The Stranger (1946)

Director:

Orson Welles

Writers:

Anthony Veiller (screenplay)
Victor Trivas (adaptation) ...
(more)

Release Date:

25 May 1946 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Film-Noir | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

The Most Deceitful Man A Woman Ever Loved !

Plot:

An investigator from the War Crimes Commission travels to Connecticut to find an infamous Nazi.

Plot Keywords:

Connecticut | War Crime | Clock | Nazi | Professor

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 1 nomination

Cast

Edward G. Robinson	...	Mr. Wilson
Loretta Young	...	Mary Longstreet
Orson Welles	...	Professor Charles Rankin
Philip Merivale	...	Judge Adam Longstreet
Richard Long	...	Noah Longstreet
Konstantin Shayne	...	Konrad Meinike
Byron Keith	...	Dr. Jeffrey Lawrence
Billy House	...	Mr. Potter
Martha Wentworth	...	Sara
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
David Bond	...	Student (uncredited)
John Brown	...	Passport Photographer (uncredited)
Neal Dodd	...	Minister (uncredited)
Nancy Evans	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Fred Godoy	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Joseph Granby	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Ethan Laidlaw	...	Todd, Customer in Potter's Store (uncredited)
Ruth Lee	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Lillian Molieri	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Isabel O'Madigan	...	Mrs. Lawrence (uncredited)
Gabriel Peralta	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Gerald Pierce	...	Kid Throwing Newspaper Shreds (uncredited)
Robert Raison	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Rebel Randall	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Johnny Sands	...	Jogging Student in Woods (uncredited)
Erskine Sanford	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
Pietro Sosso	...	Mr. Peabody (uncredited)
Brother Theodore	...	Fairbright (uncredited)
Josephine Victor	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)

Directed by
Orson Welles

Writing credits
Anthony Veiller		(screenplay)
Victor Trivas		(adaptation) and
Decla Dunning		(adaptation)
Victor Trivas		(story)
John Huston		uncredited
Orson Welles		uncredited

Produced by
Sam Spiegel	....	producer (as S.P. Eagle)

Original Music by
Bronislau Kaper		(as Bronislaw Kaper)

Cinematography by
Russell Metty

Film Editing by
Ernest J. Nims		(as Ernest Nims)

Production Design by
Perry Ferguson

Art Direction by
Albert S. D'Agostino		(uncredited)

Costume Design by
Michael Woulfe		(uncredited)

Makeup Department
Robert Cowan	....	makeup artist (as Bob Cowan)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jack Voglin	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Arthur Johns	....	sound
Corson Jowett	....	sound

Special Effects by
Harry Redmond Jr.	....	special effects (uncredited)

Stunts
David Sharpe	....	stunts (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Eugene Joseff	....	costume jeweller (uncredited)

Music Department
Harold Byrns	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Sidney Cutner	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Paul Neal	....	music mixer (uncredited)
Leo Shuken	....	orchestrator (uncredited)

Other crew
Gladys Hill	....	dialogue director

Production Companies

• International Pictures (I) (presents)
• Haig Corporation, The

Distributors

• RKO Radio Pictures (1946) (USA) (theatrical)
• Independent Releasing Organization (1953) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Vollmann (1977) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Yleisradio (YLE) (1979) (Finland) (TV)
• GoodTimes Home Video (1984) (USA) (VHS)
• Hal Roach Studios (1988) (USA) (all media) (colorized version)
• TV3 (1990) (Finland) (TV)
• Castle Communications (1993) (Finland) (VHS)
• Take 2 Video (1993) (USA) (VHS)
• Hollywood Classics (1997) (USA) (VHS)
• Master Movies (1997) (USA) (DVD)
• United American Video (1997) (USA) (VHS)
• Roan Group, The (1999) (USA) (DVD)
• Delta Music (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• Ermitage Cinema (2001) (Italy) (DVD)
• FOCUSfilm Entertainment (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• Alpha Video Distributors (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• FOCUSfilm Entertainment (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• Laserlight Entertainment (2003) (USA) (VHS)
• Brentwood Home Video (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• FS Film Oy (2004) (Finland) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2004) (Germany) (DVD)
• Questar Home Video (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Reel Media International (2004) (USA) (VHS)
• Roan Group, The (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Timeless Video (2004) (USA) (VHS)
• Emerald (2006) (Argentina) (DVD) (special edition)
• Ermitage Cinema (2006) (Italy) (DVD)
• FilmAnnex (2006) (worldwide) (all media)
• Passport International Entertainment (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• YLE Teema (2006) (Finland) (TV)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (VHS)
• Reel Media International (2007) (worldwide) (all media)
• St. Clair Entertainment Group (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• Finnkino (2008) (Finland) (DVD)
• St. Clair Entertainment Group (2008) (USA) (DVD)
• EuroVideo (2011) (Germany) (DVD)
• Radio Filmes (????) (Portugal) (theatrical)
• Continental Home Vídeo (????) (Brazil) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Screen Time Images  audio restoration
• Screen Time Images  film restoration

