Your Witness

Robert Montgomery's final screen appearance,which he also directed,is a slow moving mystery which spends far too much of the running time on irrelevant scenes pointing up the supposed differences between the British and American character. Montgomery meets a gallery of UK stereotypes such as garrulous publican,dim witted police sergeant and stuffy judge.

The plot concerns RM travelling to England to help clear an old army buddy of a murder charge. There is some mild suspense during the last twenty minutes when the identity of a secret witness is revealed. Leading lady Patricia Cutts (called Patrcia Wayne here) is one of those rather horsey English blondes with a cut glass accent. Her acting is rather stilted and there is little chemistry between her and Montgomery. It's a far cry from his wonderful acting/direction job on Lady In The Lake.

Robert Montgomery, by 1950 better known as an actor than as a director, takes on both duties in EYE WITNESS (or YOUR WITNESS, in the US movie circuit) - and I have to say that he does remarkably well.

To that end, he is ably assisted by the UK postwar-evocative cinematography of Gerald Gibbs, and screenplay by Hugo Butler and Ian Hunter, telling of US Major and lawyer Adam Heyward flying to the UK to save from the gallows a UK Army sergeant who had saved his life behind German lines during World War II.

Of course, upon arrival in the UK he finds that the English spoken there is different (some chuckles at the interpretation of words and expressions), that lawyers and judges dress and address colleagues and the public rather more formally than in Uncle Sam, and he meets a host of British characters played by supporting thespians of the highest grade, including Michael Ripper as the wrongly accused friend Heyward does his utmost to rescue from the noose, Felix Aylmer as judge, James Hayter as trial witness, Stanley Baker as a copper, Leslie Banks as Colonel Summerfield, pretty Shelagh Fraser as Ellen Foster, and many others in a supporting cast bristling with talent and sobriety to give the film an authentic British background.

Montgomery delivers a quietly effective performance, bemused at times, serious at other times, always with an eye on stunningly beautiful Patricia Wayne.

Though perhaps 10-15 minutes longer than it needed to be, dialogue is interesting throughout, B&W photography highly accomplished, especially the bucolic setting, which the extremely pleasant score by Malcolm Arnold only enhances.

After showing courage in directing and acting in LADY IN THE LAKE four years ealier, in which he appeared only in reflections in the mirror, Montgomery comes full circle as a talented director in this his final film, before turning to TV work.

Certainly worth watching.

I'm frequently amazed by the low scores, and detrimental reviews about older films on here.

Some films have you gripping the seat of your chair, others have plenty of whooping and hollering - this was comfortable armchair viewing, where you could almost smell the hay, the stables, and the flowers in the village church.

This might have a somewhat predictable storyline, but the softened focus and beautiful locations further enhance the performance by an excellent cast of recognisable characters.

The transition from bustling streets in the States, contrasts beautifully with the tinkling of bicycle bells in a quintessential English village, as the lead character enters the local inn - run by Mr Memory, from The 39 Steps.

The livery stables are as I remember some from the 1950s, with overhanging ivy, and leaning gates - in fact the portrayal of a post war village is perfectly played.

Having a somewhat predictable plot provides a suitable vehicle for an experienced and talented cast, to display their talents and ability to a greater effect - giving impeccable and almost imperceptible nuances to their characters and portrayals.

There was ample time for the enjoyment of these performances, whilst still absorbing the plot line, the anticipated conclusion in the courtroom, and the final scenes around the magnificent house and garden.

I adore Robert Montgomery. He was a totally classy guy without being self-consciously so.

Here he plays a tough NYC attorney who is urged by his secretary to not just send money to the man who saved his life in the war but to cross the Atlantic to assist in his defense.

Montgomery directed and while there's a blessed minimum of cutesy quaintness added in the English village setting, it has a consistently British "literacy" bordering on wordiness, perhaps not out of place in courtroom scenes. It's all very low key and well done. Robert Montgomery had not lost any of his style since his early days and is still wry and bemused in one of his final acting roles.

I watch a lot of 40's and 50's films these days and I caught this on TPTV, a great channel for older movies and TV shows..... I thought this might be the typical fayre of these British films with a 'high profile' American actor, this was not the case.

There's some great humour regarding the language differences and the very different way of life of the English countryside..... the court scenes also highlight this chasm between America and Britain at this time. Indeed, it still happens today but not to such an extent. I recall myself when in the USA, struggling to get a cup of coffee because the staff couldn't understand my London accent or another guy asking me what I thought of the hire car I was driving, it was the newest model and thinking I was a local he asked me what was new about this model, to which I replied that "I didn't know because it was a hire car"..... he looked at me for a moment and then asked " How much higher is it..?" ..... to which I burst out laughing and he left quite indignantly, thinking I was laughing at him ...!

This film highlights these differences in a humorous and also frustrating way, for all involved.... The American star is also not typical in that he doesn't start solving clues or bulldozing through people to find the truth.... He's just an ordinary guy who adapts and because of that, he is able to gain people's trust and confidence.... That I think is highlighted in the final scene from the court proceedings and the manner in which he teased out the vital testimony of the 'star' witness .... and most importantly in the final scenes after the court case is over...

It's a good story and kept me interested and enjoying throughout..... Robert Montgomery was also the director and I think that this as well as his role as the star made this film all the better..... a very different film than most of the time and because of that well worth watching....