The Witness Chair

Predictable, talky, unsuspenseful courtroom drama, with Walter Abel held for murdering business partner Douglas Dumbrille, while secretary Ann Harding obviously knows there's more to it. Some fun supporting players, notably Margaret Hamilton as an office busybody, and it's over in 64 minutes. And while an unambiguous happy ending is impossible, it does have a hopeful one. But it has little really going for it but Ann, who, as always, is dedicated and interesting, with a certain... stillness that suggests a woman who's thinking all the time. She didn't like this one much, and she was right. But she's the only reason to watch.

From 1936, The Witness Chair stars Ann Harding and is directed by George Nichols, Jr.

At first, the death of Stanley Whittaker looks like suicide. He has a gun, and there is a confession, typewritten and signed, admitting that he had embezzled $75,000 from his company.

However, as Lieutenant Poole and his assistant Costigan continue their investigation, they decide it's murder. They arrest James Trent, whose owned the gun that killed Whitaker.

In court, Paula Young (Ann Harding) Whittaker's secretary, in love with James, give testimony concerning James's activities on the day of the murder. Paula knew that Whittaker bribed the company accountant, Henshaw, to redo the books so that James would be blamed for the embezzlement.

Paula, though, has two secrets. She wasv in the office the night of the murder. Also, James's daughter, Connie had come to her apartment on the same evening and confesses she almost ran off to Europe with Whittaker.

The denouement was easy to figure out. The courtroom scenes were a little annoying. When you recall a witness, you remind them they're still under oath. In this film, they were constantly re-swearing people in.

Ann Harding hated the script and tried to quit the film but stayed with it after the studio threatened a lawsuit. It was a good cast, and while talky, it wasn't a bad script.

One of the problems with a lot of courtroom dramas of the 1930s -- and this one in particular -- is that they are mysteries. Now mysteries make good stories and good movies, since they have usually have a fast start -- someone is killed -- and a definite plot -- the detection of the guilty. But when they take place in the courtroom, as does this one, they are largely composed of showing that the accused person did not do it -- and what does that say about all the people involved in the investigation and the prosecution? It results in a certain amount of idiot plotting and I always find that annoying. Lawyers do not ask questions they do not know the answer to, and people do not pop up to confess that they shot the dead man, Perry Mason notwithstanding.

Nonetheless, this movie is not awful, and it is largely due to the work of the actors involved. Walter Abel, as the accused, and Ann Harding, as the secretary who loves him, are fine actors and manage to bring a semblance of emotional reality, if not verisimilitude to this piece of tripe. Not enough to make it worthwhile -- both actors have been much better served -- but enough to keep you watching to the hackneyed end.

Thanks to TCM for showing these long retired oldies. Popular all over again. There's actually a story within the story about this B film. Ann Harding, known for being very selective about her roles, grew dissatisfied with the script and threatened producers at RKO she would quit. They, in turn, threatened to sue her for production costs, amounting to tens of thousands of dollars. Ann went back to work. The irony is she convinced producers to buy the script.

Written by Rian James (known for 42ND STREET), likely patterned after Warner Brothers PERRY MASON series at the time, starring Warren William. Harding plays the secretary to businessman Mr. Whittaker (played by Douglass Dumbrille), who is shot and killed in his office. His body is discovered the next day and it's Ann's beau (Walter Abel), a business partner, who is charged with the crime -- although Ann could have easily been charged herself.

An interesting court trial (a la Perry Mason) follows, incorporating flashbacks and it gets complicated, particularly with $75,000 dollars in stake and the fact Whittaker had a gal friend on the side. All the actors shine here, although it's a shame Dumbrille had a smaller role as the victim. A marvelous dramatic actor. Ann Harding does a fine job on the witness stand as you would expect. She briefly retired the following year to marry a symphony conductor.

Fun Notes; Look for DEAD END KID and BOWERY BOY Billy Benedict as Benny and Margaret Hamilton in a bit role, shortly before fame as the Wicked Witch in the WIZARD OF OZ. Paul Harvey plays the prosecuting attorney, a role he was so good at, reminding you a bit of Hamilton Burger from Perry Mason.

Directed by George Nicholls, Jr., a noted film editor, who tragically died in a car accident a few years later.

On remastered dvd. Shop the Warner Brothers dvd and blu ray site for new additions.

The Witness Chair (1936)

** 1/2 (out of 4)

Late one night Paula Young (Ann Harding) sneaks out of her boss' (Douglass Dumbrille) office, locking the door behind her and sneaking down the stairs so that no one sees her leave. The next morning his body is found in what appears to be a suicide but the police inspector (Moroni Olsen) thinks something isn't adding up and charges the man's partner (Walter Abel) with murder. THE WITNESS CHAIR has this "plot" shown in the first half and then the second half of the picture takes place as people take the witness stand and give their testimony on what they know. We are then shown flashbacks to the events leading up to what really happened. Fans of Turner Classic Movies like myself probably record countless "B" mysteries early in the morning and like most, this one here doesn't offer anything new to the genre but it's entertaining enough to make it worth viewing. I thought the format of the movie was actually quite good. The way the flashbacks happened from the witness stand was an effective way to tell a story but some of the testimony seems to happen to help keep the film moving and if you stop and think about it, some of the testimony shows action that the one testifying couldn't have possible known. The performances from the entire cast certainly help as well. Harding is good as the strong witness holding back some information and what she did the night she sneaks out of the building. Olsen was a lot of fun early on as he investigates the crime. Future Dead End Kid William Benedict gets a few funny moments and Margaret Hamilton is good in her small role. Again, nothing new is done with the picture and there are certain some dry moments, which isn't good in a 64-minute film. I won't spoil anything but the ending is also horrendously awful. Still, fans of the genre should still enjoy the film.