younger woman and intended to confront him, but Sir Wilfrid firmly believes in his client’s innocence. To his surprise, Christine is also summoned as a prosecution witness. While it is known that a wife cannot be forced to testify against her husband, Christine was still legally married to Otto Helm while she married Vole, who was stationed with the Royal Air Force in the British occupation zone and helped her escape from the Soviet-occupied Germany. In court, Christine reveals that Leonard had returned home shortly after the murder and confessed to killing Mrs. French in order to secure his inheritance in her will. Despite her love for Leonard, Christine admits that her conscience would not allow her to deceive the court.
Date of download: 2015-11-11T17:22:34+00:00
Cast:  Tyrone PowerLeonard Vole  Marlene DietrichChristine  Charles LaughtonSir Wilfrid Roberts  Elsa LanchesterMiss Plimsoll  John WilliamsBrogan-Moore  Henry DaniellMayhew |
The legal mystery thriller film, Witness for the Prosecution (1957), was directed by Billy Wilder. Despite objections from his private nurse Miss Plimsoll, senior barrister Sir Wilfrid Robarts agrees to defend Leonard Vole. He is recovering from a heart attack and his doctor had warned against taking on criminal cases. Vole is accused of murdering Emily French, a wealthy widow who had named him as her main beneficiary after falling in love with him. When speaking with Vole’s German wife Christine, Sir Wilfrid notices her cold and self-possessed demeanor. However, she does provide an alibi for her husband, although it is not entirely convincing. The trial at the Old Bailey sees the Crown presenting evidence that Mrs. French’s murder may have been committed by Vole.
French had spotted Vole with a younger woman and intended to confront him, but Sir Wilfrid firmly believes in his client’s innocence. To his surprise, Christine is also summoned as a prosecution witness. While it is known that a wife cannot be forced to testify against her husband, Christine was still legally married to Otto Helm while she married Vole, who was stationed with the Royal Air Force in the British occupation zone and helped her escape from the Soviet-occupied Germany. In court, Christine reveals that Leonard had returned home shortly after the murder and confessed to killing Mrs. French in order to secure his inheritance in her will. Despite her love for Leonard, Christine admits that her conscience would not allow her to deceive the court.
