The Woman in the Window (MGM Film Noir)

 

 

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Very good movie! I had seen it before and had to have for my collection...Rainy afternoon, a cup of tea and a great old movie ( my knitting too)...

The Woman in the Window is one of the film noirs that contributed to the reputation of Fritz Lang as one of the all time great film noir directors. A relatively simple story, it nevertheless gives the marvellous entertainment one expects from such a film noir by the charisma of its characters and the suspense driven direction of its director.

This film has one of the best film noir casts you'll ever find. Edward G. Robinson, Raymond Massey, Joan Bennett, and Dan Duyrea are exceptional in this film. It is particularly a real treat to view Dan Duyrea at his sinister best and Raymond Massey looking suspiciously at Edward G. Robinson. Joan Bennett appears to be too nice a gal to play the mistress/call girl, but she still does a fine job in her role.

This film, along with Scarlet Street, is probably the best film noir Fritz Lang ever directed. Simply one of the best film noirs you are ever going to view.

RKO Radio Pictures presents "THE WOMAN IN THE WINDOW" (3 November 1944) (107 min/B&W) (Fully Restored/Dolby Digitally Remastered) -- College professor Wanley (Robinson) and his friends become obsessed with the portrait of a woman in the window next to the men's club --- Wanley happens to meet the woman while admiring her portrait, and ends up in her apartment for talk and a bit of champagne --- Her boyfriend bursts in and misinterprets Wanley's presence, whereupon a scuffle ensues and the boyfriend gets killed --- In order to protect his reputation, the professor agrees to dump the body and help cover up the killing, but becomes increasingly suspect as the police uncover more and more clues and a blackmailer begins leaning on the woman.

Only after the film is over does the viewer realize that importance of that first conversation between Wanley and his two middle-aged friends --- Wanley's dream is the direct result of their discussion regarding the dangers and risks of succumbing to temptation.

Robinson's performance was believable and Bennet's was just as realistic as two people desperate to cover up a crime --- It's suspenseful and dramatic --- Get ready for that roller coaster ride and just try to get off.

Under the production staff of:
Fritz Lang [Director]
J.H. Wallis [novel "Once Off Guard"]
Nunnally Johnson ['Producer/Screenplay]
Arthur Lange [Original Music]
Milton R. Krasner [Cinematographer]
Gene Fowler Jr. [Film Editor]

BIOS:
1. Fritz Lang [Friedrich Christian Anton Lang] [Director]
Date of Birth: 5 December 1890 - Vienna, Austria-Hungary [now Austria]
Date of Death: 2 August 1976 - Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, California

2. Edward G. Robinson [aka: Emmanuel Goldenberg]
Date of Birth: 12 December 1893 - Bucharest, Romania
Date of Death: 26 January 1973 - Hollywood, California

3. Joan Bennett
Date of Birth: 27 February 1910 - Palisades, New Jersey
Date of Death: 7 December 1990 - Scarsdale, New York

the cast includes:
Edward G. Robinson - Professor Richard Wanley
Joan Bennett - Alice Reed
Raymond Massey - Dist. Atty. Frank Lalor
Edmund Breon - Dr. Michael Barkstane
Dan Duryea - Heidt / Tim, the Doorman
Thomas E. Jackson - Inspector Jackson, Homicide Bureau
Dorothy Peterson - Mrs. Wanley
Arthur Loft - Claude Mazard / Frank Howard / Charlie the Hatcheck Man
Frank Dawson - Collins, the Steward

Mr. Jim's Ratings:
Quality of Picture & Sound: 5 Stars
Performance: 5 Stars
Story & Screenplay: 5 Stars
Overall: 5 Stars [Original Music, Cinematography & Film Editing]

Total Time: 107 min on DVD ~ RKO Radio Pictures ~ (07/10/2007)

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4.0 out of 5 stars Gripping melodrama marred by co-out ending
Robinson and Bennett are terrific in the Fritz Lang movie, but the cop-out ending shatters what could have been among the best of the film noir genre ever.

Published on Aug 8 2001

4.0 out of 5 stars A really good movie
This movie is done very good, the only thing I didn't like was the surprise ending. It's like taking away all that you experienced before. Why would anyone like that?

Published on July 31 2001

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent suspense thriller with unusual and intriguing plot
Edward G. Robinson gave a superb performance in "The Woman in the Window" which he made the same year as he starred in Billy Wilder's classic movie "Double... Read more

Published on Mar 14 2001 by C. Roberts

5.0 out of 5 stars Film Noir Fan? Don't Miss This!
I do not know have I've managed to miss seeing this film up to now. It has all the elements that film noir fans want--atmosphere, mystery, murder, wet streets and femmes. Read more

Published on July 1 2000 by Joe Oliver

4.0 out of 5 stars Civilization and its Discontents
Edward G. Robinson plays a straight-laced professor of psychology who gets involved in a difficult situation. Or does he? Read more

Published on May 22 2000 by Joe Costa

5.0 out of 5 stars CAPTIVATING FILM NOIR.
One of the best of Fritz Lang's American movies - a thriller with the logic and plausibility of a nightmare. Read more

Published on May 19 2000 by scotsladdie

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant Film Noire
Fritz Langs great, clever movie about fidelity, of all things, wrapped in a murder melodrama. Robinson plays a meek, well-respected man of standing who after sending his wife and... Read more

Published on Jun 1 1999 by phnewmedia@aol.com

4.0 out of 5 stars A great thriller in the film noir genre.
If you can enjoy a film with all the suspense and turns that each character can contribute to the story, then "Woman In the Window" is for you. The video is approx. Read more

Published on Feb 23 1999

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