Witness for the Prosecution

Witness for the Prosecution is a 1982 American made-for-television drama film version of Agatha Christie's 1925 short story and 1953 play, and also a remake of the Billy Wilder film Witness for the Prosecution (1957). Plot summary Sir Wilfred Robarts, a famed barrister, has just been released from the hospital in which he stayed for two months following a heart attack. Returning to his practise of law, he takes the case of Leonard Vole, an unemployed man who is accused of murdering the elderly Emily French, who had bequeathed her estate to him. Vole claims he's innocent, although all evidence points to him as the killer, but his alibi witness, his cold German wife Christine, instead of entering the court as a witness for the defense, becomes the witness for the prosecution and defiantly testifies that her husband is guilty of the murder. Sir Wilfred represents Vole but retains his suspicions regarding the accused man's icy wife. Cast Ralph Richardson as Sir Wilfred Robarts QC Deborah Kerr as Miss Plimsoll, Sir Wilfred's nurse Diana Rigg as Christine Heilger/Vole Beau Bridges as Leonard Vole Donald Pleasence as Myers QC, the prosecutor Wendy Hiller as Janet Mackenzie, Emily French's maid David Langton as Mayhew, Vole's solicitor Richard Vernon as Brogan-Moore, Sir Wilfred's colleague Peter Sallis as the butler, Carter Michael Gough as the Judge Frank Mills as Chief Inspector Hearne Primi Townsend as Diana Patricia Leslie as Emily French (seen in flashbacks) Production The film was directed by Alan Gibson, based on a teleplay by John Gay and the adaptation of Larry Marcus. The musical score was composed by John Cameron.