The Window (1949)

Director:

Ted Tetzlaff

Writers:

Cornell Woolrich (story)
Mel Dinelli (screenplay)

Release Date:

18 November 1949 (France)

Genre:

Drama | Film-Noir | Thriller

Tagline:

It never lets you go!

Plot:

At the age of 9, Tommy Woodry has a reputation for telling tall tales -- the latest one being that his...

Plot Keywords:

Apartment | Parent | Police | Summer | Heat Wave

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 1 win & 2 nominations

Cast

Barbara Hale	...	Mrs. Mary Woodry
Arthur Kennedy	...	Mr. Ed Woodry
Paul Stewart	...	Joe Kellerson
Ruth Roman	...	Mrs. Jean Kellerson
Bobby Driscoll	...	Tommy Woodry

Runtime:

73 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

UK:A | Finland:(Banned) (1949) | Finland:K-16 (1950) | Canada:PG (Ontario) | West Germany:16 | Sweden:15 | USA:Approved (certificate #12861)

Filming Locations:

New York, USA

Company:

RKO Radio Pictures

Trivia:

This film was shot in the latter part of 1947 but shelved by RKO boss Howard Hughes and released in 1949. When Bobby Driscoll got his juvenile Oscar in 1950 he was 13 years old.

Goofs:

Continuity: After Tommy writes his note he leans it against a coffee cup. When Mr. Kelerson reads it, he lays it flat on the table. In the next shot of the kitchen table, the note is again leaning against the coffee cup.

Quotes:

Joe Kellerson: Hello, Tommy. Now you be quiet if you don't wanna get hurt. What's the matter, have I ever done anything to you?
Tommy Woodry: [shakes his head]
Joe Kellerson: What are you runnin' around tellin' stories for?
Tommy Woodry: They're not stories!
Joe Kellerson: No? Well, maybe if you tell me what they are, I can explain. I don't want you thinkin' these terrible things. What is it you think I did?
Tommy Woodry: You know what you did!
Joe Kellerson: But I don't. I don't know what you're talkin' about. Now, c'mon, Tommy, let's be fair. You can't accuse me of something and not tell me what it is.
Tommy Woodry: You killed somebody!
Joe Kellerson: Oh, come on, Tommy. You don't really believe that, do ya?
Tommy Woodry: I was on the fire escape! I saw ya!
[...]

Movie Connections:

Remade as Eyewitness (1970)

Claustrophobic thriller

The claustrophobic cinematography makes this film. You feel cramped and trapped as does our young hero. The tenements are lit just enough for you to imaging all sorts of horrors within. The ending was evidently rushed and a bit hokey; the director et al. could have fleshed it out a bit more

This is a very real film, in that we all know children who 'fabricate' as easily as they breath. Bobby Driscoll was superb. I've never seen his Disney work -- now I'll keep my eye out for his name.

I loved seeing a younger Arthur Kennedy (before he played only drunks) and a plain but always pretty Barbara Hale (pre-Perry Mason). Both were excellent and demonstrated a range I never gave them credit for.