clanciai Review of The House of the Arrow

The House of the Arrow (1953)

A rich old lady dies and leaves everything to the prime suspect

[9/10 · 1 December 2019]

This was screened several times, and no wonder, since the plot is a mystery that even transcends most of Agatha Christie's professional mysteries. Poisoning is supected, but no trace of any poison can be found. The sole heiress immediately becomes implicated and accused, but no proof can be found against her. A lovely maid is another suspect, but her innocence actually leads to solving the mystery in the end. A jealous cousin becomes seriously suspected by the police from the beginning, since he so vehemently accuses the heiress, but he has to take everything back. No one can guess the outcome, which will be a surprise. Oskar Homolka as the police investigator gloriously dominates the film and adds to its picturesque character of mystery veiled in enigmas, and it must be one of his best films. The music is also perfect, suits the mood exactly, like Anton Karas' cither in "The Third Man", and is actually a major enjoyment in the film. The cinematography is also interesting for its depth and fascinating treatment of the environment in spite of the settings being rather clastrophobic, but the film surmounts that temptation. In brief, a golden treat for lovers of criminal mysteries.