Witness for the Prosecution (Hallmark Hall of Fame)

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 Sir Wilfred's clerk, 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. The cast includes many veteran and well-known actors such as Ralph Richardson, Deborah Kerr, Diana Rigg, Donald Pleasence, Wendy Hiller, Peter Sallis and Beau Bridges. Alan Gibson, the director of this film, also directed The Satanic Rites of Dracula, in which Richard Vernon, who plays the part of Brogan-Moore in Witness for the Prosecution, had a small role. John Gay, the writer of the teleplay, also wrote teleplays for the Lux Video Theatre, a television anthology series. Lux Video Theatre also produced an adaptation of Witness for the Prosecution, in 1953 (four years before the Wilder version). ==Reception==

Critical The New York Times called it "a great deal of fun", praising the "remarkable durability" of Christie's original material, and the performances of Richardson and Rigg. Awards Arthur Ibbetson was nominated for an Emmy Award for outstanding cinematography for his work on the production. ==References==