IMDb > House of Strangers (1949)

House of Strangers (1949) More at IMDbPro »

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Overview

User Rating:
7.5/10   595 votes
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Writers:
Philip Yordan (screenplay)
Jerome Weidman (novel)
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Contact:
View company contact information for House of Strangers on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
1 July 1949 (USA) more
Genre:
Plot:
Max Monetti is consumed with vengeance against his brothers after their betrayal of his father Gino... more | add synopsis
Awards:
1 win more
User Comments:
Every once in a while a great film comes along, and is somehow forgotten over a period of time...but is still well worth watching! more (25 total)

Cast

  (Complete credited cast)

Edward G. Robinson ... Gino Monetti

Susan Hayward ... Irene Bennett
Richard Conte ... Max Monetti
Luther Adler ... Joe Monetti
Paul Valentine ... Pietro Monetti

Efrem Zimbalist Jr. ... Tony Monetti
Debra Paget ... Maria Domenico
Hope Emerson ... Helena Domenico
Esther Minciotti ... Theresa Monetti
Diana Douglas ... Elaine Monetti
Tito Vuolo ... Lucca
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
East Side Story (USA) (working title)
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Runtime:
101 min
Country:
Language:
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (Western Electric Recording)
Certification:

Fun Stuff

Movie Connections:
Version of Broken Lance (1954) more
Soundtrack:
Overture more

FAQ

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14 out of 15 people found the following comment useful.
Every once in a while a great film comes along, and is somehow forgotten over a period of time...but is still well worth watching!, 31 May 2004
Author: William Giesin from United States

This film appears in John Springer's movie book "Forgotten Films to Remember" by Citadel Press, and certainly lives up to it's name! It is a dark movie about the dysfunctional Monetti family. The late great Edward G. Robinson portrays Gino Monetti, the controlling patriarch banker father that rules his family with an iron fist. Richard Conte gives a sterling performance as the well meaning faithful son, Max Monetti. He takes a prison rap for embezzlement for his aging father. While he is in prison he helplessly learns that his brothers Joe (Luther Adler), Tony (Edward Zimbalist Jr., and Pietro (Paul Valentine plan to take over the family banking business. As a result of this his father dies. Max returns home from prison focused on revenge. Fortunately, Max's girlfriend (Susan Hayward)convinces him that the revenge he seeks is not worth it. Realizing that his father Gino was the real source of hatred and evil in the family, he decides to peacefully leave town with his girlfriend, but is soon confronted by his evil brothers.

Amazingly this 1949 film was re-made in 1954 as a Western of all things! The title of the re-make was "Broken Lance". Same story different setting. Spencer Tracy (Controlling Rancher Father) plays the Robinson (Controlling Banker father) part, Robert Wagner plays the Conte part (Faithful son), Richard Widmark plays the Adler part (Ambitious older brother), Hugh O'Brien plays the Zimbalist part, and Earl Holliman plays the Valentine part (strong arm brother). Both films share a powerful script and good performances. Worth seeing!

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Message Boards

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His Greatest Performance. g8856
Mrs. Monetti -- Saint or Villain? gjampol
The dinner scene - copied in The Godfather? manuel-pestalozzi
Novel Basis???? c532c
Advertising 'tag' line kbljk
Remake of a remake jackmunro
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