Witness in the Dark

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Witness in the Dark
Witness in the Dark (1959 film).jpg
British theatrical poster
Directed by Wolf Rilla
Screenplay byLeigh Vance
John Lemont
Based onan original play by James Parish
Produced by Norman Williams
Starring Patricia Dainton
Conrad Phillips
Madge Ryan
Nigel Green
Cinematography Brendan J. Stafford
Edited by Bernard Gribble
Music by Philip Green
Production
companies
Alliance Film Distributors Limited (present)
Sydney Box Associates (present)
Ethiro Productions
Distributed by Rank Film Distributors (UK)
Release date
  • December 1959 (1959-12)(UK)
Running time
62 min
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

Witness in the Dark is a 1959 British second feature [1] crime drama film directed by Wolf Rilla, and starring Patricia Dainton, Conrad Phillips, Madge Ryan and Nigel Green. [2] It was written by Leigh Vance and John Lemont and produced by Norman Williams (Patricia Dainton's husband).

Contents

Plot

Jane Pringle, a blind telephone operator, is going to visit her elderly neighbour Mrs Temple when she brushes against a man who tries to sneak past her on the stairs and does not respond when she asks who is there. Jane goes up to Mrs Temple's flat and finds her murdered. The man on the stairs was searching for a valuable brooch that Jane had advised Mrs Temple to find a hiding place for. Later, after Jane has inherited the brooch from Mrs Temple, she finds herself targeted by the intruder.

Cast

Critical reception

The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "The incredible stupidity of a murderer who reveals his identity to the audience at the outset, stolid performances and routine characterisation and situations all conspire to rob this second feature of interest and distinction." [3]

According to the Radio Times , "Coming between Bachelor of Hearts and Village of the Damned , this is one of Wolf Rilla's lesser efforts. However, he conjures up a pleasing sense of menace that anticipates Wait until Dark as he subjects blind telephonist Patricia Dainton to the murderous machinations of a prowler. As so often in thrillers of this kind, much depends on contrivance and the script might have concealed its hand with a little more artfulness. But Dainton's performance is superior to that seen in the majority of British Bs." [4]

TV Guide finds the film "standard and predictable," though "Dainton gives a nice performance". [5]

NoirWorthWatching describes the film as "efficiently directed," and concludes that "in many ways [it] is more of a movie than its 62-minute length might suggest. Very much worth watching." [6]

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References

  1. ↑ Chibnall, Steve; McFarlane, Brian (2009). The British 'B' Film. London: BFI/Bloomsbury. p. 401. ISBN   978-1-8445-7319-6.
  2. ↑ "Witness in the Dark". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
  3. ↑ "Witness in the Dark". The Monthly Film Bulletin . 27 (312): 12. 1 January 1960 – via ProQuest.
  4. ↑ "Witness in the Dark – review - cast and crew, movie star rating and where to watch film on TV and online". Radio Times.
  5. ↑ "Witness In The Dark". TVGuide.com.
  6. ↑ "WITNESS IN THE DARK (1959)". noirworthwatching.blogspot.co.uk.
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