Strangers in the Night (1944)

A lonely, mentally unbalanced woman invents a fictitious daughter and has the "daughter" write to a Marine stationed in the South Pacific. When the soldier returns back to the States, he ... See full summary »

Director:

Anthony Mann

Writers:

Philip MacDonald (original story), Bryant Ford (screenplay),

Stars:

William Terry, Virginia Grey, Helene Thimig

Cast

Complete credited cast:
William Terry	...	Sgt. Johnny Meadows
Virginia Grey	...	Dr. Leslie Ross
Helene Thimig	...	Mrs. Hilda Blake (as Helen Thimig)
Edith Barrett	...	Ivy Miller
Anne O'Neal	...	Nurse Thompson
Audley Anderson	...	Train Conductor
Jimmie Lucas	...	Waiter
Roy Butler	...	Cab Driver
Charles Sullivan	...	Police Driver
Frances Morris	...	Nurse
George Sherwood	...	Navy Doctor
Roy Darmour	...	Sailor
Jack Gardner	...	Medical Corpsman

Storyline

A lonely, mentally unbalanced woman invents a fictitious daughter and has the "daughter" write to a Marine stationed in the South Pacific. When the soldier returns back to the States, he goes to look up his pen pal, and is told by the "mother" that the daughter has moved away. An acquaintance of the women tells the soldier the truth, and in a rage the "mother" kills her. In order to cover up that crime, she realizes she must kill the soldier, too.

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Plot Keywords:

companion | rage | u.s. marine | paratrooper | correspondence | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 September 1944 (USA)

Also Known As:

House of Terror

Company Credits

Production Co:

Republic Pictures (I)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

56 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

Johnny has just had major back surgery, however when he takes off his shirt and his back has no scars of any kind.

User Reviews

Dark movie

It's a dark movie - literally. At the first look at the vileness Hilda Blake (Helen Thimig) you will probably think: this is very bad acting. Than you realize Mrs Thiming is a great actress and that Hilda is a very scary character. There is an interesting romance between a soldier and a woman doctor suffering with a little community prejudice. All the action happens around a very big picture of a beautiful young woman, and the sinister Hilda give orders all the time to her submissive "friend" Ivy Miller (Edith Barrett). It's a pity that in the end the screenplay turns a little dumb in important details. This is the sixth film from Anthony Mann, and its style reminds me the very early Alfred Hichcock.