House of Strangers

source: House of Strangers

Trailer—House of Strangers

House of Strangers

A pretty good gangster movie from 1949. The interesting part of the tale is told in flashback and benefits from a typically larger-than-life performance from Edward G. Robinson playing a kind of kingpin. The familial relationships that make up the crux of the story are handled in an interesting way, and it's nice to see Richard Conte given a bigger role than usual to get his teeth into. Involving stuff.

This masterful adaptation of Jerome Weidman's novel stars Edward G. Robinson (arguably his best performance) as an Italian immigrant turned successful and wealthy banker. His hard-nosed attitude alienates three of his sons (portrayed by Efrem Zimbalist Jr., Paul Valentine and the always superb Luther Adler). His fourth son (the film noir regular, Richard Conte) however worships the ground his dad walks on. This doesn't go over so well with his brothers. Although billed as a film noir, the film is as much a family drama as a thriller - and an extremely good one. Excellent screenplay by Philip Yordan. Robinson won the best actor award at the Cannes Film Festival for his performance.

This movie is just superb. I can't believe I had not even heard of it, hopefully this DVD release will help it find a new audience and some deserved critical acclaim. It's billed as film noir, but it really isn't; it's more an extremely complex, suspenseful family drama. But that doesn't even do it justice. The screenplay is terrific, subtle, thoughtful, and at the same time, razor sharp. Some of the exchanges between Conte and Hayward in particular are electrifying. Talk about two 'tough cookies' that ignite when they get together. And you really begin to care deeply about what happens to them. (All of the acting is top notch, across the board.) And then there is the direction by Joseph L. Mankiewicz. The movie is so beautifully crafted and feels as if it could have been made yesterday, it's gritty and urban and fresh. The composition in the movie has deep meaning in just about every shot, and is gorgeous to behold besides. Watch this movie.

Enjoyed this film when it first came to the silver screen in New York City and it still has given a great performance to many generations already! The veteran actors in this film, Edward G. Robinson,(Gino Monetti),"The Red House",'47, gave a great performance as an Italian banker who ran his business the old fashioned way and had the US Government after his accounting books, which he did not have! Richard Conte,(Max Monetti),"The Godfather",'72, stood by his father Gino when his business started to fall a part and his other brothers seemed to just stand around and and throw darts at their own father. Susan Hayward (Irene Bennett),"I'll Cry Tomorrow",'55, gave Max Monetti a hard time and acted like a COLD FISH to his romantic advances. Edward G. Robinson gave an outstanding performance with a great Italian accent and was able to make this film an ALL TIME FAVORITE!

This is one of those well-crafted films from Twentieth-Century Fox when that studio employed some extraordinary talents both before and behind the cameras. Although he wasn't a Fox contractee, Edward G. Robinson gives a great performance as a wealthy Italian family's patriarch and he is well-matched by everyone else in the cast, especially Richard Conte, Luther Adler, and Susan Hayward, looking terrifically classy. The script bears some obvious signs of being polished by the director, Joseph L. Mankiewicz, and the technical credits are absolutely top-drawer. Remade as a Western in CinemaScope and Color by DeLuxe in 1954, entitled "Broken Lance" with Spencer Tracy cast as the domineering father, the direction by Edward Dmytryk was not up to the standard of this earlier film with its then contemporary setting. This one is available on video (and seems to be very rarely exhumed on TV now) and is definitely worth a look.