Hostile Witness ** (1968, Ray Milland, Sylvia Syms, Felix Aylmer) – Classic Movie Review 7923

Ray Milland directs the 1968 film of the British courtroom drama play by Jack Roffey which he had earlier appeared in successfully on Broadway, with Roffey writing his own screenplay. It was filmed at Shepperton Studios, Surrey, England.

Milland also stars in Hostile Witness as distinguished barrister Simon Crawford Q C, who loses his daughter in a hit-and-run accident, vows
revenge, and is later arrested, accused of the murder of the motorist who killed his daughter.

Hostile Witness also stars Sylvia Sims as junior barrister Sheila Larkin, Felix Aylmer as Justice Osborne, Raymond Huntley as John Naylor and Julian Holloway as Percy.

It is well-carpentered, solid, old-fashioned entertainment, with a good cast of expert acting veterans to spice it up, and paper over any cracks in the twisty drama or the stagey material.

Also in the cast are Geoffrey Lumsden as old military man Major Hugh Beresford Maitland, Norman Barrs as Charles Milburn, Percy Marmont as Justice Matthew Gregory, Dulcie Bowman as Lady Phyllis Gregory, Ewan Roberts as Hamish Gillespie, Richard Hurndall as Superintendent Eley, Richard Hurndall as Superintendent Eley, Sandra Tallent as Joanna Crawford, Maggie Rennie as Julia Kelly, Ballard Berkeley as Clerk of Court and Ronald Leigh-Hunt as Dr Wimborne.

It was released in November 1968 in the UK.

The Broadway play opened at the Music Box Theatre, 239 West 45th Street, on 17 February 1966 and ran for 156 performances till 2 July 1966.

 It is the fifth and final film of Milland’s directorial efforts.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 7923

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