Witness for the Prosecution

The 1957 version of this story is certainly one of my favourite films, so any remake was always going to be a tough ask. This one is, however, a decent and characterful effort with Sir Ralph Richardson as curmudgeonly barrister "Sir Wilfred" who is charged with the seemingly impossible task of defending "Leonard Vole" (Beau Bridges) from a charge that he murdered an older lady with whom he was friends - and who had left him great deal of money! The ensuing courtroom drama is tense and with strong supporting performances from Donald Pleasence as opposing counsel ("Mr Myers") and Dame Wendy Hiller as her maid "Janet Mackenzie" well paced. Sadly, though, neither Beau Bridges nor Diana Rigg manage to raise their game as the accused "Vole" and his highly duplicitous wife "Christine". Their performances lack the grit and sophistication required to keep the tension going and although Sir Ralph is certainly in his element as the formidable barrister, he hasn't quite enough strength to carry the others as Laughton managed to 25 years earlier. That said, it's still a good watch and as TV movies go, certainly one of the better of this genre with good attention to detail and a rather lovely old Rolls Royce.