It is difficult to resist anything with a title as attention grabbing as this one. The premise is also great and could easily pass for a plot for a Hitchcock film, can see why it's been compared to one of Hitchcock's best films 'Rear Window'. Another interest point is that "Guilty Witness" is the third episode of 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' to be directed by series regular Robert Stevens, the other two being "Premonition" and "Our Cook's a Treasure". Both of them, especially the latter, being among Season 1's better episodes.
Did feel that "Guilty Witness" is not as good as those two and that it is not one of Stevens' best episodes (or one of his worst) or one of the best episodes of Season 1. It is though very good, though perhaps not for all tastes as some here have had issues with the story execution, and does generally very well with one of the season's most interesting sounding concepts. There is a lot to like about "Guilty Witness", almost all of them the usual good components, despite its imperfections.
Those imperfections being some suspension of disbelief needing in the final act, as some of it is on the silly and senseless side.
And that some of the character motivations came over as confused and vague, such as at the end. Can personally actually see why others were perplexed.
"Guilty Witness" has a lot of things done incredibly well. It is made with slickness and atmosphere, and manages to make a simple location interesting and not too confined. The music isn't over-powering or over-obvious and the theme tune for the series definitely haunts the mind. Hitchcock's bookending scenes have grown on me a good deal and while not among the best or most inspired they intrigue.
Much of the script does too and it doesn't ramble. The story is far from perfectly executed, but it is nicely paced and has genuine unease. Did find myself caring for finding out the truth and the final twist is a stroke of genius. The acting is very good, with a strong lead performance from Joe Mantell and a sympathetic one from Judith Evelyn.
Concluding, very good. 8/10.
Did feel that "Guilty Witness" is not as good as those two and that it is not one of Stevens' best episodes (or one of his worst) or one of the best episodes of Season 1. It is though very good, though perhaps not for all tastes as some here have had issues with the story execution, and does generally very well with one of the season's most interesting sounding concepts. There is a lot to like about "Guilty Witness", almost all of them the usual good components, despite its imperfections.
Those imperfections being some suspension of disbelief needing in the final act, as some of it is on the silly and senseless side.
And that some of the character motivations came over as confused and vague, such as at the end. Can personally actually see why others were perplexed.
"Guilty Witness" has a lot of things done incredibly well. It is made with slickness and atmosphere, and manages to make a simple location interesting and not too confined. The music isn't over-powering or over-obvious and the theme tune for the series definitely haunts the mind. Hitchcock's bookending scenes have grown on me a good deal and while not among the best or most inspired they intrigue.
Much of the script does too and it doesn't ramble. The story is far from perfectly executed, but it is nicely paced and has genuine unease. Did find myself caring for finding out the truth and the final twist is a stroke of genius. The acting is very good, with a strong lead performance from Joe Mantell and a sympathetic one from Judith Evelyn.
Concluding, very good. 8/10.