▁Jul ie ▁Ple c , ▁saying ▁that ▁it ▁was ▁" sn ark y ▁and ▁wonderful ". ▁ ▁References ▁ ▁External ▁links ▁▁▁▁▁ ▁Category : 2 0 1 4 ▁American ▁television ▁episodes ▁Category : The ▁V amp ire ▁Di aries ▁( season ▁ 6 ) ▁episodes ▁Category : F iction ▁set ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 4 <0x0A> </s> ▁The ▁Wit ness ▁for ▁the ▁Def ense ▁is ▁a ▁ 1 9 1 9 ▁American ▁silent ▁drama ▁directed ▁by ▁George ▁Fitz ma ur ice ▁and ▁st arring ▁Els ie ▁Fer g us on , ▁Warner ▁O land , ▁and ▁Wy nd ham ▁Stand ing . ▁ ▁Production ▁background ▁The ▁film ▁is ▁based ▁on ▁the ▁ 1 9 1 3 ▁novel ▁The ▁Wit ness ▁for ▁the ▁Def ence ▁by ▁A . ▁E . ▁W . ▁Mason . ▁Mason ' s ▁story ▁was ▁performed ▁as ▁a ▁play ▁on ▁Broadway ▁in ▁ 1 9 1 1 ▁and ▁star red ▁Eth el ▁Barry more . ▁ ▁The ▁film ▁is ▁the ▁earliest ▁of ▁pro l ific ▁director ▁George ▁Fitz ma ur ice ' s ▁to ▁surv ive ▁and ▁is ▁like wise ▁the ▁only ▁silent ▁film ▁of ▁Els ie ▁Fer g us on ▁that ▁remains ▁ext ant . ▁The ▁film ▁is ▁also ▁the ▁first ▁feature ▁length ▁art ▁direction ▁credit ▁for ▁William ▁Camer on ▁M enz ies . ▁ ▁Cast ▁ ▁Els ie ▁Fer g us on ▁as ▁St ella ▁Der rick ▁ ▁Vern on ▁Ste ele ▁as ▁Dick ▁Haz el wood ▁ ▁Warner ▁O land ▁as ▁Captain ▁Ball ant y ne