Witness for the Prosecution

Witness for the Prosecution (1957) starring Charles Laughton, Tyrone Power, Marlene Dietrich. Directed by Billy Wilder. Based on an Agatha Christie play, this movie tells the story of a man (Power) accused of murder. It's a courtroom drama, with Laughton as Wilfrid Robarts, the defense attorney, and Dietrich as the wife of the accused. The twist is that the wife of the accused takes the stand against him and gives damning testimony. It's a great performance by Dietrich, and Laughton is also excellent as the barrister, who is recovering from a heart attack. In the final analysis, though, all the parts didn't fit together for me, and I felt ever so slightly manipulated. (English subtitles are not offered, but closed captions save the day for the hearing-impaired.) Grade: B