House of Strangers (1949)

Director:

Joseph L. Mankiewicz

Writers:

Philip Yordan (screenplay)
Jerome Weidman (novel)
(more)

Release Date:

1 July 1949 (USA)

Genre:

Film-Noir | Drama

Plot:

In New York, after seven years in prison, the lawyer Max Monetti goes to the bank of his brothers Joe...

Plot Keywords:

Bank | Manipulating | Domineering Father | Father Son Relationship | Italian American

Awards:

1 win

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
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Fred Aldrich	...	Construction Worker (uncredited)
Maxine Ardell	...	Chorus Dancer (uncredited)
Larry Arnold	...	(uncredited)
Martin Begley	...	(uncredited)
Nick Borgani	...	(uncredited)
Paul Bradley	...	(uncredited)
Ralph Brooks	...	Restaurant Patron (uncredited)
Argentina Brunetti	...	Applicant (uncredited)
John Butler	...	Bartender (uncredited)
Mushy Callahan	...	Referee (uncredited)
Neil Carter	...	Chorus Boy (uncredited)
Dolores Castle	...	Secretary (uncredited)
Bob Castro	...	Preliminary Fighter (uncredited)
Steve Cavalieri	...	(uncredited)
Russ Cheever	...	Off-Screen Alto Saxaphonist (uncredited)
Jack Chefe	...	Waiter (uncredited)
Geza De Rosner	...	Guard (uncredited)
Charles Flynn	...	Guard (uncredited)
Tommy Garland	...	Pietro's Opponent (uncredited)
Lelia Goldoni	...	Italian Girl (uncredited)
Donna Hamilton	...	Chorus Dancer (uncredited)
Thomas Browne Henry	...	Judge (uncredited)
Fred Hillebrand	...	Detective (uncredited)
Marjorie Holliday	...	Chorus Dancer (uncredited)
William Janssen	...	Chorus Boy (uncredited)
Frank Jaquet	...	Man (uncredited)
Geraldine Jordan	...	Chorus Dancer (uncredited)
John Kellogg	...	Danny (uncredited)
John Kullers	...	Taxi Driver (uncredited)
Donna La Tour	...	Chorus Dancer (uncredited)
Scott Landers	...	Detective (uncredited)
Walter Lawrence	...	Vendor (uncredited)
Jimmy Little	...	Cop (uncredited)
Mike Macey	...	(uncredited)
George Magrill	...	Cop (uncredited)
Peter Mamakos	...	Bank Guard (uncredited)
Rena Marlin	...	(uncredited)
Joe Mazzuca	...	Batboy (uncredited)
Charles McClelland	...	Cop (uncredited)
Tony Merlo	...	(uncredited)
Silvio Minciotti	...	(uncredited)
Howard M. Mitchell	...	Guard (uncredited)
Roger Moore	...	Architect (uncredited)
Ernesto Morelli	...	(uncredited)
Ann Morrison	...	Juror (uncredited)
Gilda Oliva	...	(uncredited)
Emma Palmese	...	(uncredited)
Dolores Parker	...	Nightclub Singer (uncredited)
John Pedrini	...	Cop (uncredited)
Charles Perry	...	Man on Street (uncredited)
Joe Rubino	...	Vendor (uncredited)
Dick Ryan	...	Announcer (uncredited)
Eddie Saenz	...	Preliminary Fighter (uncredited)
Maurice Samuels	...	Man (uncredited)
Mario Siletti	...	Man (uncredited)
Petra Silva	...	(uncredited)
Stephen Soldi	...	(uncredited)
Arthur Space	...	Bank Examiner (uncredited)
George Spaulding	...	Doorman (uncredited)
Robert St. Angelo	...	(uncredited)
Michael Stark	...	Cop (uncredited)
Theresa Testa	...	(uncredited)
Guy Thomajan	...	Cabbie (uncredited)
Sid Tomack	...	Waiter (uncredited)
Carlo Tricoli	...	(uncredited)
Phil Tully	...	Guard (uncredited)
Philip Van Zandt	...	(uncredited)
Vicki Vann	...	(uncredited)
Herb Vigran	...	Man Next to Gino at Fight (uncredited)
Frank Wilcox	...	(uncredited)
Rhoda Williams	...	Woman (uncredited)
David Wolfe	...	Prosecutor (uncredited)
Sally Yarnell	...	Chorus Dancer (uncredited)

