Witness for the Prosecution is a quintessential movie buff's movie. It was quite successful at the time of its release, garnering Oscar nominations for Picture, Actor, Supporting Actress and Direction. It also features an impressive list of collaborators both in front of and behind the camera: directed by Billy Wilder from Agatha Christie's play and starring Tyrone Power (in his last screen appearance), Marlene Dietrich and Charles Laughton. Despite all this Witness for the Prosecution is virtually unknown today outside of classic movie fans.

For my money this is the most entertaining of the old-time court-room dramas. The characters are vivid, the dialogue crackles and the plot has just enough twists in it to keep you guessing. Surprise endings were common in Agatha Christie stories and this one holds up well after more than 50 years. Thanks to the interplay between Laughton and his real life wife Elsa Lanchester the drama is balanced with well-played humor. The first half hour moves a bit slowly but once the gears start turning it glides along effortlessly.

Power and Dietrich play husband and wife. He's accused of murder and she's the titular witness. Charles Laughton defends him and is the real star of the movie. Billy Wilder called him the greatest actor he ever worked with. He could instantly give any line a half a dozen different readings. He had a mellifluous voice and a brilliant delivery. The most famous line of the movie comes during his cross-examination of Dietrich's character. He rhetorically asks, "Are you not, in fact, a chronic and habitual LIAR!" Exploding on the last word.

Because the ending is so essential to the enjoyment of this movie I won't spoil it here. Wilder was so intent on keeping it a secret at the time that he included a message during the end credits asking audience members not to give it away. It was The Crying Game of its day. Marlene Dietrich gives the best performance of her career and she is matched by Tyrone Power's desperate charm and Charles Laughton's clever verbosity.

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