WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION [1957 / 2018] [Masters of Cinema] [Blu-ray] [UK Release]
The Most Electrifying Entertainment Of Our Time!
Based on the hit play by Agatha Christie, Billy Wilder’s ‘WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION’ was nominated for Six Academy Awards® and was reportedly praised by Agatha Christie herself as the best adaptation of her work she had seen.
When a wealthy widow is found murdered, her married suitor, Leonard Vole [Tyrone Power], is accused of the crime. Leonard Vole’s only hope for acquittal is the testimony of his wife Christine Vole [Marlene Dietrich], but his airtight alibi shatters when she reveals some shocking secrets of her own.
Also starring the incredible Charles Laughton in an Oscar® nominated role, ‘WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION’ left audiences reeling from its surprise twists and shocking climax, and The Masters of Cinema Series is proud to present yet another Billy Wilder masterpiece on Blu-ray for the first time in the UK. This was the first film adaptation of Agatha Christie's 1925 story, and was adapted for the screen by Larry Marcus, Harry Kurnitz and Billy Wilder.
FILM FACT No.1: Awards and Nominations: 1958 Academy Awards®: Nomination: Best Picture for Arthur Hornblow Jr. Nomination: Best Actor in a Leading Role for Charles Laughton. Nomination: Best Actress in a Supporting Role for Elsa Lanchester. Nomination: Best Director for Billy Wilder. Nomination: Best Sound Recording for Gordon Sawyer. Nomination: Best Film Editing for Daniel Mandell. 1958 Golden Globes: Win: Best Supporting Actress for Elsa Lanchester. Nomination: Best Motion Picture in a Drama. Nomination: Best Actress in Drama for Marlene Dietrich. Nomination: Best Actor in a Drama for Charles Laughton. Nomination: Best Director for Billy Wilder. 1958 David di Donatello Awards: Win: Best Foreign Actor for Charles Laughton. 1958 Directors Guild of America: Nomination: Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures for Billy Wilder. 1958 Edgar Allan Poe Awards: Nomination: Best Motion Picture for Billy Wilder and Harry Kurnitz. 1958 Golden Laurel Awards: Nomination: Top Drama (4th place). Nomination: Top Female Dramatic Performance for Marlene Dietrich. 1959 BAFTA Film Awards: Nomination: Best Foreign Actor for Charles Laughton.
FILM FACT No.2: This was Tyrone Power's final completed film, who sadly passed away of a heart attack after a lengthy duelling sequence two-thirds of the way through the filming of ‘Solomon and Sheba’ and was replaced by Yul Brynner. In real life, Elsa Lanchester was Charles Laughton's wife. Una O'Connor was the only member of the original Broadway play's cast to reprise her role on film. It was also her final film; she retired from acting after its completion. Charles Laughton based his performance on Florance Guedella, his own lawyer, an Englishman who was well known for twirling his monocle while cross-examining witnesses. Vivien Leigh and Marlene Dietrich were leading candidates to play Christine Vole. In a flashback showing how Leonard Vole and Christine Vole first meet up in a German nightclub, who was wearing her trademark trousers. A rowdy customer conveniently rips them down one side, revealing one of Marlene Dietrich's renowned legs, and starting a brawl. The scene required 145 extras, 38 stuntmen and cost $90,000. At the end of the film, as the credits roll, a voice-over announces: “The management of this theatre suggests that for the greater entertainment of your friends who have not yet seen the picture, you will not divulge, to anyone, the secret of the ending of ‘WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION.’
