Review by All Movie Guide
All Movie Guide
is neutral about it.
A minor but entertaining
film noir thriller, Witness to Murder is elevated by the bravura performance of the always dependable
Barbara Stanwyck, as well as solid work from
George Sanders in a familiar vein.
Witness is kept from the "A" list of
noir films by its rather pedestrian screenplay. Its starting point -- a person sees a murder and no one believes him/her -- has certainly been made to work to great effect in other films (see
Rear Window, released the same year), but here it comes across as "well-worn" rather than "time honored." However, there are a number of interesting twists and turns (as well as some that try too hard and test a viewer's suspension of disbelief), as well as some good, punchy dialogue and the major set pieces do give the cast a good deal to work with. Stanwyck makes the most of these, setting her jaw firmly against those who would deny her justice, and using those luminous, liquid eyes so that only an actor as bland as
Gary Merrill could resist her. Director
Roy Rowland also gets a big boost from
John Alton's moody cinematography, a feast of shadows and key lights that never misses an opportunity to throw slashes of darkness across the screen. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide