MovieChat Forums > The Witness for the Prosecution (2017) Discussion > In general (Spoilers)

In general (Spoilers)

posted 7 years ago by strangebedfellows
4 replies | jump to latest

I have just watched this and I wasn't impressed. Most of Christie's works - whilst entertaining in their time - have now become vehicles for the politically correct lobby who introduce male and female gay characters where none existed in the previous stories - and they even change characters and endings to suit their inflated egos. Big names and big sex seems to be their watchwords - and I can't be bothered to watch then anymore. I suppose they are trying to make her stories more plausible and up to date - I mean in Christie's world red ink can be mistaken for blood because nobody it seems has a sense of smell - twenty people with a motive for killing one can be found in the same room, ship, hotel etc. The same people will wait patiently in a room for an amateur detective with no power to detain to unveil the culprit - said sleuth is allowed to put evidence in his pocket - the last words of a dying person is why didn't they ask the maid. The list goes on and on - so these changes are brought in to disguise the inherent weakness and silliness of some of her plots.
I didn't find TWFTP engaging - the constant cough was pointless and annoying - he made a promise on the memory of his son and broke it which was implausible - his sex scene with his wife added nothing to the plot - we didn't need any of his back story. It was glaringly obvious that the villain was guilty and meeting up with them in the south of France beggars belief, as does his final solution.
The acting was OK - the story wasn't.

[–] Prismark10 7 years ago

'he made a promise on the memory of his son and broke it which was implausible'

If you think about it: How can he meet that woman again when she is later arrested?

'now become vehicles for the politically correct lobby who introduce male and female gay characters where none existed in the previous stories'

This adaptation was done in association with the Agatha Christie Estate and it seems where once homosexuality might had been implied in the books (remember it was illegal) it has been brought more to the open in recent adaptations.

'It was glaringly obvious that the villain was guilty'

Was it? The maid was a contender.

It's that man again!!

[–] calmeilles 7 years ago

where once homosexuality might had been implied in the books (remember it was illegal)

Female homosexuality, which is what is implied at least on the part of the maid, famously never was illegal. When The Witness was written the activities of the Bloomsbury Group had been notorious for quite a few years.

The possible anachronism may have been in referring to it as lesbianism. The word was known but it is more likely that the term 'Sapphic' would have been used.

[–] calmeilles 7 years ago

the constant cough was pointless and annoying

The constant cough was significant.

Mayhew ascribes it to gas, "nothing to be done" — implied gas in the trenches which son what killed his son. And with it the green cast — the colour of mustard gas — to the film. Right up to the point at which he is hospitalised and correctly diagnosed as having bronchitis. Thereafter the screen is clear, the cough gone and Mayhew apparently much happier

But both the cough and the colour are indicative of Mayhew's guilt at the death of his son for which he must feel some responsibility and for which his wife certainly holds him responsible.

Defending Vole seemed to assuage Mayhew's guilt for failing his son. Discovering that it had all been a fraud he sought reaffirmation that it had never the less been worth it from his wife who finally denies him, cannot forgive him.

That's why he walks into the sea.

[–] NormHasRetired 7 years ago

Thank you for getting it.