Cast: Tyrone Power, Marlene Dietrich, Charles Laughton, Elsa Lanchester, John Williams, Henry Daniell, Ian Wolfe, Torin Thatcher, Norma Varden, Una O'Connor, Francis Compton, Philip Tonge, Ruta Lee, Patrick Aherne (uncredited), Eddie Baker (uncredited), Brandon Beach (uncredited), Danny Borzage (uncredited), George Bruggeman (uncredited), George Calliga (uncredited), Steve Carruthers (uncredited), Marjorie Eaton (uncredited), Bill Erwin (uncredited), Franklyn Farnum (uncredited), Bess Flowers (uncredited), Herschel Graham (uncredited), Stuart Hall (uncredited), Art Howard (uncredited), Michael Jeffers (uncredited), Colin Kenny (uncredited), Paul Kruger (uncredited), Jeanne Lafayette (uncredited), Wilbur Mack (uncredited), Thomas Martin (uncredited), Frank McLure (uncredited), Ottola Nesmith (uncredited), William H. O'Brien (uncredited), Paul Power (uncredited), Jack Raine (uncredited), Fred Rapport (uncredited), Waclaw Rekwart (uncredited), Molly Roden (uncredited), John Roy (uncredited), Jeffrey Sayre (uncredited), Scott Seaton (uncredited), Lucile Sewall (uncredited), Cap Somers (uncredited), Bert Stevens (uncredited), Arthur Tovey (uncredited), Glen Walters (uncredited) and Ben Wright (uncredited)
Director: Billy Wilder
Producers: Arthur Hornblow Jr. and Edward Small (uncredited)
Screenplay: Billy Wilder (screenplay), Harry Kurnitz (screenplay), Lawrence B. Marcus (adaptation) and Agatha Christie (short story)
Composer: Matty Malneck (musical score)
Cinematographer: Russell Harlan, A.S.C. (Director of Photography)
Image Resolution: 1080p (Black and White)
Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1
Audio: English: 2.0 LPCM Stereo Audio
Subtitles: English SDH
Running Time: 116 minutes
Region: Region B/2
Number of discs: 1
Studio: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer / United Artists
Andrew's Blu-ray Review: ‘WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION’ [1957] is a dark courtroom drama that leaves the audience guessing right up to the very final. The film was released in 1957, and was based on a short story and play by writer Agatha Christie. The film is set in London, and centres on Leonard Vole [Tyrone Power], who is accused of having murdered a wealthy widow and the film’s story follows Sir Wilfrid Roberts [Charles Laughton], an experienced British barrister, who is recovering from health issues. Shortly after his return to the office, Sir Wilfrid Roberts is introduced to Leonard Vole and his case. Leonard Vole is accused of murder and appears to be drowning in circumstantial evidence tying him to the crime. Sir Wilfrid Roberts attempts to pass the case off to a friend as he is only supposed to accept a light workload as he fully recovers. However, Sir Wilfrid Roberts ends up taking the lead in Leonard Vole’s sensational trial.
Though his attorney Sir Wilfrid Roberts believes he is innocent, his legal prospects are clouded by the fact that his only alibi is his wife, Christine Vole [Marlene Dietrich]. Furthermore, during the trial, Christine Vole shocks the court when she testifies on behalf of the prosecution, claiming that Leonard Vole privately confessed to the crime. Christine Vole’s testimony is eventually discredited when it is revealed that she is having an affair, and Leonard Vole is consequently acquitted. But as we get near to the end of the film, we get to experience a surprise twist.
The trial sequences are proficiently handled without ever serving up any major shocks, until the twist ending, and the verbal jousting between Sir Wilfrid Roberts and Mr. Myers [Torin Thatcher] as the prosecutor, is enjoyable, but much of this enjoyment is tempered by some poor acting from both Marlene Dietrich and Tyrone Power. Many cite this as Marlene Dietrich’s best screen performance, and well it might be. But Charles Laughton is on hand to provide a bit of class to the proceedings; his turn as the eminent barrister reduced to playing schoolboy tricks in order to partake in a little of what he likes is a real gem and goes a long way towards making up for the histrionics of his co-stars. But most importantly Charles Laughton earned a well-deserved Oscar nomination for his role.
The combination of author Agatha Christie and director Billy Wilder ensures the story is impeccably told and the dialogue is unsurpassable from start to finish. While there are some moments of comedy, not least in the scenes involving Sir Wilfrid Roberts and his nurse, this is a far darker film than those that came after it and has more in common with Billy Wilder’s earlier masterpiece films. It is, in fact, so dark that Alfred Hitchcock once remarked: “Many times, people have told me how much they enjoyed ‘WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION,’ and they thought it was my film.” It was in fact the work of one of the 20th century’s other iconic filmmakers and the start of one of the great runs of form in cinema for the brilliant director Billy Wilder.
The film ends with an appeal to audiences not to give away the plot, which nicely mixes initially a plausible, if at times deliberately comic, sequence of events. There are multiple suspects but the plot mostly avoids the pile up of bodies and coincidences which are at the heart of most Agatha Christie plots. It’s only right at the end that you get the sudden dramatic and implausible switchbacks, and even then they are done so tightly and at such a pace that it makes for a very enjoyable film all round.
