SVS: “Witness for the Prosecution”

Last updated on: January 12, 2015 at 5:02 pm by Joseph Susanka

SVS: “Witness for the Prosecution” 2015-01-12T17:02:41-07:00 Joseph Susanka

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Apparently, preserving this film’s twisty ending was a bit of a concern for its investors:

The producers were so concerned about the financial success of the film that during the credits, an announcer urges the audience not to reveal the film’s ending to anyone.

…
At previews, audience members received, and were asked to sign, cards that read, “I solemnly swear I will not reveal the ending of Witness for the Prosecution.”

Want to see what all the fuss was about? Easy-peasy. Witness for the Prosecution, based on a play by the legendary Agatha Christie and directed by the legendary Billy Wilder, is on NETFLIX INSTANT. And AMAZON PRIME. And a COUPLE of the usual RENTAL VENUES.

Following a massive heart attack, infamous British barrister Sir Wilfred Robards has been ordered by his doctors to forswear drinking, smoking, and his work in the courtroom. However, he is intrigued by the case of Leonard Vole , a likeable fellow who’s accused of murdering a wealthy widow. The case is turned on its head when Vole’s loving wife announces that they are not really married and agrees to be a witness for the prosecution.

The trailer’s a tad melodramatic, perhaps. And the moment where Charles Laughton speaks directly to the camera made me jump. But Wilder can sure spin the ole’ dialogue, can’t he?

It’s Teeny-Tiny Confession Time, though. I loved this film the first time I saw it. Yet I find myself shame-facedly admiting that years (and years, and years) went by before I was able to screw the necessary courage to the requisite sticking point to re-watch it. See, I’m always a bit afraid of going back to a beloved childhood memory and finding it no longer beloved; no longer worthy of love. In fact, I’m not just a bit afraid of the potential disillusionment; I’m terrified.

“The nostalgia, it paralyzes!”

An example: I recently re-watched Escape to Witch Mountain with the boys and realized that, with the unsurprising exception of Donald Plesance, it has aged very badly. And I suspect Return from would be equally demoralizing (with the obvious exception of Christopher Lee). On the other hand, when I finally re-watched Flight of the Navigator, I realized that, with the unsurprising exception of Sarah Jessica Parker, it has aged spectacularly. So good.

But still, it’s the disappointments I remember. And am, thus, paralyzed.

Anyway, that was a long, round-about way of getting to what I’d been meaning to say from the beginning: This one has aged well. Pretty much perfectly, in fact. I actually enjoy it more now than when I first saw it. The moral of the story? I really should have trusted Billy Dub more than I did. I am ashamed.

Oh, and let me just add this final note for those who might still be teetering on the brink: Laughton’s the star of this show, for sure. And he’s great, great fun to watch (as ever). But Elsa Lanchester is fantastic in it, as well. And they’re particularly fantastic when interacting/sparring with one another. In fact, their exchanges alone are well-worth the price of admission, in my opinion. …I wonder if it could have anything to do with the fact that they were married for just under 34 years.

OK, that’s obviously rhetorical. Their marriage was by all accounts (including hers) a strange one. But the impact of living with someone for a couple of decades cannot be ignored, no matter how peculiar the arrangement, and their chemistry is obvious. See? Just look how cute they are together.

Attribution(s): All posters, publicity images, and movie stills are the property of United Artists/MGM and other respective production studios and distributors, and are intended for editorial use only.

Movies

Streaming Video Suggestions

Previous Post

July 17, 2014

Chuck Jones Drawing Bugs Bunny

Next Post

July 19, 2014 "Beauty That Exists in the Most Minute Things"

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Art Baseball Faith Family Lenten Music Movies Music No Commentary Necessary Parked By the Jukebox Photography Politics Quodlibets Streaming Video Suggestions Summa Short Films Television The Man Behind the Booth Through a Lens, Darkly

Select a Month December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 July 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 November 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz