Charles Laughton and Billy Wilder team up for the courtroom potboiler Witness for the Prosecution. New to Blu-Ray from Kino Lorber.
The Film
Billy Wilder like Howard Hawks never met a genre he didn’t love to work in. Comedy, Crime, Thrillers, Adventure, Social Awareness, Drama, Musicals… Wilder put his touch on so many genres. That adroitly acidic touch was always apparent even in studio assignment-type projects. Witness for the Prosecution a courtroom potboiler with a hell of a twist ending even fits that bill. As much a Hitchcockian exercise in tension as it is one of Wilder’s cynical noirs – as well as funny.
Senior barrister Sir Wilfrid Robarts (Charles Laughton) is under strict order to no longer take on stressful court cases after a heart attack. Against everyone’s judgment, Sir Wilfrid takes on the case of Leonard Vole (Tyrone Power) as he’s accused of murdering Emily French (Norma Varden) childless widow. Vole swears by his innocence and even has his wife (Marlene Dietrich) as his alibi. A fortune, a grumpy maid, and even Vole’s own wife all contribute to one of the toughest cases the barrister has ever taken on. Can Sir Wilfrid find a way to free a man he thinks is innocent?
One needs only to watch the third act of Witness to the Prosecution to understand why Wilder took on the project. One can imagine Wilder at the very minimum cracking a smile – if not outright laughing – at the final solution of the novel/stage play. There’s an inherent light-on-its-feet cynicism that plays throughout the film that’s perfectly suited for Wilder and also his star Charles Laughton. The work here is tailored to fit each’s strengths and it’s no wonder even today that the film works as well as a newer film of the genre like A Few Good Men, Primal Fear, Presumed Innocent, or the recent Anatomy of a Fall.
To anyone who has seen a Charles Laughton performance knows that the actor was incredible in the way that many of his performances, even today, are not mannered or in the style of the era he came up in. There’s an internal life to Sir Wilfrid and playfulness within the grump of a barrister that Laughton has methodically worked out that feels almost Brando/Method adjacent. Laughton is so good that he leaves both Power and Dietrich in the metaphorical dust.
Without a good mystery at the center of a courtroom drama, there isn’t any meat and the one placed in by Agatha Christie is a heck of a one. Adding that Wilder put his spin on Christie’s marvelously constructed work here only adds to Witness for the Prosecution’s slickness. Never mind that their work has been plagiarized for almost 70 years. The direct pure hit of courtroom drama in its original form is enough to wash away both the good and the bad of the genre. Make no mistake Witness for the Prosecution is a courtroom thriller amongst courtroom thrillers.
The Transfer
The transfer is a wonderfully astute representation of the Black and White photography. The Black and White image is clear with beautifully subtle contrast levels and black detail – which thankfully doesn’t crush the blacks in any way. Again, Kino has pushed the limitations of what’s possible with a Blu-ray transfer. One will be shocked at how great it looks. The only way that the film could look even more strikingly cinematic is if Kino were to release a 4K disc.
The Extras
They include the following;
NEW Audio Commentary by Film Historian Joseph McBride, Author of Billy Wilder: Dancing on the Edge
Billy Wilder and Volker Schlondorff discuss WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION
Theatrical Trailers
The all-new Audio Commentary by Film Historian Joseph McBride, Author of Billy Wilder: Dancing on the Edge begins with the overall career of Wilder and his ability to jump genres and he will be discussing the ending in detail. Some of the details include the adaptation by Agtha Christie of her novella, stage play, and eventually Wilder’s Adaptation; where Wilder was in his career at the time – how Ace in the Hole effected his output; the development of the script and the various screenwriters that had a part in it beyond Wilder – this leads to the history of Wilder’s co-writers that he worked with throughout his career; the casting of Elsa Lancaster as the Nurse watching over Sir Wilfred – discussion of Laughton and Lancaster being married in real life; the acting process of Charles Laughton and how it worked here in the film – including a discussion of Simon Callow’s book on Laughton’s method; the Oscar Nominations for the film – including the “snubs”; Wilder’s wanting to work with Laughton after this – including projects that never came to fruition; the casting of Tyrone Power – and the other casting “what if’s” that were up for the role; the life and career of Power – and his passing on-set at 44-years old; how this lines up with the themes and obsessions within the other works of Billy Wilder’s filmography; the career and life of Billy Wilder; a larger discussion about Journalists as a profession in Wilder’s films – because the director was a Journalist before he became a writer then a director of films; Wilder’s immigration to the US pre-WW2 because of the Nazi’s – a larger discussion of Wilder’s involvement during the war and post-war Europe; a larger discussion of the various crew members (e.g., the Art director, cinematographer, costume designer); a larger discussion about the various locations and sets used during the production; a larger discussion about the various actors; and much more. McBride provides a thoroughly researched informative commentary track complete with quotes pulled from various sources.
Billy Wilder and Volker Schlondorff discuss WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION (6:31) – this archival set of interviews from Volker Schlondorff from the 1980s has Wilder, in his office, discussing the project. Wilder is in a great mood as he discusses Dietrich bringing him the project; his love of Christie and Chandler and why; and more. Schlondorff’s intercutting different interviews. In English and German with English Subtitles.
Rounding out the special features are trailers for Witness for the Prosecution (3:08); Five Graves to Cairo (2:13); The Lost Weekend (2:08); A Foreign Affair (1:01); Stalag 17 (2:08); Some Like It Hot (2:23); The Apartment (2:20); One, Two, Three (2:11); Irma La Douce (3:53); The Fortune Cookie (2:37); The Private Lives of Sherlock Holmes (3:01); Avanti! (2:39); The Front Page (2:37)
The Final Thought
Kino has given us a beautiful edition of Witness for the Prosecution. Highest possible recommendations!!!
