This early Boulting brothers film is a low budget quickie based on a stage play with an axe to grind on the role of the Coroner's court.
However the Boutlings turn this into superior courtroom drama with some comedy presided over a fussy, supercilious, biased and officious Coroner.
A gun is found hidden behind a wall in an attic with what looks like a bullet being fired. A young woman who was the previous occupier of the house ends up being accused of killing her husband who was previously labelled as dying of heart failure. The Coroner's inquest will decide the actual cause of death and his verdict could lead to the young woman being sent to stand trial for murder in the Old Bailey.
A distinguished King's Counsel who is a family friend is acting for her, but the widow wants to maintain her silence and is fatalistic. It seems she is protecting somebody and her case is also hampered by the attitude of the Coroner.
This is actually a rather enjoyable yarn, the denouement was slightly complicated and unlikely. The setting kind of gives the film's stage bound origins away.
However the Boutlings turn this into superior courtroom drama with some comedy presided over a fussy, supercilious, biased and officious Coroner.
A gun is found hidden behind a wall in an attic with what looks like a bullet being fired. A young woman who was the previous occupier of the house ends up being accused of killing her husband who was previously labelled as dying of heart failure. The Coroner's inquest will decide the actual cause of death and his verdict could lead to the young woman being sent to stand trial for murder in the Old Bailey.
A distinguished King's Counsel who is a family friend is acting for her, but the widow wants to maintain her silence and is fatalistic. It seems she is protecting somebody and her case is also hampered by the attitude of the Coroner.
This is actually a rather enjoyable yarn, the denouement was slightly complicated and unlikely. The setting kind of gives the film's stage bound origins away.