Witness to Murder (1954)

"Witness to Murder" is a modest but entertaining thriller with some sensational cinematography and a couple of conspicuously good performances by Barbara Stanwyck, Gary Merrill, and George Sanders that more than compensate for its rather unbelievable plot. Only 81 minutes long, the story doesn't contain many twists but it’s impossible not to become involved with Stanwyck’s plight. She’s reported a murderer, but the Police think she’s a kook, and the killer a nice guy! Further, many scenes are suspenseful and well done. Unfortunately, the whole thing ends abruptly, as if the screenwriters ran out of time, and had to end the film.

George Sanders is tremendous and convincingly plays a sophisticated LA author who's actually a callous killer. He only fails when his character absurdly breaks into Germanic Nazi-speak – all that’s missing is the Seig Heil!*  Barbara Stanwyck is excellent as the determined woman seeking justice, but also has well-played moments of weakness. Gary Merrill lends excellent support as the sympathetic, highly intelligent, policeman.

Other pluses? Some good cinematography which enhances the mood. Cons? The music is intrusive and way overdone. Rating ** 1/2 

Notes
* = It says something about Hollywood, that in the midst of the Cold War, with the Korean War - with 50,000 dead Americans - just ended,  they couldn't make the villain a Communist. Instead Sanders is a ridiculous Santa Monica Nazi - he even quotes Hegel and Nietzsche !