Charles Laughton and Billy Wilder team up for the courtroom potboiler Witness for the Prosecution. New to Blu-Ray from Kino Lorber.
The Film
Billy Wilder like Howard Hawks never met a genre he didn’t love to work in. Comedy, Crime, Thrillers, Adventure, Social Awareness, Drama, Musicals… Wilder put his touch on so many genres. That adroitly acidic touch was always apparent even in studio assignment-type projects. Witness for the Prosecution a courtroom potboiler with a hell of a twist ending even fits that bill. As much a Hitchcockian exercise in tension as it is one of Wilder’s cynical noirs – as well as funny.
Senior barrister Sir Wilfrid Robarts (Charles Laughton) is under strict order to no longer take on stressful court cases after a heart attack. Against everyone’s judgment, Sir Wilfrid takes on the case of Leonard Vole (Tyrone Power) as he’s accused of murdering Emily French (Norma Varden) childless widow. Vole swears by his innocence and even has his wife (Marlene Dietrich) as his alibi. A fortune, a grumpy maid, and even Vole’s own wife all contribute to one of the toughest cases the barrister has ever taken on. Can Sir Wilfrid find a way to free a man he thinks is innocent?
One needs only to watch the third act of Witness to the Prosecution to understand why Wilder took on the project. One can imagine Wilder at the very minimum cracking a smile – if not outright laughing – at the final solution of the novel/stage play. There’s an inherent light-on-its-feet cynicism that plays throughout the film that’s perfectly suited for Wilder and also his star Charles Laughton. The work here is tailored to fit each’s strengths and it’s no wonder even today that the film works as well as a newer film of the genre like A Few Good Men, Primal Fear, Presumed Innocent, or the recent Anatomy of a Fall.
To anyone who has seen a Charles Laughton performance knows that the actor was incredible in the way that many of his performances, even today, are not mannered or in the style of the era he came up in. There’s an internal life to Sir Wilfrid and playfulness within the grump of a barrister that Laughton has methodically worked out that feels almost Brando/Method adjacent. Laughton is so good that he leaves both Power and Dietrich in the metaphorical dust.
Without a good mystery at the center of a courtroom drama, there isn’t any meat and the one placed in by Agatha Christie is a heck of a one. Adding that Wilder put his spin on Christie’s marvelously constructed work here only adds to Witness for the Prosecution’s slickness. Never mind that their work has been plagiarized for almost 70 years. The direct pure hit of courtroom drama in its original form is enough to wash away both the good and the bad of the genre. Make no mistake Witness for the Prosecution is a courtroom thriller amongst courtroom thrillers.
The Transfer
The transfer is a wonderfully astute representation of the Black and White photography. The Black and White image is clear with beautifully subtle contrast levels and black detail – which thankfully doesn’t crush the blacks in any way. Again, Kino has pushed the limitations of what’s possible with a Blu-ray transfer. One will be shocked at how great it looks. The only way that the film could look even more strikingly cinematic is if Kino were to release a 4K disc.
The Extras
They include the following;
The all-new Audio Commentary by Film Historian Joseph McBride, Author of Billy Wilder: Dancing on the Edge begins with the overall career of Wilder and his ability to jump genres and he will be discussing the ending in detail. Some of the details include the adaptation by Agtha Christie of her novella, stage play, and eventually Wilder’s Adaptation; where Wilder was in his career at the time – how Ace in the Hole effected his output; the development of the script and the various screenwriters that had a part in it beyond Wilder – this leads to the history of Wilder’s co-writers that he worked with throughout his career; the casting of Elsa Lancaster as the Nurse watching over Sir Wilfred – discussion of Laughton and Lancaster being married in real life; the acting process of Charles Laughton and how it worked here in the film – including a discussion of Simon Callow’s book on Laughton’s method; the Oscar Nominations for the film – including the “snubs”; Wilder’s wanting to work with Laughton after this – including projects that never came to fruition; the casting of Tyrone Power – and the other casting “what if’s” that were up for the role; the life and career of Power – and his passing on-set at 44-years old; how this lines up with the themes and obsessions within the other works of Billy Wilder’s filmography; the career and life of Billy Wilder; a larger discussion about Journalists as a profession in Wilder’s films – because the director was a Journalist before he became a writer then a director of films; Wilder’s immigration to the US pre-WW2 because of the Nazi’s – a larger discussion of Wilder’s involvement during the war and post-war Europe; a larger discussion of the various crew members (e.g., the Art director, cinematographer, costume designer); a larger discussion about the various locations and sets used during the production; a larger discussion about the various actors; and much more. McBride provides a thoroughly researched informative commentary track complete with quotes pulled from various sources.
Billy Wilder and Volker Schlondorff discuss WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION (6:31) – this archival set of interviews from Volker Schlondorff from the 1980s has Wilder, in his office, discussing the project. Wilder is in a great mood as he discusses Dietrich bringing him the project; his love of Christie and Chandler and why; and more. Schlondorff’s intercutting different interviews. In English and German with English Subtitles.
Rounding out the special features are trailers for Witness for the Prosecution (3:08); Five Graves to Cairo (2:13); The Lost Weekend (2:08); A Foreign Affair (1:01); Stalag 17 (2:08); Some Like It Hot (2:23); The Apartment (2:20); One, Two, Three (2:11); Irma La Douce (3:53); The Fortune Cookie (2:37); The Private Lives of Sherlock Holmes (3:01); Avanti! (2:39); The Front Page (2:37)
The Final Thought
Kino has given us a beautiful edition of Witness for the Prosecution. Highest possible recommendations!!!
Kino Lorber’s Blu-Ray edition of Witness for the Prosecution is out now
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