The Man Who Wouldn't Talk (1940)

A man involved in a crime (Nolan) kills his key witness by mistake and resigns himself to death. He changes his name so as not to harm his family. The law is not content with his ... See full summary »

Director:

David Burton

Writers:

Robert Ellis, Edward Ettinger,

Stars:

Lloyd Nolan, Jean Rogers, Richard Clarke

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Lloyd Nolan	...	Joe Monday
Jean Rogers	...	Alice Stetson
Richard Clarke	...	Steve Phillips
Onslow Stevens	...	Frederick Keller
Eric Blore	...	Horace Parker
Joan Valerie	...	Miss Norton
Mae Marsh	...	Mrs. Stetson
Paul Stanton	...	Attorney Cluett
Douglas Wood	...	Walker
Irving Bacon	...	Paul Gillis
Lester Sharpe	...	Henri Picot (as Lester Scharff)
Harlan Briggs	...	Foreman in Jury
Elisabeth Risdon	...	Jury Member (as Elizabeth Risdon)
Renie Riano	...	Lilly Wigham

Storyline

A man involved in a crime (Nolan) kills his key witness by mistake and resigns himself to death. He changes his name so as not to harm his family. The law is not content with his explanation, however.

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Plot Keywords:

based on play

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Taglines:

WHO is the man without a past?... WHAT secret sealed his lips?

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Genres:

Crime | Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 January 1940 (USA)

Also Known As:

Manden, der ikke ville tale

Filming Locations:

20th Century Fox Studios - 10201 Pico Blvd., Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

74 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA High Fidelity Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Remake of The Valiant (1929)

User Reviews

A Big-Budget "B"!

Even by Fox's handsome standards, production values for this "B" from the Sol Wurtzel unit rate as commendably high. True, this unusual, compellingly off-beat murder/courtroom drama (partly scripted by Fox's ace Ellis-Logan team) is inclined to be a bit talky, but the acting is fine. Just look at that cast! The support players enjoy some real moments of glory here, particularly Irving Bacon as a swaggering raconteur, and Eric Blore mugging delightfully as a simpering servant.

My only complaint is that director David Burton, or film editor Alex Troffey, have a disconcerting habit of jarringly cutting into a full-face close-up from a profiled two-shot. In other respects, however, the direction is most efficient and the photography commendably crisp.