Witness in the Dark

Witness in the Dark is a 1959 British second feature^[2] crime drama film directed by Wolf Rilla, and starring Patricia Dainton, Conrad Phillips, Madge Ryan and Nigel Green.^[3] It was written by Leigh Vance and John Lemont and produced by Norman Williams (Patricia Dainton's husband).

Witness in the Dark
British theatrical poster
Directed by	Wolf Rilla
Screenplay by	Leigh Vance John Lemont
Based on	an original play by James Parish
Produced by	Norman Williams
Starring	Patricia Dainton Conrad Phillips Madge Ryan Nigel Green
Cinematography	Brendan J. Stafford
Edited by	Bernard Gribble
Music by	Philip Green
Production companies	Alliance Film Distributors Limited (present) Sydney Box Associates (present) Ethiro Productions
Distributed by	Rank Film Distributors (UK)[1]
Release date	December 1959 (1959-12) (UK)
Running time	62 min
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English

Plot

Jane Pringle, a blind telephone operator, is going to visit her elderly neighbour Mrs Temple when she brushes against a man who tries to sneak past her on the stairs and does not respond when she asks who is there. Jane goes up to Mrs Temple's flat and finds her murdered. The man on the stairs was searching for a valuable brooch that Jane had advised Mrs Temple to find a hiding place for. Later, after Jane has inherited the 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 Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "The incredible stupidity of a murderer who reveals his identity to the audience at the outset, stolid performances and routine characterisation and situations all conspire to rob this second feature of interest and distinction."^[4]

According to the Radio Times, "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."^[5]

TV Guide finds the film "standard and predictable," though "Dainton gives a nice performance".^[6]

NoirWorthWatching describes the film as "efficiently directed," and concludes that "in many ways [it] is more of a movie than its 62-minute length might suggest. Very much worth watching."^[7]