Hostile Witness (1969)

Ray Milland directed himself as a barrister whose daughter is killed in a "hit-and-run" accident. When his neighbor is also killed, evidence points to the barrister as a murderer.

Director:

Ray Milland (as R. Milland)

Writers:

Jack Roffey (screenplay), Jack Roffey (play)

Stars:

Ray Milland, Sylvia Syms, Felix Aylmer

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ray Milland	...	Simon Crawford - Q.C.
Sylvia Syms	...	Sheila Larkin
Felix Aylmer	...	Justice Osborne
Raymond Huntley	...	John Naylor
Geoffrey Lumsden	...	Major Hugh Beresford Maitland
Norman Barrs	...	Charles Milburn
Percy Marmont	...	Justice Matthew Gregory
Dulcie Bowman	...	Lady Phyllis Gregory
Ewan Roberts	...	Hamish Gillespie
Richard Hurndall	...	Supt. Eley
Ronald Leigh-Hunt	...	Dr. Wimborne
Sandra Tallent	...	Joanna Crawford (as Sandra Fehr)
Edward Waddy	...	Usher
Maggie Rennie	...	Julia Kelly (as Maggie McGrath)
Ballard Berkeley	...	Clerk of Court

Storyline

When the daughter of Simon Crawford, a successful barrister, is killed in what seems to be a hit and run accident, and the police are unable to find the culprit, Crawford swears that he will find the driver of the car, and take revenge. Later when his neighbour is killed in a staged burglary, the blame falls on Crawford, when a letter is found implicating the neighbour in the death of Crawford's daughter.

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Plot Keywords:

murder | police | british | courtroom | based on play | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

GP

Did You Know?

Trivia

Percy Marmont's final film.

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Quotes

Hamish Gillespie: Sheila seems a bit tensed up. What have you been saying to her?
Simon Crawford - Q.C.: Nothing that shouldn't have been said a long time ago. Here, help yourself to a delicious glass of water.

User Reviews

Don't look at the poster!

If you're thinking of watching this movie, avoid looking at its posters! The studio had the bad idea of producing some with images that give away info only revealed at the end! As of this writing, sources like IMDb and Amazon Prime feature this poster, so beware!

As for the movie, expect a solid but not outstanding courtroom thriller. Gets a little far-fetched. I was surprised to learn that actor Ray Milland did some directing, including this movie that he stars in. I enjoy old movies, so I didn't mind that this film feels like it was made by a journeyman in 1948 instead of 1968. The direction and most of the acting are simple. However, the set design and the late 60s color look rich. The Old Bailey sets could've come straight from Rumpole of the Bailey.

Of special note is Sylvia Sims, who gives the strongest performance as a competent young barrister.

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

28 June 1970 (UK)

Also Known As:

Hostile Witness

Filming Locations:

Shepperton Studios, Shepperton, Surrey, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Caralan Productions Ltd.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

101 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1