Witness for the Prosecution

Name: Witness for the Prosecution
Director: Billy Wilder
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Crime
Released: 1957-12-17
Rating: 8.6

December 17, 1957· 1h 56m

Drama Mystery Crime

Directed by

Billy Wilder

Cast

Tyrone Power Marlene Dietrich Charles Laughton Elsa Lanchester John Williams Henry Daniell +57 more ↓

Cinemagraphs Score8.6

An ailing barrister is thrust back into the courtroom in what becomes one of the most unusual and eventful murder cases of the lawyer's career when he finds himself defending a man being tried for the murder of a socialite.

Audience Sentiment

Overall8.6

1 — Hated it5 — Neutral10 — Masterpiece

Critics

8+ Great

6-8 Good

<6 Poor

4 reviews·Last updated 13d ago

Peak Moment

Christine reveals the truth

9.5at 1h 40m

Lowest Moment

Leonard Vole seeks help

8.0at 12m

Biggest Swing

The revelation of Christine's elaborate deception to save Leonard peaks at 9.5, only to be followed by the devastating betrayal and murder, showing Wilder's masterful control of audience emotions

Critics consistently praised this as a masterpiece of courtroom drama that transcends genre limitations through brilliant performances, especially Laughton and Dietrich. The film builds steadily from strong character introductions to stunning plot revelations, with reviewers particularly celebrating the final act's shocking twists that subvert all expectations.

4 reviews analyzed|Sources: Tmdb