Laughton is simply amazing as the grumpy lawyer with the bum ticker and a swig of brandy on the side, portraying both power and fragility while shooting off humorous one liners and constantly putting his nurse in her place, who is played by the wonderfully irritating star of the Bride of Frankenstein and LaughtonвЂ™s wife, Elase Lanchester. The second half stays in the court room, and proves to be an exciting court room romp which engrosses the viewer with its high melodrama and dialogue driven scenes. The first half of the film firmly sets the characters background and motives, often with the use of a flashback. But when she agrees to be a witness for the prosecution, Robarts must use all of his skill to prove his clients innocence.

The only person who can provide an alibi is his German wife Christine (Marlene Dietrich). Disregarding doctorвЂ™s orders, the cantankerous lawyer takes on a big case (to the dismay of his private nurse, played by Elsa Lanchester), defending American WWII veteran Leonard Vole (Tyrone Power) who is accused of murder. Set in England after WWII, WitnessвЂ¦ stars Sir Charles Laughton as famed barrister Sir Wilferd Robarts, who has just been released from hospital after suffering a heart attack. Originally a short story by Agatha Christie, who then adapted it into a play which held successful stints in London and Broadway, Witness for the Prosecution is now best known as a highly entertaining court room drama adapted to the big screen by co-writer/director Billy Wilder.

Witness for the prosecution