Witness For The Prosecution (1982)

Just released from the hospital after suffering a heart attack, a famed barrister (Ralph Richardson) is advised by his doctors to not take on any strenuous cases. But when a young man (Beau Bridges) is accused of murdering an older woman (Patricia Leslie), he is sufficiently intrigued by the case to take it on. The Agatha Christie short story WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION was published in 1925 in Great Britain and 1948 in the U.S. and adapted by her into the hit play in 1953 (in which Christie changed the ending). The 1957 film version of that play directed by Billy Wilder was both a critically admired film and a box office hit. I'll say right up front that although I'm a huge Christie fan, I've never cared for the 1957 film. Principally because of its two leads, Tyrone Power and especially Marlene Dietrich whose limitations as an actress curtails much of the film's "surprise". Here, with the marvelous Diana Rigg in the role, we get a real actress in the part and the difference is amazing. It's still a rather stage bound talky courtroom thriller (though more faithful to the Christie play than Wilder's film) but there's no way of getting around that without diluting the mystery. Deborah Kerr is always a welcome presence but she's rather wasted here in a minor role as Richardson's nurse. Directed by Alan Gibson (A WOMAN CALLED GOLDA). With Wendy Hiller, Donald Pleasence and Michael Gough.