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Town on Trial

Play trailer Poster for Town on Trial 1957 1h 36m Mystery & Thriller Crime Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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Tomatometer 1 Reviews 43% Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
When the beautiful and scandalous Molly Stevens (Magda Miller) is found strangled to death near the British village of Oakley Park, Scotland Yard superintendent Mike Halloran (John Mills) is brought in to investigate the murder. Hostile to outsiders sticking their noses into their business, the townspeople react coldly to Halloran's questioning. The dogged policeman soon uncovers a series of lies and deceptions centered on the town's upper-crust social club, which could ruin many reputations.

Critics Reviews

View All (1) Critics Reviews
Clyde Gilmour Maclean's Magazine Likeable though he is, John Mills seems implausible as a Scotland Yard superintendent... Oct 25, 2019 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (5) audience reviews
John K A very enjoyable movie that had me guessing till the end, the acting and storyline is excellent , it’s a must see Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 08/10/24 Full Review Audience Member I really enjoyed this traditional murder mystery. It holds your attention throughout, and was certainly ahead of its time. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/17/23 Full Review Audience Member I quite enjoyed this one, John Mills stands out being the cop who seems to have a chip on his shoulder and is determined to fine the killer, not bad for a Sunday afternoon Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/24/23 Full Review Audience Member I wanted to like this, but I found I just couldn't get involved in it. I like John Mills, but I found myself not really caring about who was responsible for the murders. I suspected the doctor, and am a bit disappointed it wasn't him as I think that would have given the plot a bit more oomph. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/23/23 Full Review Audience Member What a film. What a cast, John Mills as Superintendent Mike Halloran Charles Coburn as Dr. John Fenner Barbara Bates as Elizabeth Fenner Derek Farr as Mark Roper Alec McCowen as Peter Crowley Fay Compton as Mrs. Crowley Elizabeth Seal as Fiona Dixon Geoffrey Keen as Charles Dixon Margaretta Scott as Helen Dixon Meredith Edwards as Sergeant Rogers Harry Locke as Sergeant Beale Raymond Huntley as Dr. Reese, pathologist Harry Fowler as Bandleader Maureen Connell as Mary Roper Magda Miller as Molly Stevens Newton Blick as Assistant Commissioner Beckett Oscar Quitak as David Dandy Nichols as Mrs. Wilson, this is a great murder mystery, as John Mills sets to investigate a series of murders whilst under the spell of Barbara Bates, these films are gentle in their approach to crime, no blood,sex,or gore but still find the viewer left spellbound to this magnificent period piece, John you are so missed in film, as is Charles Coburn. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/21/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Town on Trial

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Cast & Crew

Movie Info

Synopsis When the beautiful and scandalous Molly Stevens (Magda Miller) is found strangled to death near the British village of Oakley Park, Scotland Yard superintendent Mike Halloran (John Mills) is brought in to investigate the murder. Hostile to outsiders sticking their noses into their business, the townspeople react coldly to Halloran's questioning. The dogged policeman soon uncovers a series of lies and deceptions centered on the town's upper-crust social club, which could ruin many reputations.
Director
John Guillermin
Producer
Maxwell Setton
Screenwriter
Robert Westerby, Ken Hughes
Production Co
Columbia Pictures, Marksman Productions Ltd.
Genre
Mystery & Thriller, Crime, Drama
Original Language
British English
Release Date (DVD)
Dec 6, 2011
Runtime
1h 36m