Directed by
Joseph L. Mankiewicz

Writing credits
Philip Yordan		(screenplay)
Jerome Weidman		(novel)
Joseph L. Mankiewicz		writer of retakes (uncredited)

Produced by
Sol C. Siegel	....	producer

Original Music by
Daniele Amfitheatrof

Cinematography by
Milton R. Krasner		(director of photography) (as Milton Krasner)

Film Editing by
Harmon Jones

Art Direction by
George W. Davis
Lyle R. Wheeler		(as Lyle Wheeler)

Set Decoration by
Thomas Little
Walter M. Scott

Makeup Department
Ben Nye	....	makeup artist
Irene Brooks	....	hair stylist (uncredited)
Stephanie Garland	....	hair stylist (uncredited)
Dick Smith	....	makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Sid Bowen	....	production manager (uncredited)
R.L. Hough	....	production manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
William Eckhardt	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Sound Department
W.D. Flick	....	sound
Roger Heman Sr.	....	sound (as Roger Heman)

Special Effects by
Fred Sersen	....	special photographic effects

Stunts
Sol Gorss	....	fight double: Paul Valentine (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
J.V. Brown	....	gaffer (uncredited)
Logan Brown	....	grip (uncredited)
Paul Lockwood	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Jerry Milligan	....	still photographer (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Charles Le Maire	....	wardrobe director (as Charles LeMaire)

Music Department
Maurice De Packh	....	orchestrator (as Maurice de Packh)
Earle Hagen	....	orchestrator (uncredited)

Other crew
Mushy Callahan	....	technical advisor (uncredited)
Weslie Jones	....	script supervisor (uncredited)
Fred Lambert	....	double (uncredited)
Tito Vuolo	....	dialogue director (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Distributors

• Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation (1949) (USA) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox (1949) (France) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Film (1950) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• CBS/Fox Home Video (1990) (USA) (VHS)
• 20th Century Fox (1949) (Belgium) (theatrical)
• Odeon Entertainment (2012) (UK) (DVD)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2006) (USA) (DVD)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

101 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Italian

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | USA:Approved (certificate #13652) | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

20th Century Fox Studios - 10201 Pico Blvd., Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

"The Screen Guild Theater" broadcast a 60 minute radio adaptation of the movie on January 25, 1951 with Edward G. Robinson reprising his film role.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: In flashbacks dating back to 1932, Irene wears hairstyles and clothing that are not significantly different from the fashionable look she sports during the 1939 framing story, 7 years later, and all of which are strictly in the significantly different mode of 1949, the year the film was made.

Quotes:

Helena Domenico:I'll have you know my husband died happy.
Gino Monetti:Your husband was happy to die, which is a different thing.

Movie Connections:

Version of Broken Lance (1954)

Soundtrack:

Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone

A great 1949 drama

This masterful adaptation of Jerome Weidman's novel stars Edward G. Robinson (arguably his best performance) as an Italian immigrant turned successful and wealthy banker. His hard-nosed attitude alienates three of his sons (portrayed by Efrem Zimbalist Jr., Paul Valentine and the always superb Luther Adler). His fourth son (the film noir regular, Richard Conte) however worships the ground his dad walks on. This doesn't go over so well with his brothers.

Although billed as a film noir, the film is as much a family drama as a thriller - and an extremely good one. Excellent screenplay by Philip Yordan. Robinson won the best actor award at the Cannes Film Festival for his performance.