Review of Witness to Murder (1954) by Allan C — 17 Dec 2011

Starring great character actors; Barbara Stanwyck and George Sanders, shot by Roy Rowland (Our Vines Have Tender Grapes), I actually expected slightly more of this.

Stanwyck plays an artist, Cheryl Draper, who, through her window, witness her neighbor, Albert Richter, killing a young woman. She calls the police, but they find nothing suspicious in his house that could testify that there has been a crime committed. So the result is that the police believes Cheryl is mad, and they won't take her seriously even after when she claims that Mr. Richter is persecuting her.

Stanwyck is doing her usual "hysterically afraid woman, being persecuted by criminal, and the police don't believe her"-routine. She does it great. And I absolutely love seeing George Sanders playing a vicious Nazi, just as convincing as ever!

But to put it short, this ain't nothing that we haven't seen before. I have to agree with critic, Dan Callahan, that it gives an impression that it was shot during a single weekend, or something like that. They certainly could have put some more effort into it!

The plot reminds a lot of HItchcock's Rear Window, but keep in mind that this movie, actually came first!

So DO watch The Mad Miss Manton or Rear Window, rather than this, and you won't be disappointed.

I think Witness To Murder, today, is mainly for Stanwyck-fans.