Now you think you've solved it, now you haven't, is the theme of this Agatha Christie-inspired suspense classic directed by Billy Wilder, with Charles Laughton giving one of his last great screen performances as the eccentric barrister who uses a monocle to reflect sunlight into the eye of a hostile witness. The story itself, of a man on trial for murder, is vastly entertaining with many twists and blind turnings. Tyrone Power's performance is nicely balanced to keep you guessing as to his guilt and innocence, while Marlene Dietrich, in a role that contains more than a glance would indicate, makes one of the most effective of her latter-day appearances. And Laughton's real-life wife, Elsa Lanchester, almost steals his thunder as nurse Miss Plimsoll - always ready to administer yet another injection or pop more pills down his throat. Her delightful performance earned her an Oscar nomination.

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