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Witness in the Dark
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Wikipedia article
'Witness in the Dark' is a 1959 British crime drama film directed by Wolf Rilla and starring Patricia Dainton, Conrad Phillips, Madge Ryan, and Nigel Green.
It was produced by Patricia Dainton's husband, Norman Williams (producer).
Premise
Blind telephone operator Jane Pringle (Patricia Dainton) is present when her neighbour, elderly Mrs. Temple (Enid Lorimer), is murdered by an intruder (Nigel Green) searching for a jewelled brooch. On the staircase, Jane brushes against the killer as he runs away. Later, when Jane inherits the valuable brooch from Mrs. Temple, she finds herself targeted by the intruder.
Cast
* Patricia Dainton as Jane Pringle
* Conrad Phillips as Inspector Coates
* Madge Ryan as Mrs. Finch
* Nigel Green as the Intruder
* Enid Lorimer as Mrs. Temple
* Richard O'Sullivan as Don Theobald
* Stuart Saunders as Mr. Finch
* Noel Trevarthen as Sergeant Jones
* Maureen O'Reilly as Sophie Trellan
* Ian Colin as Superintendent Thompson
* Larry Burns as Carter
* Ann Wrigg as Woman Neighbour
* Frazer Hines as Newsboy
Critical reception
The 'Radio Times' wrote, "Coming between 'Bachelor of Hearts' and 'Village of the Damned', this is one of Wolf Rilla's lesser efforts. However, he conjures up a pleasing sense of menace that anticipates 'Wait until Dark' as he subjects blind telephonist Patricia Dainton to the murderous machinations of a prowler. As so often in thrillers of this kind, much depends on contrivance and the script might have concealed its hand with a little more artfulness. But Dainton's performance is superior to that seen in the majority of British Bs"; 'TV Guide' on the other hand, found it "Standard and predictable," though agreed that "Dainton gives a nice performance"; while 'NoirWorthWatching' described the film as "efficiently directed," and concluded that it "in many ways is more of a movie than its 62-minute length might suggest. Very much worth watching."
References
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