The Star Witness (1931)
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83% of users liked it
(78 ratings)
Star Witness starts out as a homey family comedy and develops into a rather gutsy thriller. Chic Sale plays a cantankerous Civil War veteran who, while visiting his family, witnesses a gangland shooting. The rest of the family also gets a good look at the gang boss (Ralph Ince) and everyone agrees… More Star Witness starts out as a homey family comedy and develops into a rather gutsy thriller. Chic Sale plays a cantankerous Civil War veteran who, while visiting his family, witnesses a gangland shooting. The rest of the family also gets a good look at the gang boss (Ralph Ince) and everyone agrees to testify in court. But the criminals terrorize the father (Grant Mitchell), after failing to bribe him. To insure pa's silence, his son (Dickie Moore) is kidnaped But Grandpa is not easily cowed, and it is he who goes before the jury to expose the crooks. He also engineers the rescue of his grandson (a surprisingly credible sequence). Star Witness was remade as I Am Not Afraid in 1939, with updated dialogue equating American gangsters with Hitler and Mussolini. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Directed By
- William A. Wellman
- Written By
- Lucien Hubbard
- Genres
- Drama, Mystery & Suspense, Classics
- In Theaters
- Aug 22, 1931 Wide
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Cast
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Walter Huston
as Dist. Atty. Whitlock
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Charles "Chic" Sale
as Granded Summerville
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Frances Starr
as Ma Leeds
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Grant Mitchell
as Pa Leeds
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Sally Blane
as Sue Leeds
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Eddie Nugent
as Jackie Leeds
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Ralph Ince
as Maxey Campo
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Dickie Moore
as Donny Leeds
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George Ernest
as Ned Leeds
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Guy D'Ennery
as Jack Short
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Edgar Dearing
as Sackett
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Mike Donlin
as Mickey
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George Irving
as Judge
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Allan Lane
as Clerk
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Noel Madison
as Horan
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Fletcher Norton
as Dopey
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Nat Pendleton
as Big Jack
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Russell Hopton
as Deputy Thorpe
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William Wellman
as Company Workman
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Tom Dugan
as Brown
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Robert Elliott
as Williams