Witness for the Prosecution( 1982)

TV-MACrimeDrama

63%

User
Score

Is he lying or telling the truth

Overview

Sir Wilfred Robarts, a famed barrister is released from the hospital, where he stayed for two months following his heart attack. Returning to the practise of his lawyer skills, he takes the case of Leonard Vole, an unemployed man who is accused of murdering an elderly lady friend of his, Mrs. Emily French. While Leonard Vole claims he's innocent, although all evidence points to him as the killer, his alibi witness, his cold German wife Christine, instead of entering the court as a witness for the defense, she becomes the witness for the prosecution and strongly claims her husband is guilty of the murder.

Top Billed Cast

Ralph Richardson
Sir Wilfred Robarts
Deborah Kerr
Nurse Plimsoll
Beau Bridges
Leonard Vole
Donald Pleasence
Mr. Myers
Wendy Hiller
Janet Mackenzie
Diana Rigg
Christine Vole
David Langton
Mayhew
Richard Vernon
Brogan-Moore
Peter Sallis
Carter
Michael Gough
Judge
Frank Mills
Chief Inspector Hearne
Michael Nightingale
Clerk of the Court
Peter Copley
Dr. Harrison
Patricia Leslie
Mrs. French
John Kidd
Court Usher
Ken Kitson
Policeman (as Kit Kitson)
Wilfred Grove
Photographer
Primi Townsend
Diana
Andrew MacLachlan
Jury Foreman
Aubrey Woods
Tailor
Zulema Dene
Miss Johnson
Barbara New
Miss O'Brien
Jenny Donnison
1st Nurse
Ceri Jackson
2nd Nurse
Harold Coyne
Juror (uncredited)
Walter Henry
Juror (uncredited)
Gerry Judge
Man in Court (uncredited)
Reg Thomason
Barrister (uncredited)
Harry Van Engel
Juror (uncredited)

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Review 1Discussion

A review by CinemaSerf

Written by CinemaSerf on Thu Jun 08 2023

The 1957 version of this story is certainly one of my favourite films, so any remake was always going to be a tough ask. This one is, however, a decent and characterful effort with Sir Ralph Richardson as curmudgeonly barrister "Sir Wilfred" who is charged with the seemingly impossible task of defending "Leonard Vole" (Beau Bridges) from a charge that he murdered an older lady with whom he was friends - and who had left him great deal of money! The ensuing courtroom drama is tense and with strong supporting performances from Donald Pleasence as opposing counsel ("Mr Myers") and Dame Wendy Hille...