The Silent Witness (1932)
Directed by R.L. Hough / Marcel Varnel
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Synopsis by Hal Erickson
This film version of the Jack DeLeon-Jack Celestin play Silent Witness stars Lionel Atwill in his original stage role of Sir Austin Howard. When his son Anthony (Bramwell Fletcher) strangles his mistress Nora Selmer (Greta Niesen) in a fit of jealous rage, Sir Austin gallantly takes the blame, secure in the belief that he will not only be able to clear himself in court, but keep his son's name out of the case. Alas, Sir Austin's strategy blows up in his face when it is revealed that the murder victim held onto life long enough to serve as the "silent witness" to her own demise. All of this is offered in flashback form, to excellent effect.
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Keywords
child, accusation, confession [criminal], courtroom, false-accusation, father, girlfriend, killing, lover, murder, prosecutor, self-sacrifice, son, tension, witness
