Hostile Witness
| Hostile Witness | |
|---|---|
 Detail of original British quad poster | |
| Directed by | Ray Milland |
| Screenplay by | Jack Roffey |
| Based on | playHostile Witnessby Jack Roffey |
| Produced by | David E. Rose |
| Starring | Ray Milland Sylvia Syms |
| Cinematography | Gerald Gibbs |
| Edited by | Bernard Gribble |
| Music by | Wilfred Josephs |
Production company | Caralan Productions Ltd. (as Caralan-Dador) |
| Distributed by | United Artists |
Release date |
|
Running time | 101 mins |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
Hostile Witnessis a 1968 British courtroom drama film based on a play by Jack Roffey, directed byRay Milland(who had appeared in the play onBroadway) and starring Milland,Sylvia Syms,Raymond HuntleyandJulian Holloway.[1][2][3]
Plot
[edit]A distinguished barrister finds himself on the wrong side of the law when accused of the murder of the motorist who killed his daughter.[4]
Cast
[edit]- Ray Millandas Simon Crawford, Q.C.
- Sylvia Symsas Sheila Larkin
- Felix Aylmeras Justice Osborne
- Raymond Huntleyas John Naylor
- Geoffrey Lumsdenas Major Hugh Beresford Maitland
- Norman Barrsas Charles Milburn
- Julian Hollowayas Percy
- Percy Marmontas Justice Matthew Gregory
- Dulcie Bowmanas Lady Phyllis Gregory
- Ewan Robertsas Hamish Gillespie
- Richard Hurndallas Superintendent Eley
- Ronald Leigh-Huntas Dr. Wimborne
Production
[edit]The play debuted in 1964 starringMichael Denisonand transferred to the West End.[5]
Jay Julien bought the production rights to stage the play in the United States. In 1965,Ray Millandagreed to appear in the play in New York. It was Milland's first theatrical appearance in some years, apart from appearing in a road version ofMy Fair Lady.[6]
The New York Timescalled it "serviceable".[7]The show had a capitalisation of $125,000 and ended on July 2 after 157 performances. Milland then took the play on tour.[8]TheLos Angeles Timescalled the production "absorbing, completely satisfactory, and wholly successful thriller."[9]
In March 1967, it was announced that Milland would star in and direct a film version forEdward SmallandUnited Artists.[10]Shooting began in London in July 1967 withDavid Roseproducing.[11]
Critical reception
[edit]The Monthly Film Bulletinwrote: "Coming after the somewhat off-beat films Ray Milland has been associated with in recent years, this present piece seems an entirely conventional and unprofitable choice. Based on a play which manages to include all the hoary clichés of court-room drama, it is weighed down by extremely lifeless direction and the kind of acting associated with the lower rungs of radio drama. Milland's own performance consists mainly of worried closeups, and the few moments of tension at the end when the murderer is revealed are hardly worth the wait."[12]
DVD Talkwrote: "It's not terrible and has its moments, butBilly Wilder'sWitness for the Prosecutionor your average episode ofRumpole of the Baileyis a lot more fun. "[13]
The entry inHalliwell's Film Guidestates: "Complex courtroom thriller, filmed in a flatly boring way with stagey sets and performances. The plot is the only interest".[14]
A review in theRadio Timesby Joanna Berry described it as an "interesting but ultimately disappointing tale", which Berry considered "missable".[15]
References
[edit]- ^"Hostile Witness".British Film Institute Collections Search.Retrieved14 August2024.
- ^"Hostile Witness (1968)".Archived fromthe originalon 14 January 2009.
- ^The Broadway League."Hostile Witness – Broadway Play – Original".IBDb.
- ^"Hostile Witness (1968) – Ray Milland – Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related".AllMovie.
- ^Cole, Ronald (13 October 1964). "review: Erroll Garner at Leicester".The Guardian.p. 9.
- ^William Glover. (9 January 1966). "'Lost Weekend' Irks the 'Witness'".The Washington Post.p. G2.
- ^STANLEY KAUFFMANN. (8 February 1966). "Theater: Milland in 'Hostile Witness': Courtroom Melodrama Is at the Music Box".New York Times.p. 26.
- ^SAM ZOLOTOW. (22 June 1966). "KENTUCKY OFFERS 2 BOONE PAGEANTS: Rival Productions Staged in Harrodsburg and Berea".New York Times.p. 37.
- ^Smith, Cecil. (16 September 1966). "'Hostile Witness' Superbly Performed ".Los Angeles Times.p. C13.
- ^"'Hostile Witness' to Be Filmed ".New York Times.27 March 1967. p. 41.
- ^Martin, Betty (31 August 1967). "Barbra's Husband to Debut".Los Angeles Times.p. c13.
- ^"Hostile Witness".The Monthly Film Bulletin.37(432): 147. 1 January 1970 – via ProQuest.
- ^"Hostile Witness".DVD Talk.
- ^Halliwell, Leslie (1985) [1983].Halliwell's Film Guide.London: Granada. p. 663.,Halliwell, Leslie; Walker, John (1999).Halliwell's Film & Video Guide 2000.London: HarperCollins. p. 391.
- ^Berry, Joanna."Hostile Witness".Radio Times.Retrieved22 March2022.
External links
[edit]- Hostile WitnessatIMDb
- Hostile Witnessat Letterboxd
- Hostile Witnessat BFI
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