Director Billy Wilder adapted one of Agatha Christie’s most engrossing mysteries for the film and won wide critical acclaim for his achievement. ‘WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION’ boasts a larger-than-life performance by Laughton and an equally memorable tour de force by his real-life wife, Elsa Lanchester, playing his much-abused nurse. A disclaimer before the closing credits beseeching audiences not to divulge the final twist added to the film’s alluring mysterious court room drama.
WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION MUSIC TRACK LIST
I MAY NEVER GO HOME ANYMORE (Music by Ralph Arthur Roberts) (Lyrics by Jack Brooks) [Performed by Marlene Dietrich]
Blu-ray Image Quality – The Masters of Cinema series presents us with an outstanding 1080p Black-and-White image that is also equally enhanced with a 1.66:1 aspect ratio and sourced from the original negative, and when the film proper gets under way the detail is wonderfully crisp, enlivened further by a wonderful contrast, where the black levels are really good and there is also a pleasing tonal range is particularly the faces of the actors and especially the textures of the clothing. As you would expect with this modern restoration, most of all the dust spots and traces of wear and tear have been eliminated to give us a perfect image presentation. The Masters of Cinema series informs us in their booklet, that to experience the right 1.66:1 aspect ratio of the film, you have to via your remote control use the zoom button to eventually get the right dimension of the film frame you are viewing. Please Note: Playback Region B/2: This will not play on most Blu-ray players sold in North America, Central America, South America, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Southeast Asia. Learn more about Blu-ray region specifications.
Blu-ray Audio Quality – The Masters of Cinema series brings you just one 2.0 LPCM Stereo Audio experience. The soundtrack is very clear and has a very generous dynamic audio range than you might not expect with a film that was released in 1957 and has been given a new lease of life for this totally brilliant Billy Wilder directed film, on top of all this there is no background hiss and definitely no visible of negative damage and so all in all this is a wonderful way to enjoy this 1957 film and it now gives this film sounds that is more superior than when the film was originally released in 1957.
Blu-ray Special Features and Extras:
Audio Commentary with critic Kate Ellinger: Here we are presented with a 2018 exclusive feature length audio commentary with critic Kate Ellinger. Here we are personally invited to Kate Ellinger’s audio commentary for the film ‘WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION’ and also informs us that she is an author, editor and critic and is also thrilled to be here to comment on her all-time personal favourite 1957 film and thanks us to join her on the ride and is going to be quite a ride, especially considering the sheer talent that abounds in this film, including director Billy Wilder, and we also have three iconic actors in the film, namely Charles Laughton, Tyrone Power and Marlene Dietrich. Kate Ellinger feels that Billy Wilder is someone who knew the human condition, like human weakness, flaws and the dark things that motivate people, as well as greed, lust and ego, plus Billy Wilder was a very cynical filmmaker in general, but he can also have a lot of warmth and comedy in his films, and this film captures all of these elements. Kate Ellinger also felt Elsa Lanchester worked so well together with Charles Laughton and that is why they both got an Oscar Nomination, and it helped that they at the time had been married for well over 30 years and really played off each other in such a perfect way, despite the problems behind the scene relating to their marriage and this was the last time they worked together again. We find out that the main female character in the film was going to be either Ava Gardener or Rita Hayworth, and even more amazing was that Billy Wilder was not their first choice for the Director of the film; instead it was offered to Joshua Logan [American stage director], but of course he was more of a theatre director, and of course if it had happened, would of directed the film in a totally different direction altogether. Kate Ellinger points out the film is non sexual, but more about power and exploitation in sexual relationships, especially in real life Charles Laughton was a closet gay, on top of that Tyrone Power was allegedly bisexual and Marlene Dietrich was also bisexual, but more specifically off camera that both Charles Laughton and Marlene Dietrich had a massive crush of Tyrone Power. Around the Second World War, we find out that Billy Wilder and Marlene Dietrich help Jewish people to escape the Nazi regime; even Marlene Dietrich would go right up to where the German military were and help out people in serious trouble. There is intriguing information from Kate Ellinger and the examination of recurring themes within Billy Wilder, especially the news that Billy Wilder wanted Kirk Douglas to play Leonard Vole after Tyrone Power initially turned the part down. As a final round up with this Kate Ellinger audio commentary, is that I found it slightly irritating, is that Kate Ellinger would ramble on about other directors and especially actors that appeared in other court drama films and I started to get totally bored by this audio commentary and I would of preferred lots of gaps so Kate Ellinger concentrated on talking about the film ‘WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION,’ and on top of all that, this audio commentary was a very big let-down, especially when you hear at the start of the audio commentary, when Kate Ellinger says, “and is also thrilled to be here to comment on her all-time personal favourite 1957 film.” So all in all, I would only give this audio commentary a two star rating.
