Orson Welles always directs somber, dark films with meaning and irony. It's interesting how he directs his own villainy in this one -- as an escaped Nazi hiding in an innocent Connecticut town and marrying an equally virtuous woman (Loretta Young) as a part of his cover. Edward G. Robinson plays the War Crimes investigator that finds him in the town. There is definite tension in this one, and Welles' role is chillingly cunning. Irony is sharp, especially in the concluding scenes and in Welles' speech on German reform. Biblical allusions strengthen the theme. I thoroughly enjoyed this one. I hope to see more Orson Welles pictures.
There's mastery of the camera as you'd expect from Welles - the B&W cinematography and the use of shadow in particular is brilliant - but the story doesn't hang together quite as well. Welles' Nazi war criminal, hiding out as a history teacher in Smalltown USA, is shifty and suspicious from the outset making you wonder how anyone didn't suspect there was something up with him from the start - it's not a subtle performance by any means, and with the cat out of the bag from the very beginning it doesn't make for great thrills. Loretta Young's Mary seems all the more foolish for not seeing the obvious, but Edward G. Robinson is excellent as the man sent to hunt him down. The denouement is preposterous in the extreme and
so heavily foreshadowed it's quite comical when the clock-face angel finally does Kindler in with the sword of justice
. For all that it's a diverting film noir, and bringing to the screen the horrors of the concentration camps, barely a year after Hitler was defeated, is impressive in itself.
An objective such. Pretty slender to be Orson Welles. No need to see again. Exciting concept to make film noir of this theme. Orson Welles, Edward G. Robinson & Loretta Young, the three main characters, all play well. Available on two official top lists 20180210.
I notice more and more that I have a bit of difficulty for detective stories in books and film noir in films/movies.
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inhonoredglory
Orson Welles always directs somber, dark films with meaning and irony. It's interesting how he directs his own villainy in this one -- as an escaped Nazi hiding in an innocent Connecticut town and marrying an equally virtuous woman (Loretta Young) as a part of his cover. Edward G. Robinson plays the War Crimes investigator that finds him in the town. There is definite tension in this one, and Welles' role is chillingly cunning. Irony is sharp, especially in the concluding scenes and in Welles' speech on German reform. Biblical allusions strengthen the theme. I thoroughly enjoyed this one. I hope to see more Orson Welles pictures.steamRobot
Fantastically nuts and wonderfully so. Even when he attempts a studio picture Welles creates something dark and twisted.dombrewer
There's mastery of the camera as you'd expect from Welles - the B&W cinematography and the use of shadow in particular is brilliant - but the story doesn't hang together quite as well. Welles' Nazi war criminal, hiding out as a history teacher in Smalltown USA, is shifty and suspicious from the outset making you wonder how anyone didn't suspect there was something up with him from the start - it's not a subtle performance by any means, and with the cat out of the bag from the very beginning it doesn't make for great thrills. Loretta Young's Mary seems all the more foolish for not seeing the obvious, but Edward G. Robinson is excellent as the man sent to hunt him down. The denouement is preposterous in the extreme andboaza
This film is definitely NOT mediocre. It's a very good film.Camille Deadpan
I enjoyed this one very much. I recommend.Earring72
Effective drama of an escaped nazi hiding in an american town. great cast and well directed but the finale is a bit too hokey.heat_
Orson Welles being Orson Welles again. Nice one. Some beautiful takes.Emiam
6/10An objective such. Pretty slender to be Orson Welles. No need to see again. Exciting concept to make film noir of this theme. Orson Welles, Edward G. Robinson & Loretta Young, the three main characters, all play well. Available on two official top lists 20180210.
I notice more and more that I have a bit of difficulty for detective stories in books and film noir in films/movies.
Kongeslask
www.archive.org/details/TheStranger_0jktomas
Very very mediocre film.