Witness for the Prosecution *** (1982, Ralph Richardson, Deborah Kerr, Beau Bridges, Donald Pleasence, Wendy Hiller, Diana Rigg) – Classic Movie Review 5560

Director Alan Gibson and writer John Gay’s feebler but still quite involving and amusing 1982 TV movie version of Agatha Christie’s ingenious but creaky London-set courtroom thriller, memorably first filmed as Witness for the Prosecution by Billy Wilder in 1957.

It is given a considerable lift with a couple of rich star turns from venerable Ralph Richardson in Charles Laughton’s old role as Sir Wilfred Roberts, the testy defence lawyer of Leonard Vole (Beau Bridges), who is on trial murdering an elderly rich woman, and from Deborah Kerr in Elsa Lanchester’s part as his fussy, over-protective nurse Miss Plimsoll, as well as from a noble cast of vintage support players, including David Langton, Richard Vernon, Peter Sallis as Carter, Michael Gough as the Judge, Frank Mills as Chief Inspector Hearne and Aubrey Woods.

Donald Pleasence (as Mr Myers), Wendy Hiller (as Janet Mackenzie) and Diana Rigg (in Marlene Dietrich’s old role as Christine Vole) also star.

It is worthwhile for the entertaining cast and enjoyable story, and worth seeking out if you have already seen or can’t find a copy of the Billy Wilder 1957 film, upon whose screenplay (with Harry Kurnitz and Larry Marcus) it is based, along with Mrs Christie’s classic stage play.

Also in the cast are Michael Nightingale, Peter Copley, Patricia Leslie, John Kidd, Kit Kitson, Wilfred Grove, Primi Townsend, Andrew MacLachlan, Barbara New, Zulema Dene, Jenny Donnison and Ceri Jackson.

There was also a black and white BBC TV version in 1949, with Alban Blakelock, Stafford Byrne, Derek Elphinstone, Mary Kerridge and Dale Rogers as Leonard Vole.

Witness for the Prosecution was remade again for TV in 2016 with Billy Howle as Leonard Vole, Kim Cattrall, Monica Dolan and Andrea Riseborough as Christine Vole.

Ben Affleck plans a remake as director and star.

RIP Peter Sallis, who died on 2 June 2017, aged 96.

RIP Diana Rigg, who died on 10 September 2020, aged 82.

© Derek Winnert 2017 Classic Movie Review 5560

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