Witness for the Prosecution

Billy Wilder received an Oscar nomination for his work here.

Dietrich is magnificent in her role as 'wife of the accused' in Billy Wilder's intelligent adaptation of Agatha Christie's stage play. As a german emigré much of the character's background could be scenes from Dietrich's own life (including the classic Berlin cabaret flashback). This added plausability adds to the melee of plots surrounding this pacey and witty courtroom drama. Tyrone Power is suitably solid as the accused, obviously guilty (in the eyes of the law) because of the furtune he has subsequently inherited. Laughton as the redoubtable old defence lawyer provides the foil to Dietrich as well as glorious comedy interludes. Appearing with his real life wife (the nurse) he has enormous fun hamming up the role with his boyish eagerness and refusal to follow doctor's orders, retire and stop drinking. It is ones complete trust in his lawyer's 'powers' that makes the final scene, the verdict and its revelations so unexpected and engrossing.

Review by Matthew White
Taken from EUFS Programme 1993-94