Your Witness [Eye Witness] *** (1950, Robert Montgomery, Leslie Banks, Patricia Cutts, Felix Aylmer, Andrew Cruickshank) – Classic Movie Review 11,700

Director/ star Robert Montgomery’s proficient and enjoyable 1950 British black and white thriller Your Witness [Eye Witness] is a tidily made, nicely acted courtroom drama and culture clash movie.

Montgomery stars as leading American lawyer Adam Heyward, who arrives in Britain to try to save his old friend from the Second World War Colonel, Roger Summerfield (Leslie Banks), from hanging for murder.

The star directs himself – rather well and efficiently, too – and there is a nifty Brit support cast of the period to relish.

It also features Patricia Cutts, Felix Aylmer and Andrew Cruickshank. It was released in the US as Eye Witness.

Patricia Cutts, who plays Alex Summerfield, Roger Summerfield’s sister in law, is billed as Patricia Wayne. She was found dead in her London flat on 6 September 1974, aged 48. The inquest verdict was suicide by barbiturate poisoning. She was the daughter of writer/ director Graham Cutts.

Films directed by Robert Montgomery: Lady in the Lake (1947), Ride the Pink Horse (1947), Once More, My Darling (1949), Your Witness (1950) and The Gallant Hours (1960).

The cast are Robert Montgomery as Adam Heyward, Leslie Banks as Colonel Summerfield, Felix Aylmer as The Judge, Andrew Cruickshank as Sir Adrian Horth KC, Patricia Cutts as Alex Summerfield, Harcourt Williams as Richard Beamish, Jenny Laird as Mary Baxter, Michael Ripper as Samuel ‘Sam’ Baxter, Ann Stephens as Catherine Ann ‘Sandy’ Summerfield, Wylie Watson as Mr Widgery, Red Lion Proprietor, Noel Howlett as Martin Foxglove KC, Sam’s Barrister, James Hayter as Prouty, John Sharp as Police Constable Hawkins, Shelagh Fraser as Ellen Foster, Dandy Nichols as Waitress, Stanley Baker as Sergeant Bannoch, Erik Chitty as Clerk of the Court, Amy Dalby as Mrs Widgely, Wensley Pithey as Alfred, Hal Osmond as Taxi Driver, John Sharp, Ruth Lee, Philip Dale, Derrick Penley, Richard Wattis and Lyonel Watts.

Your Witness [Eye Witness] is directed by Robert Montgomery, runs 102 minutes, is made by Coronado Productions, is released by Eagle-Lion (US) and Warner Bros (UK), is written by Hugo Butler (screenplay), Ian McLellan Hunter (screenplay), William Douglas Home (additional dialogue) and Joan Harrison (screenplay) (uncredited), is shot by Gerald Gibbs, is produced by David E Rose and Joan Harrison, is scored by Malcolm Arnold, and is designed by Ralph W Brinton.

 © Derek Winnert 2021 Classic Movie Review 11,700

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