AllMovie

Western director Philip Ford switches gears by helming the crime melodrama Trial without Jury. Robert Rockwell stars as Bill Peters, a young playwright specializing in murder mysteries. Hoping to freshen up his latest play, Bill uses a recent real-life murder as inspiration. While on a research expedition, Bill arouses the suspicions of the investigating detectives. Sure enough, the hapless playwright finds himself on the suspect list -- meaning that he'll have to solve the mystery himself to stay out of jail. Among the supporting actors weaving in and out of the proceedings is Barbara Billingsley, playing a character far removed from her familiar "June Cleaver" TV persona.