The Star Witness 1931
Directed by
William A. Wellman
Made by
The Vitaphone Corporation
The Star Witness Plot Summary
Read the complete plot summary and ending explained for The Star Witness (1931). From turning points to emotional moments, uncover what really happened and why it matters.
On a quiet street, the Leeds family—Ned Leeds and Sue Leeds as the two adult children, their two younger brothers Donny Leeds and Jackie Leeds, their parents Ma Leeds and Pa Leeds, and Grandpa Grandpa Summerill—lives in the steady comfort of a close-knit home. That calm is shattered when gangster Maxey Campo bursts into the residence, murders two men right before their eyes, and then assaults Grandpa for challenging him. Campo threatens the family with dire consequences if they talk and flees through the back exit, leaving fear and confusion in his wake.
District Attorney Whitlock District Attorney Whitlock wants Campo to pay for his crimes and leans on the Leedses’ testimony to build a case. The family, naive about the real danger, cooperates, and Campo is indicted on their account. Whitlock’s assistant plans to place the witnesses in protective custody in jail, but Campo’s gang acts first. Pa Leeds Pa Leeds is kidnapped, badly beaten, and dumped by the roadside after refusing to recant the family’s identification, while Grandpa keeps his resolve despite the mounting pressure. Whitlock then confines the whole family to their home for protection, a move that strains their unity as fear and loyalty tug in different directions and they grapple with whether to stand by their testimony.
On the day Campo’s indictment is to be heard, the youngest Leeds, Donny, yearns to play in a baseball game. He sneaks out, but never makes it to the field. The gang telephones with a direct threat: the family will pay if they identify Campo in the courtroom. Grandpa clings to his duty to speak the truth, but his whereabouts are uncertain as the search for Donny intensifies.
The police conduct a massive house-to-house sweep while Grandpa secretly hunts for Donny. Meanwhile, Whitlock must present the witnesses against Campo, and the mounting fear pushes the family toward partial and uncertain statements, even as the clock ticks toward the hearing. Donny’s capture is momentarily suspended as the search continues, and the courtroom’s fate hangs in the balance.
Donny’s escape plan finally unfolds in a tense moment: while held in an apartment, he demonstrates a baseball pitch to one of his captors, then signals through the window as Grandpa’s fife cuts through the night air outside. Donny’s cry helps trigger a rescue, and the authorities move in after a gun battle to free him. Whitlock is notified, and the judge delays the hearing long enough to await Grandpa’s anticipated arrival with the truth.
In a climactic moment, Grandpa confronts Campo directly, identifying him and delivering a short, defiant speech about Americans’ patriotic duty to confront crime. He punctuates the moment by tripping Campo and declaring he is ready to testify. A newspaper headline later confirms Campo’s execution, and Grandpa, having fulfilled his duty, returns to the old soldiers’ home, where the Leeds family begins the slow process of rebuilding their lives together.
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The Star Witness Timeline
Follow the complete movie timeline of The Star Witness (1931) with every major event in chronological order. Great for understanding complex plots and story progression.
Campo murders and invades the Leeds home
A commotion draws the Leeds family to the windows, where they witness gangster Maxey Campo murder two men. Campo then storms into the house, confronts Grandpa, and warns the family never to speak about what they saw. He escapes through the back exit, leaving fear and tension in his wake.
Campo attacks Grandpa and threatens the family
Campo assaults Grandpa for challenging him and makes explicit threats against anyone who identifies him. The family realizes the danger they face and the pressure to stay silent grows stronger. The attack solidifies the sense of peril surrounding the household.
Pa Leeds is kidnapped and beaten
The gang intensifies its intimidation by kidnapping Pa Leeds, beating him, and leaving him dumped beside a road. The family fears for Pa's safety and worries that refusing to identify Campo could have deadly consequences. The assault underscores the stakes of the coming testimony.
Campo is arrested on the basis of identification
Campo is arrested after the Leeds family identifies him as the killer. This marks a legal path toward an indictment and trial. The police rely on the witnesses to carry the case forward.
Protective custody plan discussed
Whitlock's assistant outlines a plan to place the witnesses in protective custody in jail after Campo is indicted. The plan aims to shield them from retaliation while the case proceeds. It foreshadows the danger the witnesses will face.
