Witness for the Prosecution (1957) FAQ

Witness for the Prosecution is a 1957 British crime film adapted by Larry Marcus and Harry Kurnitz from the play of the same name by Agatha Christie.

The film was directed by Billy Wilder and starred Tyrone Power, Marlene Dietrich, Charles Laughton, and Elsa Lanchester. This was Wilder’s second film shot in Technicolor (his first was Love in the Afternoon). It also features Robert Flemyng, Henry Daniell, John Williams, and Una O’Connor.

Here are some of the frequently asked questions regarding this film as follows:

Witness for the Prosecution (1957) FAQ

What Did Sir Wilfrid Do With His Monocle?

Sir Wilfrid’s monocle is not visible until the scene in which he visits Vole’s wife, Christine, while she is in prison. As he approaches her cell, it appears in his right eye. He removes the monocle when Christine asks him to and replaces it after he has assured her that she will be acquitted. The monocle finally disappears again during the trial when Sir Wilfrid gives an impassioned speech to the jury, forcing the prosecutor to object on grounds of “inflaming” the jury.

What Was The Surprise In Witness For The Prosecution?

The surprise of Witness for the Prosecution was that Sir Wilfrid’s client, Leonard Vole (Tyrone Power), who had been accused of murdering Mrs French (Elsa Lanchester) for financial gain, was actually innocent and that his wife Christine (Marlene Dietrich) had killed her.

When witnessing for Vole would have meant admitting that she had committed perjury by claiming that Vole had told her that he had murdered Mrs French, Christine changed her story and admitted committing perjury because she could not bear to let Vole go to his death. Unfortunately, the surprise in Witness for the Prosecution was that Sir Wilfrid’s client (Leonard Vole) was guilty and that Sir Wilfrid knew it, but chose not to tell anyone.

Who Killed Mrs French In Witness For The Prosecution?

Yes, she does play two parts. She plays Christine Helm, who testified under oath that she witnessed Leonard Vole leaving Mrs French’s home on the night of her murder. She also played Mrs French, who did not testify because she was already dead by then.

The reason for this is that Dietrich had been discovered by Billy Wilder during an audition for another film (A Foreign Affair), and he liked her so much that he wrote a part for her in Witness for the Prosecution just so he could cast her.

What Happens At The End Of Witness For The Prosecution?

At the end of the movie, Leonard Vole (Tyrone Power) is found guilty of murdering Emily French and he is sentenced to death.

Who Played The Woman With The Letters In Witness For The Prosecution?

The actress who played the woman with the letters in Witness for the Prosecution was Elsa Lanchester. She also played Mary Shelley in Bride of Frankenstein which was released two years later.

How Old Was Marlene Dietrich When She Made Witness For The Prosecution?

Marlene Dietrich was 57 when she made witness for the prosecution. She was born on 27 December 1901 And Died On 6 May 1992 Aged 90.

Where Was Witness For The Prosecution Made?

Witness for the Prosecution was made in London, England, UK.

Where Is The Best Place To Sit For Witness For The Prosecution?

The best place to sit for Witness for the Prosecution is in the Royal Circle. You can see the acting and all of the scenery better from this position. For a cheaper option, you can also sit in the Upper Circle, but I would advise against it as there are some sight-line issues.

What Is Your Review Of The Witness For The Prosecution?

Agatha Christie’s plays are always fascinating to watch. They really make you think, and keep your attention throughout. Witness for the Prosecution is no exception. It has a few twists in the plot, and it kept me on my toes for most of the film.

This was a play before it was a film, which may explain why there are only some locations in the film. The court room is used most of all, but there are also some smaller rooms and a few outdoors scenes.

As I said, there aren’t many locations, but they do the job well enough with what they have. All of these locations are very well made and look very realistic.

The costumes reflect the time period (1950’s Britain) very well and have a nice feel to them. The costumes help add to the atmosphere of the film as well as giving you an idea of what the characters are like inside.

The acting is good here, especially from Charles Laughton in his title role (and Tyrone Power as his associate). Marlene Dietrich also does quite well in her role here. After this she decided to give up acting for a while to concentrate on her singing career. She wanted her husband to direct this film, but he could not so Billy Wilder took.

When Witness For The Prosecution Was First Published?

The play was first published in 1925, but it was not performed until 1928.

The play is based on a real-life case called the Adelaide Bartlett murder trial. Mrs Bartlett was charged with the death of her husband, Edwin Bartlett, whom she claimed to have accidentally given too much chloroform to. She was acquitted by the jury. Christie used this case as the starting point for her fictional narrative.

The first stage production of Witness for the Prosecution opened at The Winter Garden Theatre in London on 28 October 1953, produced by Peter Saunders and directed by Peter Glenville.

How Many Awards Have Witness For The Prosecution Won?

Witness for the Prosecution has won several awards:

• Favourite Play, 1956 – Variety Club of Great Britain
• Outstanding British Drama, 1958 – New York Drama Critics’ Circle
• Outstanding Foreign Play, 1958 – New York Drama Critics’ Circle.

The Witness for the Prosecution is a short story and play by British author Agatha Christie.

Is Witness For The Prosecution Based On A True Story?

Agatha Christie’s Witness for the Prosecution is based on a true story. In 1913, Christie was traveling in the Middle East with her first husband, Archie Christie, who was stationed in Cairo with the Royal Flying Corps. It was there that she met the real Leonard Vole and his wife.

Christie wrote Witness for the Prosecution a few years later while working at a hospital during World War I. The play was adapted into a movie starring Tyrone Power in 1957; it was remade in 1982 with Diana Rigg and Billy Connolly and then again in 2016 on BBC One starring Toby Jones, Andrea Riseborough, Kim Cattrall and David Haig.

The story was initially published as Traitor Hands in Flynn’s Weekly on 27 February 1925 under the pseudonym Monosyllabic. It was later published in the United Kingdom as part of the collection The Hound of Death, and in the United States as part of the collection The Witness for the Prosecution and Other Stories.

It was first performed at Wyndham’s Theatre, London, on 28 October 1953, with a cast that included Margaret Leighton as Romaine Vole, Ralph Richardson as Sir Wilfrid, and Kenneth More as Leonard Vole. A television adaptation aired in 2016 starring Toby Jones, Andrea Riseborough, Kim Cattrall and Billy Howle.

Did Witness For The Prosecution Win Any Oscars?

Charles Laughton won his second Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role for his performance as Sir Wilfrid. According to the IMDB, Witness for the Prosecution was nominated for 6 Oscars and won 1. It was nominated for best supporting actor as well.

How Many Versions Of Witness For The Prosecution Are There?

There are 4 versions of this movie, according to IMDB.

In 2003, Witness for the Prosecution was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant”.

Is Witness For The Prosecution Film Noir?

The film is a drama and thriller, not film noir. The film received generally favorable reviews at the time of release. The cast received accolades for their performances; Laughton won the Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role and Lanchester won the Academy Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role while Power was nominated for Best Actor in a Leading Role and Dietrich for Best Actress in a Supporting Role.

Wrap Up

Witness for the Prosecution is a courtroom drama. It features a barrister named Sir Wilfrid Robarts who defends Leonard Vole, who is accused of murdering a rich widow to inherit her wealth.

The story was based on Christie’s own experience serving as a juror in a murder trial. Witness for the Prosecution was adapted into a film, Witness for the Prosecution (1957), which starred Tyrone Power, Marlene Dietrich and Charles Laughton.

A remake starring Tyrone Power and Marlene Dietrich was released in 1957. The story has also been adapted as an opera by Tobias Picker.