Witness to Murder
One windy night, Cheryl Draper (Barbara Stanwyck) looks out of her bedroom window, and witnesses a young woman being strangled to death in a nearby apartment. She reports it to the police, but when th…
Witness to Murder
One windy night, Cheryl Draper (Barbara Stanwyck) looks out of her bedroom window, and witnesses a young woman being strangled to death in a nearby apartment. She reports it to the police, but when the killer, Albert Richter (George Sanders), sees detectives arriving downstairs, he moves the body into a nearby apartment. When the police show up to his door, the manager vouches for him, being a "gentleman." Albert acts nonchalant, and, when no body is found, the police are convinced that Cheryl dreamt it up. The next day, Albert puts the body in a trunk and drives away to dispose of it. She worries her life is in danger. She tries to obtain evidence. So while he is out, Cheryl notices that an apartment on the same floor is for rent, and she is given a tour by the building manager (Dick Elliott). She finds his torn drapery, which Albert dubiously re-ripped in front of the police, and a pair of earrings. Albert returns and sees Cheryl drive away to the police department with the earrings. He preemptively phones the police, and Cheryl is accused of robbery. The two confront each other at the police station, but Albert opts not to press charges. However, the scene leaves Police Lt. Lawrence Mathews (Gary Merrill), who is also a law student at night school, suspicious. Lawrence goes to Cheryl's apartment and tells her that Albert is an ex-Nazi who had been "denazified" and is now an unsuccessful author who is marrying a wealthy heiress. When they discover her burned dinner, he invites her out. After Cheryl and Larry drive away in his car, Albert is seen mailing himself something in a typed envelope. The two meet again when the body of an unidentified woman is found in Griffith Park. Cheryl comes off as conspiratorial. Though he plays along, he believes she is pretending and obsessing about the case; he believes she is telling the truth that she saw something, but does not think what she saw was reality. Albert rings her bell to confront her about his forged letter. In doing so, he slyly unlocks her front door. She rushes out to speak in person to Larry. As she leaves, he comes out of hiding in her hallway. He types a duplicate threat letter on her own typewriter. As Cheryl talks with Larry, he implies she might have done it unconsciously. she asks if she should see a doctor. A notice of Albert's engagement to a wealthy heiress is published in the newspaper. Larry is called into the police captain. Albert has brought the forged letters to the police, framing her as a crazy woman and a threat to his safety. Cheryl is brought in. Even though completely denying writing the letters, she forcibly is admitted to an insane asylum. After Cheryl is released, she tells Larry that they should break up. In the drugstore later, Cheryl sees Albert purchasing handfuls of newspapers. At home, she reads about the article about the murdered woman being identified by name. She then discovers his subterfuge with her locked door and realizes how he got access to her typewriter. She calls Larry trying to bring him up-to-date but again he makes light of her certainty. Frustrated, she hangs up. Cheryl goes to Albert's apartment. He confesses his crime, telling her no one will believe anything from an insane woman. He killed his victim because she was insignificant to him and he did not want his future wealth to be threatened. He rants a bit in German. She flees from his apartment and tells Larry. He admits he wants to believe her but is unable to discover a clue. Larry sends a policewoman to check in on Albert. Lawrence and a fellow policeman go to the apartment building of the deceased woman (who was revealed to be a Miss Joyce Stewart (Lyn Thomas)) to see if anyone there recognizes Albert but no one does, and the police have no case. As Cheryl returns home, she is surprised by Albert who broke in. He tells her he has a forged suicide note and will push her out her own window. A policewoman (Gertrude Graner) then buzzes at the door and Cheryl flees. She is pursued by Albert, as well as the police, who think she is suicidal. Cheryl runs up a high-rise that is under construction, and gets to the top and is cornered by Albert, and he pushes her off the tower. There are a few construction planks below the precipice onto which she falls and is saved. Lawrence arrives and Albert attempts to push him off as well, but after a brief struggle, it is Albert who falls to his death. Lawrence rescues Cheryl from her perch, which gives way just as he grabs her arm. They are reunited and she is exonerated.
