The Woman in the Window (1944)

A conservative middle aged professor engages in a relationship with a femme fatale, he's plunged into a nightmarish world of blackmail and murder.

Director:

Fritz Lang

Writers:

Nunnally Johnson (written for the screen by), J.H. Wallis (novel) (as J. H. Wallis)

Stars:

Edward G. Robinson, Joan Bennett, Raymond Massey

Nominated for 1 Oscar.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Edward G. Robinson	...	Prof. Richard Wanley
Joan Bennett	...	Alice Reed
Raymond Massey	...	District Attorney Frank Lalor
Edmund Breon	...	Dr. Michael Barkstane
Dan Duryea	...	Heidt / Tim
Thomas E. Jackson	...	Inspector Jackson
Dorothy Peterson	...	Mrs. Wanley
Arthur Loft	...	Claude Mazard / Charlie
Frank Dawson	...	Collins

Storyline

Gotham College professor Wanley and his friends become obsessed with the portrait of a woman in the window next to the men's club. Wanley happens to meet the woman while admiring her portrait, and ends up in her apartment for talk and a bit of champagne. Her boyfriend bursts in and misinterprets Wanley's presence, whereupon a scuffle ensues and the boyfriend gets killed. In order to protect his reputation, the professor agrees to dump the body and help cover up the killing, but becomes increasingly suspect as the police uncover more and more clues and a blackmailer begins leaning on the woman.

---

Plot Keywords:

instructor | academic | lecture | lecturer | teacher | 

---

Taglines:

THE STORY OF A MAN WHO DARED GAMBLED HIS SOUL...FOR THE LOOK IN A WOMAN'S EYES! (print ad - Lubbock Avalanche Journal - Palace Theatre - Lubbock, Texas - July 5, 1945 - all caps)

---

Genres:

Crime | Drama | Film-Noir | Mystery | Thriller

---

Certificate:

Passed

Did You Know?

Trivia

"Lux Radio Theater" broadcast a 60-minute radio adaptation of the movie on June 25, 1945 with Joan Bennett, Dan Duryea, and Edward G. Robinson reprising their film roles.

---

Goofs

When he is taking the "dead" body out of the car, the "corpse's" eye opens and closes.

---

Quotes

[first lines]
Richard Wanley: [lecturing] The Biblical injunction "Thou shalt not kill" is one that requires qualification in view of our broader knowledge of impulses behind homicide. The various legal categories such as first and second degree murder, the various degrees of homicide, manslaughter, are civilized recognitions of impulses of various degrees of culpability. The man who kills in self defense, for instance, must not be judged by the same standards applied to the man who kills for gain.

---

Alternate Versions

Also shown in a color-computerized version.

---

Connections

Featured in A Night at the Movies: The Suspenseful World of Thrillers (2009)

User Reviews

Just One Look. That's All It Took........

This one was a true nail biter. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. Mr. Robinson's performance was believable and Ms. Bennet was beautiful and just as realistic as two people desperate to cover up a crime. This is a film that I highly recommend. It's suspenseful and dramatic. I felt as though I was on a roller coaster ride and couldn't get off. In short, I was a nervous wreck wondering how this film would play out. I highly recommend this one. I almost passed it by but I am eternally grateful that I didn't. Rent it, buy it, but by all means, watch it!!

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 November 1944 (USA)

Also Known As:

Once Off Guard

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Christie Corporation, International Pictures (I)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

107 min 99 min (TCM print)

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1