Gang pressure escalates despite the plan
The gang accelerates its pressure, signaling that threats will continue to silence the witnesses. Public safety becomes a concern as the family remains under watch and fear grows for everyone's safety. The protective custody plan is put into jeopardy by the gang's audacity.
Family confined to the Leeds house
Whitlock confines the Leeds family to their home for protection. The family resists or questions the plan, as they fear what testifying could unleash. The tension within the household grows as they debate truth vs. safety.
Indictment day and Donny's escape attempt
On the day Campo is indicted, the youngest boy Donny tries to sneak out to play a baseball game, hoping to avoid missing his sport. He slips away but never makes it to the field, setting off a new chain of worrying events. The family braces for the courtroom appearance and the gang's threats.
Gang threatens Donny by phone
The gang phones the Leeds home to threaten Donny's life if they testify at the hearing. The threat places immediate pressure on the family and raises the stakes for the impending indictment. The family now feels they can be silenced at any moment.
Grandpa searches while Donny vanishes
As the search for Donny intensifies, Grandpa slips away to look for him, while police conduct a broad house-to-house sweep in the area. The family's fear deepens as Donny remains missing and the danger to all witnesses grows. The situation hinges on his safe return.
Donny is held in an apartment; Grandpa signals help
Donny is kept in a city apartment by his captors, and he begins to show a baseball pitch to pass the time. He hears Grandpa's fife outside, and in a daring moment he throws the ball through a window to signal for help. The captors remain unaware of the growing rescue plan.
Gun battle and Donny's rescue
Grandpa's information reaches the police, and a gun battle erupts as officers move to rescue Donny. The boy is finally freed from captivity and returned to safety. The dramatic rescue shifts the momentum of the case.
Hearing delayed for Grandpa's arrival
The judge learns of the missing key witness, and the indictment hearing is delayed until Grandpa can arrive to testify. The delay buys time for him to join the proceedings and present what happened. The courtroom atmosphere shifts with the anticipated testimony.
Grandpa testifies and condemns Campo
Grandpa arrives and directly identifies Campo, delivering a brief speech about patriotic duty and standing up to criminals. He trips Campo in retaliation for the earlier assault and declares he is ready to begin his testimony. The moment marks a turning point in the courtroom drama.
Campo is executed; Grandpa returns home
A newspaper headline reports Campo's execution, concluding the dramatic affair. After the trial, Grandpa returns to the old soldiers' home, completing his service in the narrative arc. The Leeds family moves forward with their lives, altered by the ordeal.
The Star Witness Characters
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Grandpa Summerill (Charles 'Chic' Sale)
Feisty and principled, Grandpa Summerill is a veteran who values duty and truth above comfort. He begins as the moral compass in a frightened family and becomes the pivotal witness who confronts the gang. His march from quiet patriot to critical informant culminates in a bold courtroom moment that rekindles faith in justice.
Pa Leeds (Grant Mitchell)
A protective family man who initially cooperates with authorities but is not immune to fear. He is kidnapped, beaten, and left for dead after refusing to recant their identification of Campo, demonstrating resilience and stubborn integrity. He embodies the cost of dissent in a town ruled by gang pressure.
Ma Leeds (Frances Starr)
The family matriarch who guards her children with tenderness while confronting deadly threats to testify. She faces a painful choice between protecting her loved ones and preserving the chance to bring Campo to justice. Her struggle highlights the personal toll of standing up to crime.
Donny Leeds (George Ernest)
The youngest Leeds who cherishes a simple pleasure—baseball—and becomes a crucial link between the family’s fear and its courage. His kidnapping tests the family’s resolve and serves as the emotional hinge of the narrative. His rescue catalyzes the final push toward truth.
Ned Leeds (Dickie Moore)
One of the Leeds brothers who grapples with the danger around them while trying to do what’s right. His fear and hesitation mirror the family’s overall struggle to decide whether to testify. He represents the younger generation learning the cost of honesty in a hostile environment.
Sue Leeds (Sally Blane)
A member of the Leeds family who faces intimidation in the courtroom and at home. Her choices reflect the tension between personal safety and the duty to witness the truth. She embodies the protective instincts of a family under siege.
