Witness for the Prosecution (1957 film)

Witness for the Prosecution
Original release poster
Directed by	Billy Wilder
Screenplay by	Larry Marcus Billy Wilder Harry Kurnitz
Based on	The Witness for the Prosecution 1926 story / 1953 play by Agatha Christie
Produced by	Arthur Hornblow Jr.
Starring	Tyrone Power Marlene Dietrich Charles Laughton Elsa Lanchester
Cinematography	Russell Harlan
Edited by	Daniel Mandell
Music by	Matty Malneck
Production company	Edward Small Productions
Distributed by	United Artists
Release dates	December 17, 1957 (1957-12-17) (Limited U.S. release) January 30, 1958 (1958-01-30) (Premiere, London)
Running time	116 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$2 million[1]
Box office	$9 million

Witness for the Prosecution is a 1957 American legal mystery thriller film directed by Billy Wilder and starring Tyrone Power, Marlene Dietrich, Charles Laughton, and Elsa Lanchester. 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 name by Agatha Christie. The first film adaptation of Christie's story, Witness for the Prosecution was adapted for the screen by Larry Marcus, Harry Kurnitz, and Wilder. The film was acclaimed by critics and received six Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture. It also received five Golden Globes nominations including a win for Elsa Lanchester as Best Actress in a Supporting Role. Additionally, the film was selected as the sixth-best courtroom drama ever by the American Film Institute for their AFI's 10 Top 10 list.^[2]

In the film, a man accused of killing a wealthy widow who had named him as the main beneficiary in her will undergoes a trial during which his wife testifies against him.