Also Known As:

Runtime:

95 min | USA:115 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

Australia:PG | Finland:K-16 | Spain:T | Sweden:15 | UK:PG | USA:Approved (PCA #11353) | West Germany:12 | Hungary:14 | Iceland:12 | Germany:12 (DVD rating) | Portugal:M/12 (Qualidade)

Filming Locations:

United Artists Studios - 7200 Santa Monica Boulevard, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

International Pictures (I)

Trivia:

In one of the final scenes, when Orson Welles lifts Loretta Young one-handed into the clock tower from a ladder, this is not a special effect. Young stated that this was actually filmed in the church with her dangling dangerously many feet above the church floor.

Goofs:

Continuity: Right before they open Meineke's suitcase, both Mr. Wilson & Mr. Potter are shown moving the same checker piece. This may, indeed, be a simple continuity gaff. However, it may also mean to indicate that neither man's mind is focused on the game at hand.

Quotes:

Mr. Wilson:Forepaw's muddy. No mud on hind. Dry leaves mixed with the mud. Red must have been digging somewhere in the woods.
Noah Longstreet:Have you any idea what for, Mr. Wilson?
Mr. Wilson:A body, I think. Meinike's.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in White Irish Drinkers (2010)

Taught, suspenseful thriller

This film has been knocked by many people saying that Orson Welles was forced to work within the strict confines of the Hollywood system. I have absolutely no problem with this. Welles is a master craftsman. He made great films, period. In an interview he said that the studio cut out " a couple of reels" that take place in South America at the beginning of the story that he felt was the best part of the movie. As a viewer I feel that the film is compact and taut. Adding more to it would not help(in my opinion). On the contrary, I think adding more might make the film sluggish. As it stands the film remains dark. You feel that evil is present. You are just not sure what is going to happen next.

The performances in this film are for the most part excellent. Edward G. Robinson is amazing. This could have been a cardboard thin good-guy part. Instead he turns the character of Wilson into a smart, cunning hero. He is self-assured not obsessed. He understands what most people in the town don't: Kindler is a monster who is capable of anything. To catch such a man you have to be several steps ahead of him. Also excellent is Konstantin Shayne as Meinike. You can see the fear and madness in his eyes as he repeats "I am travelling for my health, I am travelling for my health..." before going through customs. Make no mistake, this man is "an obscenity that must be destroyed" to quote Wilson. Just look at his scene with the photographer in South America. He is used to people following his orders. Welles is also very good as Kindler/Rankin. There are moments that you actually feel sympathy for him. His obsession with fixing the town clock is very significant. Here is a man who needs things to be precise and structured. He wants total control of his environment(a good example is how he treats his wife). Welles hints at this man's mania but keeps him human. Even though you want him to be caught, you can't help wondering if he'll get away. Loretta Young is unfortunately just average in this film. She has some good moments (especially in the final scene when she confronts Rankin/Kindler)but her hysterics are just too much. The scene where Wilson is showing her the Nazi atrocities is well played. She keeps a certain composure that works well.

Overall, a very well made thriller with top notch performances and solid direction by one of cinema's masters. I give it 8 clock towers out of 10.