Jackie Leeds (Edward Nugent)
Another Leeds child who navigates the danger surrounding the murder case. He contributes to the family’s fragile balance of fear and duty as the trial approaches. His perspective shows how a child witnesses the impact of crime on a family unit.
Maxey Campo (Ralph Ince)
A violent gangster who orchestrates threats against the Leeds family to prevent them from testifying. He embodies the criminal force that hinges on intimidation and bribery to derail justice. His eventual confrontation with Grandpa marks the film’s moral showdown.
District Attorney Whitlock (Walter Huston)
The prosecutor who wants to make an example out of Campo. He relies on the Leeds family’s testimony and must navigate the gang’s intimidation to bring the case to indictment. His leadership frames the legal process as a battle to protect the public good.
The Star Witness Settings
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Location
Leeds family home, Old Soldiers' Home, Courthouse
The Leeds family home is the central domestic setting where a brutal murder upends their quiet life and forces them into the role of witnesses. Grandpa Summerill comes from the contrast with his veteran’s refuge at the Old Soldiers' Home, adding a layer of patriotic duty to the narrative. The courtroom and the surrounding streets become the stage for the legal struggle and the police search to rescue Donny. Together, these spaces show how ordinary places transform under crime, fear, and the fight for justice.
The Star Witness Themes
Discover the main themes in The Star Witness (1931). Analyze the deeper meanings, emotional layers, and social commentary behind the film.
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Patriotism
Patriotism is framed as a civic duty to tell the truth and stand up to crime. Grandpa Summerill embodies this ideal, insisting on honesty despite threats. The film uses his speeches and actions to elevate ordinary citizens to the level of protagonists in the fight for justice. The theme highlights how loyalty to country and truth can outweigh fear and corruption.
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Justice
The legal process is under heavy pressure from criminal intimidation. District Attorney Whitlock relies on the Leeds' testimony to secure Campo's indictment, while the gang attempts to silence the witnesses through threats and coercion. Perjury charges are threatened, testing the integrity of the courtroom. The moment of truth arrives when Grandpa steps forward, reframing justice as a communal effort beyond mere procedure.
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Family
Family loyalty is pushed to the breaking point by fear and coercion. The Leeds clan must choose between protecting each other by lying or risking danger to reveal the truth. The kidnapping and threats strain their bonds, yet the family persists under Grandpa’s leadership. In the end, their collective courage helps secure Campo's downfall and restore a sense of unity.
The Star Witness Spoiler-Free Summary
Discover the spoiler-free summary of The Star Witness (1931). Get a concise overview without any spoilers.
The film opens in a city where the ordinary rhythm of suburban life is constantly threatened by the shadow of organized crime. Whitlock, a determined district attorney, has made it his personal crusade to dismantle a ruthless gang that holds the community in fear. His public reputation is built on relentless pursuit, but the real challenge lies in securing a courtroom case that hinges on the fragile testimony of ordinary citizens.
At the heart of the story is the Leeds family, a tightly‑knit household that epitomizes everyday America. Ned Leeds and Sue Leeds, the adult siblings, along with their parents Pa Leeds and Ma Leeds, their younger brothers, and the stoic patriarch Grandpa Summerill, find their quiet existence shattered when they become the key witnesses to a crime that could bring the gang to justice. The family’s close bonds, shared meals, and simple hopes are suddenly weighed down by an invisible menace that makes even a whispered word feel dangerous.
Whitlock knows that protecting the witnesses is as vital as prosecuting the offenders. He must navigate a labyrinth of legal maneuvering, police strategy, and the raw fear that keeps the Leedses from speaking openly. The district attorney’s office becomes a pressure cooker, juggling the moral imperative to shield the innocent while also demanding their cooperation—a balance that threatens to strain the family’s unity and test each member’s resolve.
The tone is a taut blend of procedural drama and intimate thriller, where the ordinary world of a suburban home collides with the high stakes of a criminal underworld. As the district attorney and the Leeds family confront the looming threat, the film hovers on the edge of suspense, asking how far one will go to protect loved ones and uphold the promise of justice.
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