SUMMARY OF WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION

The characters in witness for the prosecution:

▪ Leonardvole,theaccused.

▪ EmilyFrench,thevictim.

▪ JanetMackenzie,Emily French’smaid

▪ Romaine(subsequently renamedasChristine)vole, “wife”oftheaccused.

▪ Mr.Mayhew\Mayherne, thesolicitoroftheaccused.

▪ SirWilfridRobarts,QC, seniorcounselofthe accused

▪ Mr Myers,QC,thecrown prosecutor

▪ Mr.JusticeWainwright,the judge.

▪ InspectorHearne,the arrestingofficer

▪ Greta,SirWilfrid’stypist

▪ Carter,SirWilfrid’sclerk,

THE SUMMARY OF WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION:

Hello today our meeting in the book club about the witness for the prosecution by AgathaChristie WetalkedaboutthewriterAgathaChristieandaninformationabout her Leonard vole is arrested for the murder of Emily French, a wealthy older woman. Unaware that he was a married man, miss French made him her principal heir, casting suspicion on Leonard When his wife, Romaine, agrees to testify, she does so not in Leonard’s defense but as a witness for the prosecution Romaine’s decision is part of a complicated plan to free her husband She first gives the prosecution its strongest evidence, then fabricates new evidence that discredits her testimony, believing, correctly as it turns out, that her impeachment as an unfaithful wife would improve Leonard’s chances of acquittal far more than her testimonyforthedefense.ItisthenrevealedthatLeonardvoleactuallydidkillEmily French.

THE PLOT:

AfewyearsafterWarII,inLondon,LeonardVole(TyronePower),isaccusedofmurderingarich widow, Emily French (Norma Varden), who has recently changed her will and bequeathed him a substantialsumofmoney SirWilfredRobarts(CharlesLaughton),askilledlawyerwhohasJustbe released from hospital, is asked to defend Vole Sir Wilfred’s doctor has instructed him to avoid excitement After his hand-picked replacement barrister expresses doubt over Vole’s innocence, Sir Wilfreddecidestohandlethecasehimself,despiteprotestsfromhisnurse(ElsaLanchester) Aftera conversation with Mrs. Christine Vole (Marlene Dietrich) and assessing her attitude, Sir Wilfred decides not to call on her to testify in defense of her husband All seems lost as the defense concludesitscase ButalatenightphonecallrevealsnewevidencethatChristinewroteletterstoan anonymouslovernamedMaxaboutpurposelydenyingherhusbandanalibitogetherfreedom This evidence changes the jurys opinion and Leonard is acquitted However, Sir Wilfred suspects somethingisamisswiththissuddenreversalanddramaticconvenientevidence Allisrevealedinthe lastdramaticcourtscene,asChristineadmitstodeliberatelysabotagingherowntestimonywiththe letters, to get her guilty husband freed But in the penultimate twist, Leonard shows his true stripes andrevealshisintentiontoleavehis“wife”forayoungerwoman Christineseizestheknifeusedas evidence of an accidental cut causing Vole’s bloody jacket and, in full view of Sir Wilfred, his nurse (Miss Plimsoll), and the other woman, stabs Leonard, killing him Miss Plimsoll cancels Sir Wilfred’s plannedtriptoBermudaandannounceshewilldefendChristineVoleinhertrialformurder