Special Feature: Monocle and Cigars: Simon Callow on Charles Laughton in ‘WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION’ [2018] [1080i/1080p] [1.66:1/1.78:1] [16:07] Here we are presented by the Shakespearean actor Simon Callow and author of Charles Laughton’s biography, where Simon Callow gives us an in-depth look at Charles Laughton in Billy Wilder’s ‘WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION’ film. With the start of this special feature, we get a short 34 seconds introduction from the actor Charles Laughton about the Billy Wilder film he appeared in, and asks the audience not to reveal the ending of the film and from then on, thespian Simon Callow goes into great excitement about the wonderful charismatic and enchanting performance in the Billy Wilder’s film ‘WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION.’ In 1957, when Charles Laughton appeared in Billy Wilder’s film, was a very important moment in Charles Laughton’s career, and indeed his life, and became someone very different in his acting career, especially when he got to direct his first film entitled ‘THE NIGHT OF THE HUNTER’ [1955] and then went onto direct plays on Broadway, which included “John Brown’s Body,” “The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial,” the George Bernard Shaw’s “Don Juan in Hell” and “Major Barbara.” Charles Laughton did a massive tour of America in the 1960s that was entitled “The Story-Teller . . . A Session With Charles Laughton,” where he discovered his love of communicating with an audience, on top of all that he also performed to mainly young people on the American Campus Communities circuit and other moments in his career bloomed even more when he fell in love with a young man where he really felt a new lease of life, despite still being married to Elsa Lanchester. On top of that Billy Wilder adored Charles Laughton, where he felt he was the greatest actor he had ever worked with and at one point in filming ‘WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION’ found Charles Laughton’s script and on every page he had written notes to help him improve his performance in front of the camera in a more majestic way, that what was indicted in the actual script, and Billy Wilder once commented to Simon Callow, “That is the now my definition of a great actor, and is one who has a script full of marks like this.” Simon Callow also comments about the adaptation of the Agatha Christie’s work and believes that it "improves immeasurably on the play." Simon Callow gives us some revealing titbits about the making of the film ‘WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION.’ As we come to the end of this special feature, Simon Callow sums up that the actor Charles Laughton’s role in the Billy Wilder film, was the work of a master of his acting craft, and the one and only master of his acting career that could give such a superb performance in the film ‘WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION.’ This was a production from Robert Fischer's Fiction Factory.
Special Feature: Neil Sinyard on ‘WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION’ [2018] [1080p] [1.66:1/1.78:1] [24:35] Here we get presented with a brand new interview with Neil Sinyard, and before the interview begins, we are warned that Neil Sinyard will reveal spoilers in the process about the film ‘WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION.’ By the way, Neil Sinyard is an Emeritus Professor of Film Studies at the University of Hull and author of 25 books on all aspects of film. Neil Sinyard was formerly Head of English at Hull University and has had a long-standing devotion to the personality and works of Dr. Samuel Johnson (1709 – 1784). In this Neil Sinyard interview, goes onto to describe the film ‘WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION’ as "one of Wilder's most brilliantly entertaining films," which I agree and concur 100%. Neil Sinyard provides information about the co-screenwriter Harry Kurnitz, and the changes made to Agatha Christie's original play and how they helped to transform it into a Billy Wilder film, with lots of key twists to add to this brilliant film and give it great gravity, as well as giving us the superb performances from all the actors in the film. Neil Sinyard talks about the brilliant performance of Charles Laughton, but also gives great praise about the director Billy Wilder, in bringing and upgrading this creaky old Agatha Christie play to the screen, and became a very popular and successful film when released. Neil Sinyard also comments about Billy Wilder and the height of his success with filmmaking, especially turning original plays into successful films, that included ‘Stalag 17;’ ‘Sabrina,’ ‘The Seven Year Itch,’ and of course ‘Some Like It Hot,’ and that Billy Wilder relished the challenge to make the film WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION’ and feels and showed what a masterful director he was in pulling off a totally brilliance in making the Agatha Christie play become a total triumph, because care went into the production values, because the Old Bailey replica court scene that was filmed in the M-G-M studio cost $70,000 alone. We find out from Neil Sinyard that Agatha Christie praised Billy Wilder in saying that this was the best film adaption of her work. As we finally come to the end of this special feature interview with Neil Sinyard who was quite interesting, but I felt he looked too deeply into the ‘WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION’ film, especially going to every minor detail of certain scenes in the film, and also seeing things in the film that most audiences could not care less of an in-depth look at the film, but just want to only enjoy the whole ambience of the film. Still I leave this up to you to see if you agree with my comments compared to Neil Sinyard comments, and the jury is out in my opinion about the intricacies and analysis of the film ‘WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION.’
