International title:
Witness for the Prosecution
di Billy Wilder (Usa, 1957, 114') v.o. sott. it. mar 8 h 15,30 – h 21,50
Vole, an English gentleman, is accused of the murder of a rich widow. The widow's will, drawn up just a few days before her death, reveals that she had made her suspected murderer the main beneficiary. Vole's situation is made even more delicate by the ambiguous attitude of his German wife Christine, whom Vole had met in Hamburg and married during the last war. Vole's case is of great interest to celebrated barrister Sir Wilfred Roberts, who is convinced of Vole's innocence and decides to take on his defence, despite his advancing years and frail health. During the trial Roberts successfully dismantles the case against the accused, but the Christine is then called as a witness for the prosecution, and her deposition completely undermines Vole's alibi. Roberts is gravely embarrassed, but before the final hearing, a mysterious woman sells him some letters written by Christine. These reveal that she and a lover had acted together to set a trap for the husband. Christine confirms the authenticity of the letters, therefore rendering her deposition valueless. Roberts produces them in court and Vole is duly acquitted. But the dramatic turnarounds aren't yet finished.
