The Fatal Witness

Wealthy Barbara Everest is murdered, and Scotland Yard inspector Richard Fraser knows just who did it: Miss Everest's nephew and heir, rotter George Leigh. The problem is that Leigh was in a jail cell for being drunk when the murder took place.

There's a decent cast, including Evelyn Ankers, but there's an amazing amount of talking around an unsolvable problem for the first 50 minutes of this movie, and the solution isn't reall solved; there's no offering of how he did it. Lesley Selander take a break from horse operas to direct this this one, and while competent as always, can't bring out anything of interest because I suspect, nothing is there.

To be fair to director Lesley Selander, he packs quite a bit into this whodunit. We know that "Lady Elizabeth" (Barbara Everest) has lost her precious emerald brooch, and that she suspects her ne'er-do-well nephew "John" (George Leigh) of pinching it. He denies the accusation when he finds her searching his room with "Priscilla" (Evelyn Ankers) and storms out of the house. Next morning, the old bat is found dead and, naturally, "John" is prime suspect. Thing is though - he has an alibi, and it's the police who are providing it! He spent that very night face down in a cell recovering from too much Scotch. So, who did pinch the jewel and who murdered the old lady? That detection falls to Scotland Yard's finest "Trent" (Richard Fraser) who has to get to the bottom of things. It's not that simple to guess who did what to whom, but boy is there a lot of dialogue as the film progresses, taking us through quite a few unsavoury and devious characters - any one of whom might have done her in. The production is cheap and cheerful and the acting pretty static, but the story moves along well enough for an hour and though it's entirely forgettable, it's still not a bad watch.

When Lady Ferguson is murdered, her nephew John (George Leigh) is Scotland Yard's prime suspect. In spite of his air-tight alibi. The Yard's Inspector Trent (Richard Fraser) keeps John in the frame due to his bad relationship with his Aunt. John's arrogant attitude doesn't help him much either!

Enter Lady Ferguson's niece Priscilla Ames (Evelyn Ankers), who believes that John is innocent. Ms. Ankers plays Priscilla to be similar to her character in THE WOLFMAN. She's trusting and loyal.

THE FATAL WITNESS is an above average mystery with murder, blackmail, and more murder! Leigh is perfect in his dark role, as is Fraser as the dogged copper on his trail.

The finale is wholly unexpected and adds an air of spookiness to the proceedings...

Evelyn Ankers stars in "Fatal Witness," a 1945 British B mystery. Ankers plays the ward of an wealthy old woman (Barbara Everest), who distrusts her heir and nephew, John Bedford (George Leigh), and thinks that he stole her emerald broach. He denies it. She winds up dead. Bedford comes under immediate suspicion by the detective in charge, William Trent (Richard Fraser). However, Bedford has an ironclad alibi for the night and time his aunt was killed. Trent still thinks that somehow, he was responsible. Blackmail and another murder follow.

This is a Columbo-type film that is entertaining and uses the usual dry ice to indicate the London fog. Evelyn Akers was an attractive horror film actress who appeared in 'The Wolf Man" and several of the Rathbone "Sherlock Holmes" mysteries. She is pretty and serviceable here, as is the rest of the cast. George Leigh is kind of a Zachary Scott type and appropriately oily.

Enjoyable.

Young John Bedford fight with his wealthy old aunt Lady Elizabeth Ferguson, who is sure that he stole her emerald brooch; the next morning, Lady Elizabeth is found murdered. Scotland Yard Inspector William 'Bill' Trent is on the case and he thinks her nephew was behind it. But it turns out that John had been in jail all night because of public drunkenness.

So, who did pinch the jewel and who murdered the old lady? The inspector has his eye on John as does a Turnkey - who is asking for money to keep him from talking ...

The Fatal Witness lacks a little suspense and a little punch as well as letting the cat out of the bag regarding John's guilt early, but having said this, it's quite watchable with good performances by Evelyn Ankers and the actor who plays the suspected killer (the nephew of the old lady). There's a nice British atmosphere of London fog and unsavoury characters. The finale features a spooky unexpected twist ...