WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION

Caldera Records proudly presents John Cameron’s score for the TV movie “Witness for the Prosecution.”

An elderly solicitor, Sir Wilfred (here played by Ralph Richardson), is visited by a young client, Leonard Vole (Beau Bridges), who is accused of having killed a middle-aged woman by the name of French. It is revealed that Mrs. French had left her estate to Leonard, giving him, who is nearly destitute, ample reason to do away with her. But he insists on his innocence. He even claims to have a fireproof alibi: his wife, Christine Vole (played by Diana Rigg) was with him when the murder was supposed to have occurred ... but there is a twist. 

John Cameron decided to fuse ‘A Wandering Minstrel’ from “The Mikado” with his original composition. The composer also developed several variations on the tune to make it sound more mysterious. Still, there is more the soundtrack has to offer. For Sir Wilfred, Cameron developed a strong theme that is both pompous and cheeky – ‘Elgarian’, as the composer describes it, invoking the master behind the “Enigma Variations.” Rather than make fun of the character, with its pastoral aspect the music underscores his gentle nature. By using the cimbalom for Christine Vole’s character, Cameron nudged the audience to think that Christine is ‘a little dangerous’, that she is playing a duplicitous game, only to then surprise the viewer at the end.

Caldera Records are pleased to make available John Cameron’s score for “Witness for the Prosecution” and thus complete the duo of his Agatha Christie adaptations. Unfortunately, the music only survived in mono on DAT cassettes. We have done our best to clean up the recording.

The 69th CD-release of Caldera Records features a detailed booklet text by Stephan Eicke and elegant artwork by Luis Miguel Rojas. The CD was mastered by Richard Moore and produced by Stephan Eicke.

1. London 1954/On a Wet and Moonless Night (1:20)

2. A Wandering Minstrel/The Body in the Study (1:38)

3. The Old Fox Leaves Hospital (2:28)

4. Enter Christine/An Anonymous Call (1:52)

5. Too Hopeless?/Joy-Deprived (0:51)

6. The Temptation of a Mystery/The Great Escaper (1:47)

7. A Test for Christine (0:44)

8. Heart to Heart (1:30)

9. Prison/What is the Truth Anymore? (1:15)

10. A Mean, Ill-Tempered Old Man/The Prosecution is Satisfied (1:26)

11. The Great Halls of Justice (0:30)

12. Rubbish/Unbelievable, Yet True (0:41)

13. A Face in the Dark (3:31)

14. A Confession of Sorts (0:42)

15. Ready for a Holiday/Neat and Tidy (0:58)

16. Banana Skin (0:35)

17. Suspicions/A Cursed Inheritance/He Said, She Said (3:18)

18. Christine’s Revenge (3:39)

19. Brandy/The Nurse from Hell (0:32)

20. End Titles (1:00)

Bonus:

21. Pub Source (0:35)

22. Conversation with John Cameron (7:42)