Event

Witness for the Prosecution

Read the book, then watch the movie! Upstate Films and Oblong Books co-present this screening, followed by a book group discussion Sunday, November 12th at 1pm in Rhinebeck.

Based on a short story and play by Agatha Christie, Billy Wilders WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION stars Charles Laughton as a British lawyer who gets caught up in a couples tangled affairs when he defends the husband for murder.

Sir Wilfrid Robarts (Charles Laughton) is an aging barrister recovering from a heart attack. Against the advice of his doctors, he decides to take on a case and defend the affable Leonard Vole (Tyrone Power), who is being tried for the murder of a wealthy woman. But Voles alibi unfortunately depends on the testimony of his wife, Christine (Marlene Dietrich), who discovers a legal loophole and decides to appear in court against him. To Sir Wilfrids surprise, this is only the first in a series of revelations and reversals. Its parry and punch in the courtroom from the get go, and the air crackles with electricity as the story winds forward. Imbued with Wilders playfully cynical sense of humor, the film is balanced by well-marked characters, shifts of mood, changes of pace, and energetic performances. According to Billy Wilder himself, Agatha Christie said WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION was the best film adaptation ever done of her work.

(USA / 1957 / Directed by Billy Wilder)

Rating: Approved* / 1 hr 56 mins.
*The film was originally rated under the Hays Code, when films were Approved or Disapproved based on whether they were deemed moral or immoral.