Scene Analysis: Comparing the Book and Film: The Witness

This assignment presents a scene analysis of Agatha Christie's 'The Witness for the Prosecution,' focusing on its adaptation into a film. The analysis begins with a brief overview of the story, highlighting its publication in 1933 and its subsequent adaptations into plays and films. The document then delves into a comparison between the original story and the 2016 film adaptation, particularly focusing on the ending and the emotional impact of the changes made. It discusses the author's potential dissatisfaction with the original ending and how the film adaptation attempts to rectify this. The analysis also explores the themes of greed and moral turpitude as they are portrayed in the film, especially in the final scene. The conclusion emphasizes the retention and enhancement of the story's core themes in the film adaptation. The assignment also includes a list of references used in the analysis.

Running head: SCENE ANALYSIS
SCENE ANALYSIS
Name of the student
Name of the University
Author note

1SCENE ANALYSIS
The Witness for the Prosecution is one of the most recognized short stories written by
the British author, Agatha Christie. The story was publishes in the year 1933 in the collection
titles ‘The Hound of Death’. Since its publication, the story has also been adapted into a play
by the author herself and into movies and television series by various directors across the
world. One such version is the 2016 adaptation of the book, which has followed the original
ending of the book by Agatha Christie.
The ending of the original story involves a major twist in which one of the major
characters in the story, Mrs. Vole reveals that her husband was guilty for the murder of the
wealthy woman, Emily French (Christie and Lee 1954). However, it has often been argued by
critics that the author, Agatha Christie found this ending of the story rather dissatisfying.
Such dissatisfaction was caused by the escape of the murdered without any punishment.
However, in order to rectify this ending, as the murderer Leonard and his mistress are about
to leave, Leonard is punished for his crimes and stabbed to death.
In the 2016 adaptation of The Witness for the Prosecution, the ending as depicted in
the play is used, but is recognized to have more emotional appeal (Aldridge 2016). The greed
and moral turpitude of the murder Leonard transforms into a tale of divine vengeance in the
final scene by the seaside. The theme of the story is thereby retained as well as enhanced in
the adaptation.

2SCENE ANALYSIS
References
Aldridge, M., 2016. Christie Films Make an Impact. In Agatha Christie on Screen (pp. 79-
94). Palgrave Macmillan, London.
Christie, A. and Lee, C., 1954. Witness for the Prosecution. Samuel French Limited.