Witness for the Prosecution
6 Oscar Nominations
An ailing barrister is thrust back into the courtroom in what becomes one of the most unusual and eventful murder cases of the lawyer's career when he finds himself defending a man being tried for the murder of a socialite.
What critics thought
Wilder's courtroom thriller is considered one of cinema's great adaptations, praised for its relentless pacing, perfectly calibrated performances, and a final-reel twist that pays off everything that precedes it. Critics and audiences have remained in lockstep admiration across decades, with no meaningful dissent in the surviving record.
“Witness for the Prosecution is a witty, terse adaptation of the Agatha Christie hit play brought to the screen with ingenuity and vitality by Billy Wilder.”
TV Guide
Genres
Crime, Drama, Mystery
Cast & Crew
DirectorBilly Wilder
StarringTyrone Power, Marlene Dietrich, Charles Laughton, Elsa Lanchester, John Williams
ComposerMatty Malneck
Witness for the Prosecution
6 Oscar Nominations
An ailing barrister is thrust back into the courtroom in what becomes one of the most unusual and eventful murder cases of the lawyer's career when he finds himself defending a man being tried for the murder of a socialite.
What critics thought
Wilder's courtroom thriller is considered one of cinema's great adaptations, praised for its relentless pacing, perfectly calibrated performances, and a final-reel twist that pays off everything that precedes it. Critics and audiences have remained in lockstep admiration across decades, with no meaningful dissent in the surviving record.
“Witness for the Prosecution is a witty, terse adaptation of the Agatha Christie hit play brought to the screen with ingenuity and vitality by Billy Wilder.”
TV Guide
Genres
Crime, Drama, Mystery
Cast & Crew
DirectorBilly Wilder
StarringTyrone Power, Marlene Dietrich, Charles Laughton, Elsa Lanchester, John Williams
ComposerMatty Malneck