Witness for the Prosecution
Studio: United Artists
Starring: Tyrone Power, Marlene Dietrich, Charles Laughton
Director: Billy Wilder
Writer: Billy Wilder, Harry Kurnitz
Producer: Arthur Hornblow, Jr.
Witness for the Prosecution is a 1957 American legal mystery melodrama film directed by Billy Wilder and starring Tyrone Power, Marlene Dietrich, and Charles Laughton, with Elsa Lanchester and John Williams. The film, which has elements of bleak black comedy and film noir, is a courtroom drama set in the Old Bailey in London and is based on the 1953 play of the same title by Agatha Christie.
Trivia
- Won the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture.
- Also nominated for: Academy Award for Best Picture; Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress; Academy Award for Best Actor; Academy Award for Best Director; and 2 more.
- Based on Witness for the Prosecution (1953 play written by Agatha Christie).
- Producers Arthur Hornblow and Edward Small bought the rights to the play for $450,000.
- The play was adjusted to emphasize the character of the defence barrister.
- Billy Wilder was signed to direct in April 1956.
Previous Showings
8 Runs • 6 Festivals
12,869 tickets sold
Original Billings: 1 run (March 5, 1958)
Original Run: March 5, 1958 (Wednesday - Saturday)
All runs on record (8):
- March 5, 1958 (Wednesday - Saturday)Tyrone Power, Marlene Dietrich
- March 18 - 22, 1994 · 2,581 ticketsw/ The Seven Year Itch
- June 29 - July 2, 2002 · 2,428 ticketssummer02w/ Stalag 17
- August 12 - 13, 2004 · 1,200 ticketsSummer 2004w/ Stage Fright
- April 4 - 6, 2009 · 1,255 ticketsWinter 2009w/ Shanghai Express
- April 13 - 14, 2013 · 1,249 ticketsThe 1950sw/ Stage Fright
- July 18 - 21, 2015 · 2,576 ticketsSummer 2015 Forty Classics from the Golden Age Including Kurosawa in Augustw/ To Kill a Mockingbird
- August 21 - 23, 2026 · 1,580 ticketsSummer 2026 including the Films of Marilyn Monroew/ Green for Danger