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Silent Witness (1943) Online

Silent Witness (1943) Online
Original Title :
Silent Witness
Genre :
Movie / Action / Crime / Drama / Romance
Year :
1943
Directror :
Jean Yarbrough
Cast :
Frank Albertson,Maris Wrixon,Bradley Page
Writer :
Martin Mooney,Martin Mooney
Type :
Movie
Time :
1h 2min
Rating :
7.3/10
Silent Witness (1943) Online

District Attorney Holden and his special investigator Betty Higgins are trying to convict brothers Joe and Lou Manson, silk-racket hoods, after they are indicted for murder. Their attorney, Bruce Strong, gets them off when the testimony given by Mrs. Roos proves to be perjured. Carlos, one of the Manson gang members, rightfully thinks he is not getting his rightful cut, and when he says this to the Mansons, they shoot him. He hangs on long enough to crawl to Holden's office. The Mansons call Bruce and tell him that one of their gang has squealed and that they are going after the District Attorney. Bruce tries to track down the D.A. and warn him, and follows him in his car as the D.A. goes out looking for the Mansons. The D.A. is killed when the Mansons run his car off the road, but his dog Ace bites Lou and is shot during this mêlée. Some rancher's children find the wounded Ace and take him home with them. Bruce is near the scene at the time, and the Mansons plant the gun used to ...
Cast overview, first billed only:
Frank Albertson Frank Albertson - Bruce L. Strong - Attorney
Maris Wrixon Maris Wrixon - Betty Higgins, Special Investigator
Bradley Page Bradley Page - District Attorney Robert Holden
Evelyn Brent Evelyn Brent - Mrs. Roos / Anna Barnes
Milburn Stone Milburn Stone - Racketeer Joe Manson
John Sheehan John Sheehan - Detective Dan Callahan
Lucien Littlefield Lucien Littlefield - Hank Eastman
James Eagles James Eagles - Jockey Carlos (as Jimmy Eagles)
Patsy Nash Patsy Nash - Elsie Jergens
Anthony Warde Anthony Warde - Racketeer Lou Manson
Paul Bryar Paul Bryar - Blackie
Jack Mulhall Jack Mulhall - Police Officer Jed Kelly
Kenneth Harlan Kenneth Harlan - Detective Tommy Jackson
Harry Harvey Harry Harvey - Henchman Monk
Charles Jordan Charles Jordan - Mr. Jergens

This film's earliest documented telecasts occurred in New York City Tuesday 6 July 1948 on WCBS (Channel 2) and in Los Angeles Saturday 19 February 1949 on KTTV (Channel 11).


User reviews

Wnex

Wnex

And this little Monogram offering has some Hollywood lineage included as Ace the Wonder Dog ( real name: Lightning, Jr.) was the son of Lightning ("Case of the Howling Dog")and great-grandson of Strongheart of silent film fame...all from the kennels of trainer Earl Johnson. Ace's first film was "Blind Alibi" in which the paw-print on the contract was as Lightning Jr., but Junior or Earl Johnson liked the name of the dog character featured in "Blind Alibi" so much that Junior was renamed Ace the Wonder Dog.

Documentation? Of course there is documentation. But will not cite it here as part of an experiment to see just how fast some copier will add this to Trivia despite having no idea whether it is factual or not. I give it two days.

Ace the Wonder Dog plays a pivotal role as the plot of this one unwinds: District Attorney Holden (Bradley Page, usually found on the other side of the law)and his special investigator Betty Higgins (Maris Wrixon)are trying to convict Joe (Milburn Stone) and Lou Manson (Anthony Warde), silk-racket hoods, after they are indicted for murder. Their attorney, Bruce Strong (Frank Albertson), gets them off when the testimony given by Mrs. Roos (Evelyn Brent)proves to be perjured. (The Judge might have also had grounds for throwing out the case if he had known that their defender Bruce and prosecutor Betty were sweethearts.)

Carlos (Jimmy Eagles), one of the Manson gang members, rightfully thinks he is not getting his rightful cut, and when he opines this out loud to the Mansons, they are so hurt by this accusation from a long-time employee and decide, sans consulting with their Human Resources department, that this is grounds for termination. Extreme. They decide to dismiss him from the company by shooting him dead. This they do but not before he hangs on long enough to crawl to Holden's office and file a discrimination or show-cause suit, or something along the usual lines of a disgruntled ex-employee.

The Mansons, none too bright to begin with, call Bruce and tell him that one of their gang has squealed and that they are going after the District Attorney. Bruce, none too bright himself, tries to track down the D.A. and warn him, and follows him in his car as the D.A. goes out looking for the Mansons. The D.A. is killed when the Mansons run his car off the road, but his dog Ace (Ace the Wonder Dog, formerly Lightning, Jr.)bites Lou and is shot during this melee. Some rancher's children find the wounded Ace and take him home with them. (Ace will return.) Bruce is near the scene at the time, and the Mansons plant the gun used to dismiss Carlos in his car. Bruce is indicted and convicted of the murder. But true-blue Betty is convinced he is innocent---albeit dumber than a rock---and sets out to proves his innocence. Ace makes a comeback and is instrumental in helping her accomplish this task.

Other highly recommended films starring Ace the Wonder Dog include:"War Dog," "Rookie Cop," "Boy of the Streets," "Girl From Alaska" and "Heart of the North."
Bludsong

Bludsong

Frank Albertson plays a criminal defense attorney who is very good at getting his clients off, As long as it's legal he'll do what ever it takes to get his clients off. This doesn't sit well with his girlfriend who works with the DA. She breaks up with him because he won't give up his practice. As things to get busy with clients coming in who are connected to a notorious mob boss Albertson decides he misses his girl too much and decides to walk away from criminal law. This doesn't sit well with the crime lord who sets him up for a murder rap.

Good program comedy crime drama hits all of the right notes to be entertaining. Its not however anything that's particularly memorable since it's a bit too formulaic. Its not a knock, more a note of disappointment in that its good enough that you just wish it was ever so slightly better so you could call it a great film. Either way worth a look.