The House Across the Bay (1940)

An aircraft designer falls for the wife of an imprisoned gangster. All goes well until the gangster gets out of prison...

Director:

Archie Mayo

Writers:

Myles Connolly, Kathryn Scola

Stars:

George Raft, Joan Bennett, Lloyd Nolan

Cast

Cast overview:
George Raft	...	Steve Larwitt
Joan Bennett	...	Brenda Bentley
Lloyd Nolan	...	Slant Kolma
Walter Pidgeon	...	Tim Nolan
Gladys George	...	Mary Bogel
Billy Wayne	...	Barney, Bartender
June Knight	...	Bebe
Peggy Shannon	...	Alice
Cy Kendall	...	Crawley
Max Wagner	...	Jim
Frank Bruno	...	Jerry - Slant's Henchman
Joe Sawyer	...	Charlie

Storyline

An aircraft designer falls for the wife of an imprisoned gangster. All goes well until the gangster gets out of prison...

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Plot Keywords:

gangster | husband wife relationship | affair

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Genres:

Crime | Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 March 1940 (USA)

Also Known As:

Het huis aan de baai

Company Credits

Production Co:

Walter Wanger Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

88 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Hitchcock shot some scenes involving actors Pidgeon and Bennett in a plane. They state he did this as a favor to this film's producer Walter Wanger, with whom Hitchcock had worked on Foreign Correspondent.

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Connections

Referenced in Famous Movie Dogs (1940)

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Soundtracks

"Chula Chihuahua"
Written by Sidney Clare, Nick Castle & Jule Styne

User Reviews

Joan Bennett Is Worth Waiting For

Beautiful lounge singer Joan Bennett (as Brenda "Lucky" Bentley) marries racketeer businessman George Raft (as Steve Larwitt). The two are blissfully in love, but his criminal past spells T-R-O-U-B-L-E. Thinking prison will protect Mr. Raft from rival gangsters, Ms. Bennett helps the F.B.I. put him behind bars. But, she tearfully regrets it when Raft is sentenced to ten years at Alcatraz. The frame-up is engineered by Raft's sneaky aide Lloyd Nolan (as Slant Kolma), who wants Bennett for himself. She rejects Mr. Nolan and rents "The House Across the Bay" from Alcatraz, to be close to Raft. Enter Walter Pidgeon (as Tim Nolan).

Producer Walter Wanger does a wonderful job showcasing bride Bennett in this crime thriller. Bennett is stunningly presented, and acts well, too. Others in the cast are also very strong, but it would have been nice to tie Mr. Pidgeon's aviation character in with Raft's somehow - perhaps as a wronged business partner or old acquaintance. Boozy blonde Gladys George (as Mary) lends notable support. Director Archie Mayo and photographer Merritt Gerstad do an excellent job - the three prison meeting scenes are marvelously staged - with help from assistant directors Charles Kerr and Alfred Hitchcock.

******* The House Across the Bay (3/1/40) Archie Mayo ~ Joan Bennett, George Raft, Lloyd Nolan, Gladys George