Billy Wilder's Witness For The Prosecution and similar items

Vintage original 8 x 10 in. US single-weight glossy photograph from the 1950's mystery crime drama, WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION, released in 1957 by United Artists and directed by Billy Wilder. The image features a close interior shot of Elsa Lanchester in costume as "Miss Plimsoll." It is in fine+ condition. Elsa Lanchester used to delight in broadcasting Marlene Dietrich's secrets. Although Dietrich was never secretive about her famous "tape lifts", Lanchester detailed their use to anyone who would listen. (One of the most avid listeners was Charles Laughton, who urged a make-up man to steal one so he could try it.) The lifts were stuck to the side of Dietrich's head where she wanted skin to be lifted, then the long threads hanging from them were woven into hair at the back of her head, forcing the tabs to pull the skin very tight. A wig then covered the network of tabs and threads. Lanchester joked that Dietrich wouldn't dare to pull or twist her face for fear of loosening a lift. In the film, one can see how Dietrich rarely breaks the cold passiveness of her expression and moves her whole body rather than her head.