In Los Angeles, a brave witness to murder agrees to testify in court against the street gang leader who's desperate to silence him.In Los Angeles, a brave witness to murder agrees to testify in court against the street gang leader who's desperate to silence him.In Los Angeles, a brave witness to murder agrees to testify in court against the street gang leader who's desperate to silence him.
Hilda Haynes
- Apple's Mother
- (unconfirmed)
Rodney Bell
- Reporter
- (uncredited)
John Close
- Detective
- (uncredited)
John Damler
- Policeman
- (uncredited)
James Gavin
- Policeman
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThis film is often considered to be the first neo-noir.
- Quotes
Det. Rafael Torno: They made "the circle", hunh?
Fred Morrow: Yeah, they made a circle.
Det. Rafael Torno: No, made "the circle" they call it.
- SoundtracksRuby Duby Doo
(uncredited)
Written by Charles Wolcott
Performed by Charles Wolcott conducting the MGM Studio Orchestra
Featured review
It isn't that bad.
I think that people miss the historical aspect of this movie. It was 1960 and Hollywood was just figuring out how to make a "real" and gritty crime drama. Yes the film is bizarre - Father Knows Best meets The Wild Ones or The Blackboard Jungle. The average scriptwriter probably wasn't real familiar with the daily life of street criminals and the language would have gone right over their head.
But the movie shows the by 1960 crime was becoming more of a concern for the average middle class American family. People were starting to learn that their safe, secure little worlds, weren't and that the crime of the "lower class" neighborhoods was moving into their daily life.By 1970 middle class America would be much sadder and wiser, but this film shows that crime was a concern in during the good old days of President Ike.
Basically it's an interesting look at the time.It's one of the few older movies I've come across in which there is a reference to a character, even a villain, using Cocaine. Yes the thugs are too clean and they don't look like they smell. As a cop I can tell you the one thing that movies don't convey is the smell of that world. How can they?The only movie that I can think of that came the closest was "Training Day".
Don't compare this movie to modern productions, it isn't fair. Overacting and melodramatic scripts were normal and expected. Just watch shows like Star Trek,Route 66, The Big Valley and The Fugitive. Those shows were over the top by our standards, but not back then.It isn't that bad.
But the movie shows the by 1960 crime was becoming more of a concern for the average middle class American family. People were starting to learn that their safe, secure little worlds, weren't and that the crime of the "lower class" neighborhoods was moving into their daily life.By 1970 middle class America would be much sadder and wiser, but this film shows that crime was a concern in during the good old days of President Ike.
Basically it's an interesting look at the time.It's one of the few older movies I've come across in which there is a reference to a character, even a villain, using Cocaine. Yes the thugs are too clean and they don't look like they smell. As a cop I can tell you the one thing that movies don't convey is the smell of that world. How can they?The only movie that I can think of that came the closest was "Training Day".
Don't compare this movie to modern productions, it isn't fair. Overacting and melodramatic scripts were normal and expected. Just watch shows like Star Trek,Route 66, The Big Valley and The Fugitive. Those shows were over the top by our standards, but not back then.It isn't that bad.
helpful•52
- jefbecco
- Oct 25, 2006
- How long is Key Witness?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Die Wölfe von Los Angeles
- Filming locations
- Los Angeles, California, USA(various sections)
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $857,000 (estimated)
- Runtime1 hour 22 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 2.35 : 1
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content