Stranger on the Third Floor (1940)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

Boris Ingster

Writer:

Frank Partos (story)

Release Date:

16 August 1940 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Film-Noir

Plot:

Rising reporter Michael Ward is a key witness in the murder trial of young Joe Briggs, who is convicted...

Plot Keywords:

Flashback | Criminally Insane | New York | Courtroom | Nosey Neighbor

Cast

Peter Lorre	...	The Stranger
John McGuire	...	Michael 'Mike' Ward
Margaret Tallichet	...	Jane
Charles Waldron	...	District Attorney
Elisha Cook Jr.	...	Joe Briggs
Charles Halton	...	Albert Meng
Ethel Griffies	...	Mrs. Kane, Michael's Landlady
Cliff Clark	...	Martin
Oscar O'Shea	...	The Judge
Alec Craig	...	Briggs' Defense Attorney
Otto Hoffman	...	Charles Evans, the Police Surgeon

Runtime:

64 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Recording System)

Certification:

Canada:PA (Ontario) | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | USA:Approved (PCA #6407)

Company:

RKO Radio Pictures

Trivia:

Peter Lorre owed RKO two days on his contract and was given this role with few scenes and few lines, but received top billing.

Quotes:

Michael Ward: Did you ever want to kill a man?
Martin: My son, there's murder in every intelligent man's heart.

Mr. Lorre Makes His Mark

Early noir thriller with some neat, inventive camera-work by director Boris Ingster, a subtly creepy performance by Peter Lorre, some third-rate dialog even for 1940, and some horrible acting leads. I have ambivalent feelings toward the film. On the one hand, the direction is very evocative for its time. Ingster knows how to create suspense and uses pace nicely throughout. Ingster uses light and shadow in true film noir fashion. Some scenes are quite chilling. In particular any of the scenes with Lorre and a long but effectively shot dream sequence. Lorre has a small but central role in the film - not saying a word till the last third of the film. He uses his looks, described as "thick lips, buggy eyes, and a white scarf" in quite a deranged menacing yet gentle way. He was quite an actor! That being said, the film has some, for me at least, major drawbacks that seriously flaw it. John McGuire and Margaret Tallichet are the leads, a reporter who witnesses not one but two murders and his soon to be wife. Both could have used some acting lessons as neither is impressive in front of the camera. In fact both are pretty awful to be honest. Thankfully the character acting of the likes of Elisha Cook Jr., Charles Halton, and a slew of professional character actor types ably assist. The dialog is weak and insincere from the leads, and as they make up a huge percentage of the film - this is a major weakness. If only Mr. Lorre could have been in the film more. But if one brushes aside the ludicrous performances of Tallichet and McGuire, one should enjoy the film for its artistry and Lorre's wonderfully short portrayal of a man with a misplaced heart and a diseased mind.