Reviews

I am a retired Detective Sergeant having spent most of my service in CID and Fraud. Silent Witness is lightweight enjoyable drama, but is frequently flawed. The forensic team of non-police officers are often shown watching, or indeed taking part in suspect and witness interviews. They're also often too close to the armed officers at scenes and searches, groan. Plus of course they do numerous tasks that would be undertaken by actual police detectives or trained family liaison officers. Enjoy it for what it is, but it ain't reality!

We watched this on DVD last night despite my wife wasn't keen on the idea, but I assured her that with a cast including Oliver Reed, Susan George and Raymond Burr it had to be good. How wrong I was Reed played the role of a liberal cop putting on a silly American accent, Susan George looked like she had been force fed pies and buns for several months before filming and Raymond Burr was also dreadful seemingly aping "Boss Hogg". Dreadful dialogue and wooden acting, how much were the three cast members I have mentioned paid to take part in this utter rubbish?

This may be a black and white film is a great film, but is well worth a viewing as the three leading members of the cast were first rate and it should hold your interest throughout. Stanley Baker was a tremendous actor and plays a determined but sympathetic DI. Hardy Kruger a struggling young artist and Micheline Presle has such poise and beauty that she looked good enough to eat. Gordon Jackson also makes a believable Police Sergeant. As for the rest of the cast in this film they all have the right 1950's 'air' about them The plot has a nice number of twists and the locations in central London and around the then small London Heathrow Airport are nice and nostalgic. London as it used to be.

This film is superb, tremendous atmosphere, brilliant acting and just the right length. The two ships are a Flower class corvette and a Castle class frigate-correct for the period portrayed. They both add to the atmosphere that convoy escort must have been like cold, wet and occasional terror/excitement. Jack Hawkins is spot on as the captain, Stanley Baker gives a wonderful portrayal of a bullying 1st Lieutenant, Virginia McKenna looking gorgeous, Donald Sinden may have done a better role, but I have not seen it and there is not a single weak character amongst the rest of the cast. Almost a documentary and a great reminder of a country that was the greatest in the world and is now just a sad shadow of her former self.