The Fatal Witness (1945)

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.

The Fatal Witness (1945)A Republic Pictures low budget flick, and it shows, even with the opening music which is a strain. However (and this is always the case with a B-movie that has survived the years and made it to Netflix), there are some interesting aspects here, and like most of them it is blessedly short.One of the nice things here is the standard hook--there's a murder afoot, and we are in on the guessing and analyzing as we go. The acting is decent, the filming straight forward if unexciting. It's a British affair unofficially (officially both the director is American and of course Republic is, too), and like many Brit films, it talks a lot (replacing action with chitcat). But it's not stupid, and you might enjoy poking along with it. It is set in London and Scotland Yard gets to work investigating the death of the old aunt with all her supposed wealth.The leading suspect is the nephew of the deceased, and he is a sparkle in this musty cast--George Leigh, who only did a handful of films and is a bit affected, but he adds life to the whole thing. As does the maid, and the leading lady, Evelyn Ankers, a Chilean born British actress with the standard convincing credentials (but without anything remarkable about her). Ankers is famous for her roles in many horror films, including the original "Wolf Man" a few years before.In all, the plot thickens and there is not only murder but blackmail, and London fog, and a decent policeman who is after the leading lady as much as the criminal. Unfortunately he seems to know things too easily. And there is an efficiency to the events that isn't quite dramatic or convincing enough. It is frankly a B-movie through and through. And it has a crazy twist of an ending, sort of worth it just for the trick of it.

Stuffy rich old aunt, Lady Feruson has had it up to here with her in-residence nephew John whom she is sure stole her emerald brooch so tomorrow she is cutting him out of her will as her major beneficiary. Well, that really ticks John off so he heads for his favorite pub, gets drunk and disorderly and ends up in the clink for the night. Upon his release the next morning he learns someone has bumped old auntie off. Bad show, but since he was in the hoosegow all night he's got an airtight alibi...or does he? Enter dashing, debonair, suave, tall, handsome, perfectly dressed and groomed Scotland Yard Inspector Trent. Trent knows despite his seemingly flawless alibi, nephew John is responsible for auntie's croak. He sets out to prove it and of course he is right because he is dashing, debonair, etc, etc. Suave Trent proves nephew John strangled auntie and woo's and wins the proverbial female romantic interest to boot. All's well that ends well. I love old black and white British pot boilers like this and this one fills the bill simply and perfectly.

Not much to say about this film. Produced by Republic Studios, directed by the prolific western maker Lesley Selander, short and sharp, this little movie doesn't surprise after all. It takes you awake an hour long. The scheme of the perfect murder, and the perfect alibi too. A rich heir murders his aunt and tries to prevent police force to suspect him. And then a blackmailer is coming. The pain in the ass for the killer. He has to get rid of him...I love this kind of tales, better than the innocent trying to prove his no guiltiness.Only there is no action sequences in this film. Much talk. But it's not boring. As all Republic movies.