Special Feature: Billy Wilder in Conversation with Volker Schlöndorff [1992] [480i] [1.33:1] [13:40] The following interview was taken from the three parts 1992 programme entitled “Billy, How Did You Do It?” which was from the directors documentary of Volker Schlöndorff and Gisela Grischow and the actual three-parts can be viewed on The Masters of Cinema series Blu-ray edition of the film ‘The Lost Weekend’ and directed by Billy Wilder. With this archival documentary with director Billy Wilder gets to discussing ‘WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION’ and his life and times with director and Oscar-winning German filmmaker Volker Schlöndorff who made ‘The Tin Drum’ film and sat down with legendary director Billy Wilder at his office in Beverly Hills, California and turned on his camera for a series of filmed interviews over a two week period. The result was aired on German TV in 1992 and debuted on American Television when it was shown on Turner Classic Movies in 2006. We are presented mostly Billy Wilder just sitting in his office and talks with the off screen Volker Schlondorff, moving easily between English and German and we see plenty of clips of ‘WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION.’ Billy Wilder discusses in-depth all about his films that he has directed and the directors he has admired, the actors he has admired, and especially all of the actors he has worked with in his films as well. Mostly, Billy Wilder offers his philosophy of the movie making business from one of its most undisputed masters of filmmaking.
Theatrical Trailer [1957] [1080i] [1.66:1] [3:07] This is the Original Theatrical Trailer for the film ‘WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION.’ Here we witness am announcement and a statement that says, "NOTICE! To preserve the secret of the surprise ending, no patrons will be seated during the final 10 minutes of ‘WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION,’ and concludes with a direct address to the camera by the actor Charles Laughton, especially asking the audience not to inform the end of the film to their friends.
BONUS: A beautiful printed collector’s 44 page booklet featuring new essays. The first essay is by critic Philip Kemp entitled BILLY WILDER’S “HITCHCOCK FILM.” The next essay is by film scholar Henry K. Miller and entitled ASSEMBLING AN EGG-BEATER. Next up is a hand written letter from Agatha Christie to Billy Wilder entitled AGATHA CHRISTIE PRAISES BILLY WILDER. We also get a plethora of rare archival publicity black-and-white photos and also rare film posters from around the world. Finally, we have VIEWING NOTES and PRODUCTION CREDITS.
PLUS: An exclusive EUREKA double side printed Blu-ray cover.
Finally, ‘WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION’ is a film that should not be missed, because it has a great story, superb writing, gripping performances, and impressive technical aspects that makes this for a truly inimitable film that has thrilled audiences in 1957 and even modern audiences today. I was also impressed in the way in which the film addresses the audiences, asking them not to reveal the film’s ending and there have not been many films that have in created such a memorable, and a unique cinematic experience. The film ‘WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION’ is a sparkling, and a very clever suspenseful film. Actors like Charles Laughton, Elsa Lanchester and director Billy Wilder were all deservedly nominated for Academy Awards® and Marlene Dietrich was unfortunately not, and some claim this was because United Artists did not want to draw attention to certain elements of her performance which might ruin the surprise ending for the viewer by the end of the film. Agatha Christie’s devious plotting leaves no stone unturned, with every clue cleverly placed throughout the film with some of them cleverly disguised to the point where you don’t realise they are even clues. But one thing is for sure, I guarantee at least one element of the solution will surprise you. The film ‘WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION’ is a 1957 Billy Wilder classic film and is a fantastic fun, a tightly wound mystery, features nicely placed twists, and a cracker of a conclusion, which does come as a genuine shock, and a prime example of the brilliant director Billy Wilder’s skill, and constantly and effortlessly shifting the audience’s perception of the characters and even their grasp of understanding of the plot, especially with a flick of the pen, and makes this Billy Wilder 1957 film one of the most outstanding film of that period and one that Alfred Hitchcock wish he had been able to make and direct. Very Highly Recommended!
Andrew C. Miller – Your Ultimate No.1 Film Fan
Le Cinema Paradiso
United Kingdom
