The Shadow on the Window

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S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r

(aka "The Missing Witness" )

directed by William Asher
USA 1957

Musical-comedy legend Betty Garrett (My Sister Eileen) has a rare dramatic role in this incredibly tense thriller. Lisa Atlas (Garrett) and her seven-year-old son Petey (a pre-Beaver Jerry Mathers) witness the murder of her boss during a botched armed robbery by psycho Jess Reber (John Barrymore, Jr., While The City Sleeps) and his two pals. Stunned by what he saw, Petey wanders off, leaving the thugs holding his mom hostage. But what they don’t know is that her husband is a police detective (Phil Carey, TV’s Laredo) and will stop at nothing to get her back safely. Corey Allen and Paul Picerni co-star in this seldom-seen gem, skillfully directed by William Asher (Bewitched).

***

Starring Jerry Mathers as the shell-shocked child who witnesses an assault on his mother, Shadow On the Window is a decent 'B' film with a solid cast and a decent script. Jerry's dad, a police officer, is played stoically by Phil Carey and mom is Betty Garrett, decent as a woman under constant threat from three stereotypical teen bad boys. One of the boys is played by Corey Allen, who revisited the role in the similarly themed Key Witness (1960), and the others are John Drew Barrymore--apparently channeling the spirit of an evil Dobie Gillis--and lovable lunk Gerald Sarracini.

Excerpt of review from John Seal for imdb located HERE

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Theatrical Release: 6 March 1957 (USA)

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DVD Review: Sony Pictures (Screen Classics by Request) - Region 0 - NTSC

Big thanks to Gregory Meshman for the Review!

DVD Box Cover		CLICK to order from:
Distribution	Sony Pictures Region 0 - NTSC
Runtime	1:13:12
Video	1.82:1 Original Aspect Ratio 16X9 enhanced Average Bitrate: 4.32 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate
Audio	Dolby Digital Mono (English)
Subtitles	None
Features	Release Information: Studio: Sony Pictures Aspect Ratio: Widescreen anamorphic - 1.82:1 Edition Details: • Theatrical trailer (2:03) DVD Release Date: September 21st, 2010 Keep Case Chapters 8

Comments

The Shadow on the Window is a decent hostage thriller from Columbia Pictures that got a release on made-on-demand disc in the first wave of Columbia's "Screen Classics by Request" line. Betty Garrett is excellent as a woman in peril and John Drew Barrymore is menacing enough as one of the hoods holding the lady hostage. Most notable in the cast is Jerry Mathers, before he became 'Beaver' Cleaver in Leave It to Beaver.

The picture quality is, like most of Sony's MOD releases, is excellent. There is very little damage and the progressive, anamorphic image has a good contrast and deep blacks. The mono audio is likewise, very good. The disc includes a restored trailer, anamorphic and in very good condition. A top notch release for a minor B thriller.

-Gregory Meshman

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