The Window (1949)

To avoid the heat of a sweltering summer night a 9 year old Manhattan boy decides to sleep on the fire escape and witnesses a murder, no one will believe him.

Director:

Ted Tetzlaff

Writers:

Mel Dinelli (screenplay), Cornell Woolrich (based on a story by)

Stars:

Barbara Hale, Arthur Kennedy, Paul Stewart

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 1 win & 2 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Barbara Hale	...	Mrs. Mary Woodry
Arthur Kennedy	...	Ed Woodry
Paul Stewart	...	Joe Kellerson
Ruth Roman	...	Mrs. Jean Kellerson
Bobby Driscoll	...	Tommy

Storyline

At the age of 9, Tommy Woodry has a reputation for telling tall tales -- the latest one being that his family is moving from Manhattan to a ranch out west. When the landlord interrupts the Woodrys at dinner to show their about to be vacated apartment, the Woodrys tell Tommy enough is enough. Then that hot summer night Tommy decides to sleep on the fire escape -- outside the Kellerson's apartment, since it is a story higher and gets more breeze. Tommy sees the Kellersons kill a man. Tommy's parents and the police won't believe his story. But the Kellersons want to silence him.

---

Plot Keywords:

parent | apartment | fire escape | police | summer | 

---

Taglines:

Thrills and Chills!

---

Genres:

Drama | Film-Noir | Thriller

---

Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 July 1949 (Mexico)

Also Known As:

Das unheimliche Fenster

Filming Locations:

New York, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

RKO Radio Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

73 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In the note Tommy writes to his Mom and Pop (43:40 to 43:57), he refers to the upstairs neighbors as "the Kelersons" and also spells goodbye as "good by". Although the screenwriter or the filmmakers may have intended the surname he used to be a misspelling of the more common surname, Kellerson, the surname is not written anywhere else in the movie (the opening credits only list the actors, not their roles), so Tommy may be right and all the reviewers and listings of the cast using the common spelling may be wrong.

---

Goofs

While running down the top flight of stairs to play with the neighbor boys at 04:15, Tommy's breath is visible, and is visible again while he is running to the police station at 25:49 just after he runs past the canopy of 136th. This is consistent with being shot in the late Fall, but is not consistent with being set in the 94 degree heat of summer (04:43).

---

Quotes

Police Officer: A good lickin' never hurt anybody, boy. My old man used to give me enough of 'em when I was a kid. Hey, still in all, I never thought of callin' the cops when he did.

---

Connections

Remade as The Boy Cried Murder (1966)

User Reviews

Top flight film noir

While 1949s "The Window" may not be a noir classic many have heard about I strongly recommend seeing it if you can find it. (It is occasionally on TCM, but it is not currently available on DVD or VHS.)

The film stars child protege Bobby Driscoll ("Song's of the South" "Peter Pan") as a young boy who is living the Aesopian nightmare of "The Boy Who Cried Wolf." His parents are portrayed the ever capable Arthur Kennedy ("Champion" "High Sierra") and Barbara Hale ("Perry Mason.") After the boy witnesses a murder his parents and the foolish police department refuse to beleive him until it is almost too late.

The murderers are also well-played by veterans Paul Stewart and Ruth Roman (who also were in 1949s "Champion" with Arthur Kennedy and Kirk Douglas.) The husband and wife would have gotten away with murder if at not been for the young boy, . The ensuing chase and scary finale are very well done. The police in this movie were so ignorant you would wonder if they did not inspire the moron cop, Officer Barbrady on "South Park."

This fine film was actually considered to be a throwaway "B" movie. It turned out to be quite popular even though it only runs for 73 minutes. The young actor, Bobby Driscoll received a special Oscar for his work in 1949 but soon found his acting career drying up as he aged and his life ended tragically from drug related issues in 1968 at the age of 31.