The Star Witness

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Movie
Original title The Star Witness
Country of production United States
original language English
Publishing year 1931
length 68 minutes
Rod
Director William A. Wellman
script Lucien Hubbard ,
Bud Barsky
music Alois Reiser
camera James Van Trees
cut Harold McLemon
occupation

The Star Witness is an American crime film from 1931. The screenplay is based on a story written by the two screenwriters.

action

The Leeds family witnessed a gangster shooting a police officer and his informants. The murderer escapes through the houses in the neighborhood, everyone can see his face clearly. Prosecutor Whitlock wants to question the Leeds as a witness. The family identified Maxey Campo through a mug shot , who agreed to testify in court.

The news spreads and George Leeds is kidnapped by Campo's men on his way home. First they want to blackmail him not to testify in court, but George refuses. Whitlock puts the rest of the family under police protection . The daughter Sue is brought to work by police officers. Over time, the family becomes restless. Son Donny doesn't want to miss his baseball game and sneaks out of the house, where he is kidnapped too. The gangsters threaten to kill the boy if one of the family testifies in court.

Whitlock tries to find Donny. Meanwhile, Summeril, mother Abby's father, wants to confirm his view of testifying against Campo, which he considers to be his civic duty. Sue has concerns, she thinks no one would believe what he said because he was drunk at the time of the crime. Whitlock takes Summeril to court. Shortly before Summeril is called, he leaves the court in search of Donny. He walks through the neighborhood and Donny is being held there. Summeril has a pipe that he blows over and over again. Donny hears the whistle and recognizes the tone. He throws a baseball through a window and uses it to attract Summeril's attention, who is approaching with the police. There is a shooting, Donny escapes. Summeril makes his testimony, Campo is found guilty and sentenced to death.

Reviews

Mordaunt Hall of the New York Times described the film as a well-crafted melodrama with an affection for feelings.

Awards

In 1932 , Lucien Hubbard was nominated for an Oscar in the category Best Original Story.

background

The film premiered on August 22, 1931.

According to a report by Variety , production studio Warner Bros. rushed the film to theaters because of a true story. Gangsters had staged a shootout in Harlem, New York , in which several children were shot. The police were unable to find any eyewitnesses.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Critique of the New York Times (Eng.)
  2. ↑ Star Witness (1931) Notes. Turner Classic Movies , accessed May 4, 2019 .