Witness to Murder
Crime,Drama,Film-Noir
Film Details
One windy night, Cheryl Draper (Barbara Stanwyck) looks out of her bedroom window, and witnesses a young woman being strangled to death in a nearby apartment. She reports it to the police, but when the killer, Albert Richter (George Sanders), sees detectives arriving downstairs, he moves the body into a nearby apartment. When the police show up to his door, the manager vouches for him, being a "gentleman." Albert acts nonchalant, and, when no body is found, the police are convinced that Cheryl dreamt it up.
The next day, Albert puts the body in a trunk and drives away to dispose of it. She worries her life is in danger. She tries to obtain evidence.
So while he is out, Cheryl notices that an apartment on the same floor is for rent, and she is given a tour by the building manager (Dick Elliott). She finds his torn drapery, which Albert dubiously re-ripped in front of the police, and a pair of earrings. Albert returns and sees Cheryl drive away to the police department with the earrings.
He preemptively phones the police, and Cheryl is accused of robbery. The two confront each other at the police station, but Albert opts not to press charges. However, the scene leaves Police Lt.
Lawrence Mathews (Gary Merrill), who is also a law student at night school, suspicious. Lawrence goes to Cheryl's apartment and tells her that Albert is an ex-Nazi who had been "denazified" and is now an unsuccessful author who is marrying a wealthy heiress. When they discover her burned dinner, he invites her out.
After Cheryl and Larry drive away in his car, Albert is seen mailing himself something in a typed envelope. The two meet again when the body of an unidentified woman is found in Griffith Park. Cheryl comes off as conspiratorial.
Though he plays along, he believes she is pretending and obsessing about the case; he believes she is telling the truth that she saw something, but does not think what she saw was reality. Albert rings her bell to confront her about his forged letter. In doing so, he slyly unlocks her front door.
She rushes out to speak in person to Larry. As she leaves, he comes out of hiding in her hallway. He types a duplicate threat letter on her own typewriter.
As Cheryl talks with Larry, he implies she might have done it unconsciously. she asks if she should see a doctor. A notice of Albert's engagement to a wealthy heiress is published in the newspaper.
Larry is called into the police captain. Albert has brought the forged letters to the police, framing her as a crazy woman and a threat to his safety. Cheryl is brought in.
Even though completely denying writing the letters, she forcibly is admitted to an insane asylum. After Cheryl is released, she tells Larry that they should break up. In the drugstore later, Cheryl sees Albert purchasing handfuls of newspapers.
At home, she reads about the article about the murdered woman being identified by name. She then discovers his subterfuge with her locked door and realizes how he got access to her typewriter. She calls Larry trying to bring him up-to-date but again he makes light of her certainty.
Frustrated, she hangs up. Cheryl goes to Albert's apartment. He confesses his crime, telling her no one will believe anything from an insane woman.
He killed his victim because she was insignificant to him and he did not want his future wealth to be threatened. He rants a bit in German. She flees from his apartment and tells Larry.
He admits he wants to believe her but is unable to discover a clue. Larry sends a policewoman to check in on Albert. Lawrence and a fellow policeman go to the apartment building of the deceased woman (who was revealed to be a Miss Joyce Stewart (Lyn Thomas)) to see if anyone there recognizes Albert but no one does, and the police have no case.
As Cheryl returns home, she is surprised by Albert who broke in. He tells her he has a forged suicide note and will push her out her own window. A policewoman (Gertrude Graner) then buzzes at the door and Cheryl flees.
She is pursued by Albert, as well as the police, who think she is suicidal. Cheryl runs up a high-rise that is under construction, and gets to the top and is cornered by Albert, and he pushes her off the tower. There are a few construction planks below the precipice onto which she falls and is saved.
Lawrence arrives and Albert attempts to push him off as well, but after a brief struggle, it is Albert who falls to his death. Lawrence rescues Cheryl from her perch, which gives way just as he grabs her arm. They are reunited and she is exonerated..