Film Snail

6.2

The Fatal Witness

NR·1945·65m

Drama

Mystery

Thriller

Drama

Mystery

Thriller

Summary

A playboy produces an airtight alibi when he is questioned about the murder of his wealthy aunt.

Cast

Evelyn Ankers

Priscilla Ames

Richard Fraser

Inspector William 'Bill' Trent

George Leigh

John Bedford

Barbara Everest

Lady Elizabeth Ferguson / Vera Cavanaugh

Barry Bernard

Scoggins

Frederick Worlock

Sir Humphrey Mong

Virginia Farmer

Martha, the maid

Colin Campbell

Sir Malcolm Hewitt

Crauford Kent

Jepson

Peggy Jackson

Gracie Hallet

Elaine Lange

Tillie - Pub waitress

Harry Cording

Gus

Boyd Irwin

Randall the Tailor

Norman Ainsley

Drunk (uncredited)

Frank Baker

Police Sergeant (uncredited)

Ted Billings

Pub Customer (uncredited)

Bruce Carruthers

English Bobby (uncredited)

Cyril Delevanti

Second Coroner (uncredited)

Herbert Evans

First Coroner (uncredited)

Bobby Hale

Bit Role (uncredited)

Sam Harris

Dinner Guest (uncredited)

Keith Hitchcock

Detective Dowell (uncredited)

James Logan

English Bobby (uncredited)

Casey MacGregor

Bit Role (uncredited)

Charles McNaughton

Harry (uncredited)

John Meredith

Operator (uncredited)

Eva Novak

Elsie - Vera's Maid (uncredited)

Gil Perkins

Detective (uncredited)

Hilda Plowright

Lady Mong - Dinner Guest (uncredited)

Arlyn Roberts

Bit Role (uncredited)

Dorothy Stevens

Bit Role (uncredited

Lucy Storm

Daughter (uncredited)

Lillian Talbot

Lady Hewitt - Dinner Guest (uncredited)

Eric Wilton

Clerk (uncredited)

Florence Wix

Dinner Guest (uncredited)

Jack Perrin

Crew

Director

Lesley Selander

Adaptation

Cleve F. Adams

Screenplay

Jerry Sackheim

Story

Rupert Croft-Cooke

Reviews

Geronimo1967

November 5, 2023

To be fair to director Lesley Selander, he packs quite a bit into this whodunit. We know that "Lady Elizabeth" (Barbara Everest) has lost her precious emerald brooch, and that she suspects her ne'er-do-well nephew "John" (George Leigh) of pinching it. He denies the accusation when he finds her searching his room with "Priscilla" (Evelyn Ankers) and storms out of the house. Next morning, the old bat is found dead and, naturally, "John" is prime suspect. Thing is though - he has an alibi, and it's the police who are providing it! He spent that very night face down in a cell recovering from too much Scotch. So, who did pinch the jewel and who murdered the old lady? That detection falls to Scotland Yard's finest "Trent" (Richard Fraser) who has to get to the bottom of things. It's not that simple to guess who did what to whom, but boy is there a lot of dialogue as the film progresses, taking us through quite a few unsavoury and devious characters - any one of whom might have done her in. The production is cheap and cheerful and the acting pretty static, but the story moves along well enough for an hour and though it's entirely forgettable, it's still not a bad watch.