Bob Montgomery, Radio News Commentator!

In September, 1949, while in England finishing up Eye Witness, Bob signed on with ABC radio for a weekly news commentary show.  Broadcasting from England until the movie wrapped, Bob returned to the States that winter and signed on with NBC TV as an executive producer, premiering his Robert Montgomery Presents show in January, 1950.  Even with the big NBC contract, Bob renewed his radio show in August, 1950.   I guess the $5,000 per broadcast was pretty good pocket change for Mr. Montgomery!   The article below appeared in the June, 1950 issue of Radio and Television Best. 

Question About Eye Witness

Hey fans, Robert posted a question to the blog and I'm at a loss. Can anyone assist? If you know, please post!

Could anyone point me in the right direction? I watched "Eye Witness," loved it and wondered if the site location in England was a studio set or a real village that could be visited. Thanks, Robert.

I thought it was filmed abroad, but can't find where I read that.

And a quick reminder, Eye Witness was released on DVD earlier this year.

Eye Witness Coming to DVD

Here's something I never thought I'd write: Robert Montgomery's Eye Witness is coming to DVD February 23 as part of VCI's Forgotten Noir: Volume 13. The DVD will also include 1952s Breakdown with Ann Richards. Shell out $14.99 at Amazon.com to pre-order.

My bootleg of a bootleg of Eye Witness (a.k.a. Your Witness) has iffy quality, so I'm hoping this issue is a notch above static in a snowstorm.

DVD Update

Looking to make your Robert Montgomery DVD collection a bit more complete? A few more titles are now available on the "secondary market" (not from the studios):

Eye Witness (1950)
Movies Unlimited

Forsaking All Others (1934)
Free Movies on DVD

If you own any of the above from those sources, drop me a note - I'd be interested in the quality.

Eye Witness

Robert Montgomery's final film performance was in 1950's Eye Witness (aka Your Witness). The DVD copy I have looks like a bootleg copy of a bootleg, run across the floor of a taxi cab. Ahh, vintage . . . better than nothing.

Eye Witness is the story of Sam Baxter, who is accused of murder across the ocean in England. Enter Adam Hayward (Montgomery), Sam's friend. You see, Sam saved Col. Hayward's life in the war. Adam happens to be a big-time defense attorney in NYC. After some prodding from his secretary, Adam flys across the big pond to see how he can help. Adam soon discovers that there's a female that witnessed the murder who could clear Sam. I'm not saying any more.

I need to get this off of my chest - it isn't that good of a story - it lacks oomph. The other thing I want to state for the record - where in the world did the annoying opening credits music come from? If I were more tech savvy I'd rip a track for you guys to hear it. The best way I can describe it is big band transitioning into 1950's *beebop jazz* (is that even a music genre?). I was expecting something more "Perry Mason-ish" since someone was facing a possible death sentence for murder. Whatever, let's move on.

There's a possible love interest at the end of the film between Adam & one of the characters. I really would have liked to have seen Eye Witness 2, just to see Adam Hayward stay in England, become a barrister, and don the white-haired wig.

Eye Witness does have its amusing moments. If you've ever seen National Lampoon's European Vacation, you'll relate. In Vacation, there's a scene where the Grizwold family travels to London. At the hotel, the desk jockey starts talking in his strong, slangy, fast British accent. Clark whips out his pocket translator and his wife immediately notes, "Clark...they're speaking English." In Eye Witness there's times where the Brits start speaking...yes, English. On the flip side, Bob's character does the same, with good ol' American slang.

I believe I read somewhere that Eye Witness is public domain, but I've yet to confirm.

RM Speaking

No Crystal Ball - Time Magazine, Sep. 19, 1949

Cinemactor Robert Montgomery, 45, was going into a business that calls for an air of pontifical certitude, but he had not yet adjusted himself to the part. "I don't think possession of a $60 typewriter qualifies me as an expert on anything," he said in his suite at London's Claridge's. Still at work on an English-made movie (Your Witness), he begins this week, in Robert Montgomery Speaking (Thurs. 10:10 p.m., ABC), a new series of radio comment on politics, international affairs, and the arts.

Republican Montgomery (he campaigned for Willkie in 1940 and Dewey in 1948) describes himself as both anti-Socialist and antiCommunist. But he does not intend always to follow the G.O.P. line. "I will speak for myself and I will speak freely," he promised, fingering the script of his first broadcast, which will be recorded and flown to the U.S. "I have no wish to reform anything, no wish to preach and no advice to offer. I just want to talk to people about things that interest me and that I hope will interest them." His sponsor, Lee Hats, decided on Montgomery (reportedly at $5,000 per week) when Lee ended its 3½-year tie-up with Gossipist Drew Pearson. Asked his opinion of his predecessor, Montgomery replied with a brisk "No comment." But he admitted that "I'm not going to use a crystal ball on this program."