Witness For The Prosecution (1957)

While recovering from a heart attack, against the advice of his physician a barrister (Charles Laughton) agrees to defend a man (Tyrone Power) accused of murdering an elderly widow (Norma Varden) for money. The accused man's wife (Marlene Dietrich), however, may prove problematic as she is called as a witness for the prosecution, not the defense. Based on the play by Agatha Christie (MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS) and directed by Billy Wilder (DOUBLE INDEMNITY). I'm a huge Christie fan and this film adaptation of her courtroom drama is clever and witty. Power is very good here although he hasn't aged very well and his looks were starting to go. This was his last film as he would die from a heart attack at age 44 the next year. Laughton and Elsa Lancaster as his nurse are marvelous and both received Oscar nominations. I did have a problem with the casting of Marlene Dietrich, who isn't bad at all but there's a surprise "twist" at the film's end, only I wasn't surprised. She isn't a good enough actress to disguise her inimitable voice. With John Williams, Henry Daniell, Ruta Lee, Torin Thatcher, Una O'Connor and Ian Wolfe.