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IMDbPro

The Secret Witness

  • 19311931
  • 1h 6m
IMDb RATING
5.8/10
94
YOUR RATING
Una Merkel in The Secret Witness (1931)
  • Drama
  • Mystery
A wealthy, cheating husband is found murdered in his penthouse apartment. The police soon arrest a suspect, but the victim's downstairs neighbor believes the man is innocent and sets out to ... Read allA wealthy, cheating husband is found murdered in his penthouse apartment. The police soon arrest a suspect, but the victim's downstairs neighbor believes the man is innocent and sets out to prove who really committed the murder.A wealthy, cheating husband is found murdered in his penthouse apartment. The police soon arrest a suspect, but the victim's downstairs neighbor believes the man is innocent and sets out to prove who really committed the murder.
IMDb RATING
5.8/10
94
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Thornton Freeland
  • Writer
    • Sam Spewack(novel "Murder in the Gilded Cage")
  • Stars
    • Una Merkel
    • William Collier Jr.
    • Zasu Pitts
Top credits
  • Director
    • Thornton Freeland
  • Writer
    • Sam Spewack(novel "Murder in the Gilded Cage")
  • Stars
    • Una Merkel
    • William Collier Jr.
    • Zasu Pitts
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 5User reviews
    • 4Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos

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    Top cast

    Edit
    Una Merkel
    Una Merkel
    • Lois Martinas Lois Martin
    William Collier Jr.
    William Collier Jr.
    • Arthur Jones - aka Caseyas Arthur Jones - aka Casey
    Zasu Pitts
    Zasu Pitts
    • Bellaas Bella
    Purnell Pratt
    Purnell Pratt
    • Capt. McGowanas Capt. McGowan
    Ralf Harolde
    Ralf Harolde
    • Lewis Leroyas Lewis Leroy
    Clyde Cook
    Clyde Cook
    • Larson - Building Engineeras Larson - Building Engineer
    June Clyde
    June Clyde
    • Tess Jonesas Tess Jones
    Nat Pendleton
    Nat Pendleton
    • Gunner - Bodyguardas Gunner - Bodyguard
    Clarence Muse
    Clarence Muse
    • Jeff - Building Janitoras Jeff - Building Janitor
    Hooper Atchley
    Hooper Atchley
    • Herbert 'Bert' Folsomas Herbert 'Bert' Folsom
    • (uncredited)
    Billy Bletcher
    Billy Bletcher
    • Radio Announcer's Voiceas Radio Announcer's Voice
    • (uncredited)
    Mike Donlin
    Mike Donlin
    • Mike - Speakeasy Proprietoras Mike - Speakeasy Proprietor
    • (uncredited)
    James Durkin
    James Durkin
    • Detectiveas Detective
    • (uncredited)
    Greta Granstedt
    Greta Granstedt
    • Mollas Moll
    • (uncredited)
    Henry Hall
    Henry Hall
    • Police Commissioner Martinas Police Commissioner Martin
    • (uncredited)
    Paul Hurst
    Paul Hurst
    • Officer Branniganas Officer Brannigan
    • (uncredited)
    Rita La Roy
    Rita La Roy
    • Sylvia Folsomas Sylvia Folsom
    • (uncredited)
    Maston Williams
    • Contact Detectiveas Contact Detective
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Thornton Freeland
    • Writer
      • Sam Spewack(novel "Murder in the Gilded Cage") (screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Originally produced by Famous Attractions for independent release as "Pentouse Murder", it was bought by Columbia Pictures, retitled "The Secret Witness" and released as a Columbia picture.
    • Quotes

      Bella: [Speaking to friend on phone with notorious lesbian novel The Well of Loneliness on desk] What am I doing? Oh, I've been reading a book. Oh, it's a book about... Well, can't quite make it out.

    User reviews5

    Review
    Top review
    5/10
    Was it the chimp?
    "The Secret Witness," a Columbia release from late 1931, is a decent whodunit with an unusual twist. Hooper Atchley plays Herbert Folsom, a womanizing husband whose latest lover, Tess Jones (June Clyde), confronts him about leaving his wife Sylvia (Rita La Roy). He prefers to be married, avoiding taking responsibility for his affairs, and refusing Sylvia's numerous requests for a divorce. After the heartbroken Tess leaps to her death from Folsom's high rise penthouse apartment, the police discover a dying Folsom lying on the floor, shot at close range by an unseen assailant. His last words implicate Arthur Jones (William Collier Jr.), brother of Tess, who is found one floor below in the apartment of Lois Martin (Una Merkel), daughter of the city's deputy commissioner, who believes him to be innocent, especially after the building engineer (Clyde Cook) also winds up shot dead. The lone witness to both crimes is Folsom's longtime pet chimpanzee, who expresses genuine grief at finding the dead body of its master (but is later revealed to be capable of handling a gun). Both Zasu Pitts and Nat Pendleton are around for some light comedy relief, thankfully not too intrusive, due mostly to the short 66 minute running time (as was customary of the early talkie era, there is no music in this film). Una Merkel was a dependable comic performer who was quite capable of drama as well, and Clarence Muse again proves to be one of Hollywood's most respected actors, playing the helpful doorman with a light touch, not as a clichéd comic stereotype. The flawed "The Leavenworth Case," from Republic in 1936, was a later mystery that featured a primate, billed on screen as 'Jocko.'
    helpful•3
    0
    • kevinolzak
    • Mar 2, 2011

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 12, 1931 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Penthouse Murder
    • Filming locations
      • Tiffany Studios - 4500 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Famous Attractions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • Runtime
      1 hour 6 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.20 : 1

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