Your Witness

As director, Robert Montgomery displays considerable intelligence here, using a leisurely pace and disarming comedy relief in emphasizing British versus American conversation. When those crucial scenes central to the main story and high drama come to pass, they are all the more effective by way of contrast. The kid on the witness stand is as potent as "Witness for the Prosecution" with Dietrich by Billy Wilder years later (Agatha Christie's play was first produced in 1953).

In his final movie role as actor, Montgomery impressively dominates the screen as protagonist in nearly every scene, investigating the case and interacting, sometimes comically but potently as the show's drama escalates. Similarly, the supporting performances by Patricia Cutts, stepdaughter Ann Stephens and Leslie Banks move from low-key to powerful and poignant by the eventful final reel.

In his final film Robert Montgomery's boredom is only too apparent in this uninvolving courtroom drama that however boasts a cast that manages to include both Leslie Banks and Stanley Baker.

It bears a striking resemblance to the similarly titled 'Hostile Witness' (also directed by and starring a visitor from Hollywood, on that occasion Ray Milland), even down to the judge being played by Felix Aylmer; the later film's most obvious concession to the passage of time being that that was in colour.

American lawyer Robert Montgomery learns Michael Ripper, who saved his life during the war, is being tried for murder and flies to Britain to help out. He learns that Ripper claims that although he shot the murdered man, who threatened him with a gun. The gun has vanished, but there seems to have been a witness whom no one can identify.

It's more an actor's show than a movie, with Montgomery offering his last theatrical performance -- he also directed . It's certainly watchable throughout, but little more. With Leslie Banks, Felix Aylmer, Jenny Laird and James Hayter.

This thriller moves at a snail's pace towards its very predictable conclusion.The first half of the film dwells on differences between American and British court procedures.This film was not only the swan song Of Robert Montgomery but also Leslie Banks.There is a brief glimpse of Stanley Baker at the early stages of his career.It is difficult though to realise that the Robert Montgomery who directed this film is the same one who directed the impressive Lady In the Lake.The fact that this was his last film wad probably more to do with the fact that he had bigger fish to fry.In any event at his age he was unlikely to attract many leading roles.Produced by Hitchcock colleague Joan Harrison.

"Your Witness" was made at the Toddington Studio owned by Warner Brothers. Several US film companies set up studios in the UK because of a British law mandating a certain percentage of the movies shown in theaters would be made domestically. And, like many of these productions, an American prestige actor appeared in the film....and in this case, Robert Montgomery not only starred in it but directed as well.

The story begins in the States and Adam Heyward (Montgomery) learns that an old British war buddy has been arrested for murder! Adam drops everything and heads to the UK to see what help he can provide. While Adam also is a lawyer, he cannot defend this friend in church because he doesn't have any standing (privileges) in British courts. Instead, he investigates and spends much of his time looking for a supposed witness who can verify that the killing was done in self-defense.

This is a film that is the epitome of competent. It's not a great film nor a bad one...just a well made one that is worth seeing, particularly if you like Montgomery. Worth seeing.