Witness for the Prosecution

1982

1h 37m

IMDb RATING

6.5/10

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1 Video

8 Images

Crime

Drama

TV Movie

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.

Directors

Alan Gibson

Writers

Agatha Christie(novel by)

Billy Wilder(screenplay by)

Harry Kurnitz(screenplay by)

Stars

Ralph Richardson

Deborah Kerr

Beau Bridges

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Videos1

Trailer
Watch 80's Ads: Trailer "Witness for the Prosecution" TV Spot 1982

Photos8

Top cast

Sir Wilfred Robarts

Nurse Plimsoll

Leonard Vole

Mr. Myers

Janet Mackenzie

Christine Vole

Mayhew

Brogan-Moore

Carter

Judge

Chief Inspector Hearne

Clerk of the Court

Dr. Harrison

Mrs. French

Court Usher

Policeman (as Kit Kitson)

Wilfred Grove

Photographer

Primi Townsend

Diana

Directors

Alan Gibson

Writers

Agatha Christie(novel by)

Billy Wilder(screenplay by)

Harry Kurnitz(screenplay by)

All cast & crew

Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

User reviews1

Review

Featured review

7/10

The 1957 version of this story is certainly one of my favourite films, so any remake was always going to be a tough ask. This one is, however, a decent and characterful effort with Sir Ralph Richardson as curmudgeonly barrister "Sir Wilfred" who is charged with the seemingly impossible task of defending "Leonard Vole" (Beau Bridges) from a charge that he murdered an older lady with whom he was friends - and who had left him great deal of money! The ensuing courtroom drama is tense and with strong supporting performances from Donald Pleasence as opposing counsel ("Mr Myers") and Dame Wendy Hiller as her maid "Janet Mackenzie" well paced. Sadly, though, neither Beau Bridges nor Diana Rigg manage to raise their game as the accused "Vole" and his highly duplicitous wife "Christine". Their performances lack the grit and sophistication required to keep the tension going and although Sir Ralph is certainly in his element as the formidable barrister, he hasn't quite enough strength to carry the others as Laughton managed to 25 years earlier. That said, it's still a good watch and as TV movies go, certainly one of the better of this genre with good attention to detail and a rather lovely old Rolls Royce.

Geronimo196708 Jun, 2023