SVS: “Witness for the Prosecution”

Apparently, preserving this film’s twisty ending was a bit of a concern for its investors:

The producers were so concerned about the financial success of the film that during the credits, an announcer urges the audience not to reveal the film’s ending to anyone.

…
At previews, audience members received, and were asked to sign, cards that read, “I solemnly swear I will not reveal the ending of Witness for the Prosecution.”

Want to see what all the fuss was about? Easy-peasy. Witness for the Prosecution, based on a play by the legendary Agatha Christie and directed by the legendary Billy Wilder, is on NETFLIX INSTANT. And AMAZON PRIME. And a COUPLE of the usual RENTAL VENUES.

Following a massive heart attack, infamous British barrister Sir Wilfred Robards has been ordered by his doctors to forswear drinking, smoking, and his work in the courtroom. However, he is intrigued by the case of Leonard Vole , a likeable fellow who’s accused of murdering a wealthy widow. The case is turned on its head when Vole’s loving wife announces that they are not really married and agrees to be a witness for the prosecution.

The trailer’s a tad melodramatic, perhaps. And the moment where Charles Laughton speaks directly to the camera made me jump. But Wilder can sure spin the ole’ dialogue, can’t he?

It’s Teeny-Tiny Confession Time, though. I loved this film the first time I saw it. Yet I find myself shame-facedly admiting that years (and years, and years) went by before I was able to screw the necessary courage to the requisite sticking point to re-watch it. See, I’m always a bit afraid of going back to a beloved childhood memory and finding it no longer beloved; no longer worthy of love. In fact, I’m not just a bit afraid of the potential disillusionment; I’m terrified.

“The nostalgia, it paralyzes!”

An example: I recently re-watched Escape to Witch Mountain with the boys and realized that, with the unsurprising exception of Donald Plesance, it has aged very badly. And I suspect Return from would be equally demoralizing (with the obvious exception of Christopher Lee). On the other hand, when I finally re-watched Flight of the Navigator, I realized that, with the unsurprising exception of Sarah Jessica Parker, it has aged spectacularly. So good.

But still, it’s the disappointments I remember. And am, thus, paralyzed.

Anyway, that was a long, round-about way of getting to what I’d been meaning to say from the beginning: This one has aged well. Pretty much perfectly, in fact. I actually enjoy it more now than when I first  saw it. The moral of the story? I really should have trusted Billy Dub more than I did. I am ashamed.

Oh, and let me just add this final note for those who might still be teetering on the brink: Laughton’s the star of this show, for sure. And he’s great, great fun to watch (as ever). But Elsa Lanchester is fantastic in it, as well. And they’re particularly fantastic when interacting/sparring with one another. In fact, their exchanges alone are well-worth the price of admission, in my opinion. …I wonder if it could have anything to do with the fact that they were married for just under 34 years.

OK, that’s obviously rhetorical. Their marriage was by all accounts (including hers) a strange one. But the impact of living with someone for a couple of decades cannot be ignored, no matter how peculiar the arrangement, and their chemistry is obvious. See? Just look how cute they are together.

Attribution(s): All posters, publicity images, and movie stills are the property of United Artists/MGM and other respective production studios and distributors, and are intended for editorial use only.