This is one of those courtroom classics that everyone should see at least once. I'm shocked it took me this long to watch it myself.Sir Wilfred (Charles Laughton), one of Great Britain's top barristers finally returns to work after suffering a heart attack. His nurse (Elsa Lanchester) recommends that he stay away from stressful cases as well as brandy and cigars. When a colleague brings him the defense case of Leonard Vole (Tyrone Power), a man accused of murdering a little old lady for her money, Sir Wilfred is inclined to let someone else handle it. But the sole of Leonard's defense lies in the testimony of his wife, Christine (Marlene Dietrich) and it is not at all certain which side she is playing.
Based on the Agatha Christie stage play, this is adapted for the screen and directed by Billy Wilder, one of the best directors to ever work in the industry. Every scene is chock full of dramatic tension. Even at sixty years old, this film delivers the goods. The end actually carries a reminder for theatergoers to avoid spoiling the big twist to their friends and families, so I'm sure that when it first came out it was an absolute cracker.
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