Witness for the Prosecution (1957 film)

Witness for the Prosecution (1957 film)
12/17/1957 AD released

The film received extremely positive reviews and six Academy Award nominations. Agatha Christie "herself considered it the finest film derived from one of her stories."

In TV Guide's review of the film, it received four and a half stars out of five, the writer saying that "Witness for the Prosecution is a witty, terse adaptation of the Agatha Christie hit play brought to the screen with ingenuity and vitality by Billy Wilder."

The film reached number one at the US box office for two consecutive weeks in February and March 1958.

Producers Arthur Hornblow and Edward Small bought the rights to the play for $450,000. The play was adjusted to build up the character of the defense barrister. Billy Wilder was signed to direct in April 1956.

According to Wilder, when the producers approached Dietrich about the part she accepted on the condition that Wilder direct. Wilder said Dietrich liked "to play a murderess" but was "a little bit embarrassed when playing the love scenes."

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 as well as Dietrich were leading candidates to play Christine Vole.

In a flashback showing how Leonard and Christine first meet in a German nightclub, she is wearing her trademark trousers, made famous by Dietrich in director Josef von Sternberg’s film Morocco (1930). A rowdy customer conveniently rips them down one side, revealing one of Dietrich's renowned legs, and starting a brawl. The scene required 145 extras, 38 stuntmen and $90,000. The Bar is called Die blaue Laterne (English: The Blue Lantern), which is a reference to Dietrich's famous movie The Blue Angel.

Los Angeles, CA

Lattitude: 34.05° N
Longitude: 118.25° W
Region: North America

Modern Day United States

Events in 1957 MORE