Witness for the Prosecution (1982)

Typical 1980s American TV movie lifted only slightly because it's mostly filmed in the UK and has superior British acting talent in the minor roles.Ralph Richardson was obviously very ill when he decided to do this and sleepwalks through the part of Sir Wilfred Robarts. Diana Rigg and Deborah Kerr are just ridiculous characters, Bridges is the token 'Yank', and a host of other excellent British actors are buried under the weight of poor writing and direction.Written (supposedly from Billy Wilder's screenplay) this mess is best used as a way to look at London tourist spots if you can't be bothered to go there! "Ooh, look... there's Harrods. I buy my gloves from there!" Almost every other version of this excellent short story is better than this purile nonsense which has been specifically tailor-made for an American 'Sunday evening' audience.The only value this movie has is seeing some marvelous British actors do their thing but their efforts are entirely wasted on this nonsense.Treat yourself to the Billy Wilder version with Tyrone Power, Charles Laughton, Marlene Dietrich and Elsa Lanchester made 70 years ago. It's a million times better than this cartoon silliness.

In 1954, when the efficient but bitter and stubborn barrister Sir Wilfrid Robarts (Ralph Richardson) returns to his office in London recovering from a heart attack, he is invited to defend Leonard Stephen Vole (Beau Bridges), who is the prime suspect in a murder case. Leonard is a former soldier that fought in World War II and is married with his beloved German wife Christine Helm Vole (Diana Rigg). He is unemployed and accused of seducing and murdering the wealthy middle-aged single woman Emily French (Patricia Leslie) to inherit 80,000 pounds. His unique alibi would be the testimony of Christine, which would not be accepted by the court, since she is his wife. Along the trial, Christine is surprisingly called to testify in court by the prosecution, when secrets about their lives are disclosed. "Witness for the Prosecution" (1957) is another remarkable movie of Billy Wilder and one of the best about trial. Based on the play of Agatha Christie, the plot is perfectly tied-up without any flaw in the screenplay, which has many plot points and witty lines in a perfect combination of the caustic and sarcastic "British humor" with crime, drama and mystery. Despite being a good remake with great cast and performances, I do not understand the purpose of shooting frame-by-frame the masterpiece of Billy Wilder. The last time I had seen this film was on 14 June 2003. My vote is seven.Title (Brazil): "Testemunha de Acusação" ("Witness for the Prosecution")

The better version of Witness For The Prosecution,starring a very remarkable Diana Rigg as a frosty and yet highly intense dark lady,and presenting the most compelling courtroom drama ever seen on the screen,with a duel to death among an ambitious and insinuating prosecutor played with his usual malicious glint by a wonderful Donald Pleasance and a dying and cunning barrister played with vulnerable naughtiness by a titanic Ralph Richardson.The stellar cast is completed by the Gotha of beloved English character actors:Wendy Hiller,Richard Vernon,David Langton,Peter Sallis...even Deborah Kerr in an endearing role of comic relief.A major success,highly deserving a DVD edition,and very curiously far superior to the Billy Wilder version,exceedingly verging on glamor and comedy.

Sorry but I find the original a bit slow. The original court case is probably more dramatic. However, I like the cast better in this newer rendition and wish it was available on DVD. Diana Rigg as always is great. Deborah Kerr and Donald Pleasance also turn in good performances.