To all script writers, directors planning to set up a project of a legal court-hearing thriller, stop wasting time: "the" legal court-hearing thriller has already been shot by a genius known as Billy Wilder. I don't know if such a category exists or is recognized, however I would consider a court-hearing thriller a movie whose main scenes and events take place in hearings before a criminal court. In this meaning, I would not consider "The verdict" but probably would consider "12 angry men". But, as usual with Billy Wilder, this movie is a lot more. A monumental (in any sense of the word) Charles Laughton. A surprising Marlene Dietrich, who also plays a sort of ironic parody of her past in Germany and her past role as the Blue Angel. A convincing Tyrone Power, whose role will leave you with big surprises. Super-witty dialogs and tons of bitter irony over the rituals of justice, that cannot do much to help the truth come to surface. Another big hit to the bull's eye for one of the best directors of all times. 9/10 just because I never rate 10 a movie I have only seen once. Can't wait to see it again to give it the ten it deserves.
Review of Witness for the Prosecution
