WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION

That this courtroom drama based on a play by Agatha Christie is directed by Billy Wilder is perhaps more of a surprise than is the denouement itself.

The main pleasures are Charles Laughton’s performance as the self-regarding QC Sir Wilfrid Robarts and that of Elsa Lanchester (Laughton’s wife in real life) as his private nurse Miss Plimsoll (great name) who has the unenviable task of looking after Sir Wilfrid.  

Wilder of course can be relied upon to bring out the comedic elements of their relationship.

Where the director struggles perhaps is to make an effective drama out of a story which is more interested in plot than character. 

The fact that Marlene Dietrich at one point shows up in some unconvincing makeup and trying out a Cockney accent (ouch) only serves to emphasise the stagey nature of the material. 

That scene aside Dietrich does a good enough job of bringing her character, Christine Vole, to life.  

Her relationship with Leonard Vole, who is accused of murder, provides what little emotional depth there is on view.  There's a flashback to when they first met during World War II, which hints at Christine a damaged person due to her experiences then.  It is perhaps appropriate therefore that in the denouement she is revealed as being a victim of Leonard's deceit (which is incidentally a change to the ending of Christie's short story, where Christine and Leonard are equally partners in crime).

Leonard is played by Tyrone Power in his last film before his untimely death at the age of 44.  Here he is well cast as a bit of a charmer with a touch of seediness.  

So this is a solid piece of entertainment, very much of its time, which never quite reaches the heights but passes the time pleasantly enough.

RATING: ✓ Cheers