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IMDbPro

Stranger on the Third Floor

  • 19401940
  • ApprovedApproved
  • 1h 4m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
4.1K
YOUR RATING
Peter Lorre, Ethel Griffies, and John McGuire in Stranger on the Third Floor (1940)
  • Crime
  • Drama
  • Film-Noir
An aspiring reporter is the key witness at the murder trial of a young man accused of cutting a café owner's throat and is soon accused of a similar crime himself.An aspiring reporter is the key witness at the murder trial of a young man accused of cutting a café owner's throat and is soon accused of a similar crime himself.An aspiring reporter is the key witness at the murder trial of a young man accused of cutting a café owner's throat and is soon accused of a similar crime himself.
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
4.1K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Boris Ingster
  • Writers
    • Frank Partos(story by)
    • Nathanael West(uncredited)
  • Stars
    • Peter Lorre
    • John McGuire
    • Margaret Tallichet
Top credits
  • Director
    • Boris Ingster
  • Writers
    • Frank Partos(story by)
    • Nathanael West(uncredited)
  • Stars
    • Peter Lorre
    • John McGuire
    • Margaret Tallichet
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 85User reviews
    • 34Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos86

    Peter Lorre in Stranger on the Third Floor (1940)
    Charles Waldron in Stranger on the Third Floor (1940)
    Otto Hoffman and Paul McVey in Stranger on the Third Floor (1940)
    Ethel Griffies and Charles Halton in Stranger on the Third Floor (1940)
    Charles Halton in Stranger on the Third Floor (1940)
    Elisha Cook Jr. in Stranger on the Third Floor (1940)
    John McGuire in Stranger on the Third Floor (1940)
    Peter Lorre and Margaret Tallichet in Stranger on the Third Floor (1940)
    John McGuire in Stranger on the Third Floor (1940)
    Harry C. Bradley, Elisha Cook Jr., and Oscar O'Shea in Stranger on the Third Floor (1940)
    Stranger on the Third Floor (1940)
    Peter Lorre in Stranger on the Third Floor (1940)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Peter Lorre
    Peter Lorre
    • The Strangeras The Stranger
    John McGuire
    John McGuire
    • Michael Wardas Michael Ward
    Margaret Tallichet
    Margaret Tallichet
    • Janeas Jane
    Charles Waldron
    • District Attorneyas District Attorney
    Elisha Cook Jr.
    Elisha Cook Jr.
    • Joe Briggsas Joe Briggs
    Charles Halton
    Charles Halton
    • Albert Mengas Albert Meng
    Ethel Griffies
    Ethel Griffies
    • Mrs. Kaneas Mrs. Kane
    Cliff Clark
    • Martinas Martin
    Oscar O'Shea
    Oscar O'Shea
    • The Judgeas The Judge
    Alec Craig
    Alec Craig
    • Defense Attorneyas Defense Attorney
    Otto Hoffman
    Otto Hoffman
    • Police Surgeonas Police Surgeon
    Bobby Barber
    Bobby Barber
    • Giuseppeas Giuseppe
    • (uncredited)
    Vince Barnett
    Vince Barnett
    • Cafe Customeras Cafe Customer
    • (uncredited)
    Lee Bonnell
    • Reporteras Reporter
    • (uncredited)
    Harry C. Bradley
    Harry C. Bradley
    • Court Clerkas Court Clerk
    • (uncredited)
    Lynton Brent
    Lynton Brent
    • Cabdriver at Nick'sas Cabdriver at Nick's
    • (uncredited)
    Jack Cheatham
    Jack Cheatham
    • Detectiveas Detective
    • (uncredited)
    Ray Cooke
    Ray Cooke
    • Philas Phil
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Boris Ingster
    • Writers
      • Frank Partos(story by) (screen play by)
      • Nathanael West(uncredited)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      This film or The Maltese Falcon (1941) are often cited by film historians as the "first film noir," while M (1931) is considered an important precursor to film noir. Peter Lorre stars in all three and Elisha Cook Jr. is in the two American films.
    • Goofs
      When the prosecutor cross-examines defendant Joe Briggs during his trial for murder, he cites Briggs's previous criminal record of one robbery conviction. Citing a defendant's prior criminal history is inadmissible during a criminal trial, and Briggs's attorney should have objected to the prosecutor's statements and questions about the defendant's prior criminal convictions.
    • Quotes

      The Stranger: I want a couple of hamburgers, and I'd like them raw.

    • Connections
      Featured in Aweful Movies with Deadly Earnest: Stranger on the Third Floor (1969)

    User reviews85

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    "What difference does it make? There's too many people in the world anyway."
    Reporter Michael Ward (John McGuire) gives testimony at trial that helps convict an innocent man of murder. Now Ward finds himself in a similar situation, accused of a murder he didn't commit. His girlfriend Jane (Margaret Tallichet) sets out to find a creepy stranger (Peter Lorre) seen lurking about on the night of the murder.

    Despite being top-billed, Peter Lorre is not in this much. But when he is in it, he's really creepy and weird in that Lorre way we all love. Also, I loved Elijah Cook as the poor sap wrongly convicted at the start of the movie. Often cited as the first film noir, this is a very cool murder mystery that effectively uses flashbacks and dream sequences. It has a lot of style for a B movie that barely runs an hour. Just goes to show you don't need 2 1/2 hours to make a good movie, something today's filmmakers should learn.
    helpful•6
    0
    • utgard14
    • Jun 29, 2014

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 16, 1940 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Stranac sa treceg sprata
    • Filming locations
      • RKO Studios - 780 N. Gower Street, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production company
      • RKO Radio Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $171,200 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 4 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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    Peter Lorre, Ethel Griffies, and John McGuire in Stranger on the Third Floor (1940)
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