The Court Martial of Major Keller (1961)

During WW2 in 1944, Major Keller stands on trial in a military court charged with murder, that of his commanding officer Colonel Winch. While Keller doesn't deny killing Winch, he claims he had no other choice but to do so. But as the trial begins, there emerges another twist in the tale as it seems that Keller had been getting rather too close to Winch's young wife Laura than was comfortable to some of the top brass. Just what is the truth behind the death of Colonel Winch? Starring Laurence Payne (Major Keller), Susan Stephen (Laura), Ralph Michael (Winch), Richard Caldicott (Harrison), Basil Dignam (Morrell), Austin Trevor (Power), Simon Lack (Wilson), Weyman Mackay (Beaumont), Jack MacNaughton (Miller), Tony Thawnton (Rydon), J. Mark Roberts (Holt), Hugh Cross (Captain Cuby), David Courtney (Cummins), Michael Anthony (Burford), John Scott (Colonel Johnson), Humphrey Lestocq (Lieutenant Cameron), Douglas Ives (Corporal Battersby), Richard Bennett (Captain Phillips), Stuart Saunders (Sergeant McCall), Peter Sinclair (court sergeant), Tony Doonan (Thompson), Michael Collins (White), Peter Vaughan (Purvey), J. Trevor Davis (Colonel Callum), John Brooking (Colonel Faversham), John Barron (M. O. Aubrey), Larry Noble (Sergeant Penning), Mark Singleton (Captain Fuller) and Graham Stewart (Lieutenant Mace). This is a rarely repeated film that I recorded when it was repeated recently on Talking Pictures TV. So rare is it that there seems to be no copy of it online, which is one of the reasons I've uploaded it here. The other reason is that it features the lovely Susan Stephen in one of her last roles before retiring from acting in 1962, and it is an intriguing film where the culprit is known, but the reasons why they did it is as yet unknown. It could of been better, but it's short and maintains the interest. Plus it also features an early role for John Barron, who sitcom fans will recognize as CJ from The Fall & Rise of Reginald Perrin in the late 70's - with hair! See if you can spot him. For mystery buffs, Susan Stephen fans or collectors of hard to find films, enjoy.