Movie Monday: Witness for the Prosecution (1957)

It is rare to that a film is so memorable that it causes Hollywood to recreate it years later. However, there are a few unicorn movies like that out there and one of them is Witness for the Prosecution. Recently, I watched the 1957 version of this film starring Charles Laughton, Marlene Dietrich, and Tyrone Power. That is where the inspiration behind reviewing this film for this week’s Movie Monday came from!

If Charles Laughton is in a film, you can pretty much guarantee it will be worth your time. I have reviewed the Hunchback of Notre Dame which also starred Charles Laughton, but other than that I have not highlighted his films. However, if you are looking for another great Laughton movie Witness for the Prosecution is a good one to start with!

Laughton always brought such professionalism to every character he played (even if that character happened to have a hump on his back and live in a bell tower). He was feverish when the moment called for it, calm when necessary, and timid at just the right times. There is never a sense of Laughton’s character carrying over one from the other. Every role he plays is new and different from the last!

Marlene Dietrich is just as incredible as Charles Laughton in Witness for the Prosecution. Of course, Dietrich is already seen as one of the all-time best Hollywood actresses, but if you never see another film with her starring in it I would suggest seeing this one. She brings so much depth to this role and really plays the audience.

Lastly, I cannot forget Tyrone Power. Admittedly, I have never seen very many films starring Power in it before watching Witness for the Prosecution, but after having watched this movie I can definitely see why he had such a long career. Power plays a nice guy really well, but he also plays a unhinged guy well too! There is a large range of emotions you will see from him in this film and it really makes you appreciate him as an actor.

If you have not seen the 2016 remake of this film or this 1957 version, you may not know the entire story of this film. However, as you can probably tell from the photos above there are a lot of intense emotions flying around and a courtroom is involved. Without giving anything away, I just want to say I really did not expect the ending. That does not happen often so bravo to all involved in creating this movie.

Witness for the Prosecution is absolutely a classic, and I do not feel like it is hindered by the 1950s time era it was made in. It does not have a feeling of being stuck in any one time period. This story is so timeless it could be set in modern times or even back in the early 1900s.

I also believe that having this film made in black and white and not color really adds to the dramatic effect of this story. It also keep unnecessary distractions to a minimum, like what outfit Marlene Dietrich was wearing (she was a fashion icon). The black and white really makes everything seem simple, this helped me focus on the story taking place.

Over I would say this movie, particularly the 1957 version, is a movie you do not want to miss. It is a suspenseful film that will get stuck in your head. A worthwhile watch if you ask me!

Much Love,

Sarah