The Secret Witness
“Best mystery drama you've ever seen!”
Synopsis
A wealthy, cheating husband is found murdered in his penthouse apartment. The police soon arrest a suspect, but the victim's downstairs neighbor believes the man is innocent and sets out to prove who really committed the murder.
Top Cast
Explore Star Directory →
Una Merkel
Lois Martin
Purnell Pratt
Capt. McGowan
Zasu Pitts
Bella
Clarence Muse
Jeff - Building Janitor
Paul Hurst
Officer Brannigan
Ralf Harolde
Lewis Leroy
William Collier Jr.
Arthur Jones aka Casey
Nat Pendleton
Gunner - Bodyguard
Rita La Roy
Sylvia Folsom
Hooper Atchley
Herbert 'Bert' Folsom
James Durkin
Detective
Mike Donlin
Mike - Speakeasy Proprietor
June Clyde
Tess Jones
Clyde Cook
Larson - Building Engineer
Greta Granstedt
Gunner's Woman Friend
Henry Hall
Police Commissioner Martin
Maston Williams
Contact Detective
Billy Bletcher
Radio Announcer's Voice
Release History & Theatrical Window
December 12, 1931
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Thornton Freeland
- Screenplay & Story
- Sam Spewack
- Original Title
- The Secret Witness
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 6m
- Production Studios
- Famous Attractions
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Thornton Freeland
Sam Spewack
Robert H. Planck
Louis Sackin
J. G. Buchman
Department Leadership Roster
Thornton Freeland
Director
Louis Sackin
Editor
Sam Spewack
Screenplay
Robert H. Planck
Director of Photography
J. G. Buchman
Producer
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
NR: Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Secret Witness.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring The Secret Witness.
list7
Similar Titles to The Secret Witness
Movies sharing stylistic DNA, tone, and thematic storytelling
6.7
6.7
7.1
6.9
7.2
8.0
7.6
8.1
5.8
6.3
10.0
7.2
6.2
5.7
7.2
7.1
4.8
7.0
7.0
5.7
More Like The Secret Witness
Recommended titles matching themes, cast, and genres.
Frequently Asked Questions About The Secret Witness
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Secret Witness about?
A wealthy, cheating husband is found murdered in his penthouse apartment. The police soon arrest a suspect, but the victim's downstairs neighbor believes the man is innocent and sets out to prove who really committed the murder.
Who directed The Secret Witness?
The Secret Witness was directed by Thornton Freeland.
Who stars in The Secret Witness?
The principal cast of The Secret Witness includes Una Merkel, Purnell Pratt, Zasu Pitts, Clarence Muse, Paul Hurst.
When was The Secret Witness released and how long is it?
The Secret Witness was released in 1931 with a total runtime of 1h 6m.
Is The Secret Witness based on a book or true story?
The Secret Witness is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "Sam Spewack".
What is the age rating and content advisory for The Secret Witness?
The Secret Witness holds official age classifications: US: NR (Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.).