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, but no one will believe him.

Director:

Ted Tetzlaff

Writers:

Mel Dinelli (screenplay), Cornell Woolrich (based on a story by: "The Boy Cried Murder")

Stars:

Bobby Driscoll, Barbara Hale, Arthur Kennedy

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

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Barbara Hale	...	Mary Woodry
Arthur Kennedy	...	Ed Woodry
Paul Stewart	...	Joe Kellerson
Ruth Roman	...	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.

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Plot Keywords:

witness | child in peril | child in jeopardy | reference to aesop's fables | reference to the boy who cried wolf | 

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Taglines:

Nothing ever thrilled you like the thrill you'll see in THE WINDOW

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Genres:

Drama | Film-Noir | Thriller

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Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

Set and filmed on location in the tenement section of New York's Lower East Side.

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Goofs

When Tommy pushes one end of a long roof beam off the beam segment on which he is perched (1:08:42), the free end of the long beam falls but its other end stays attached to the wall, so it briefly hangs down along the wall (1:08:44-1:08:48), but when the top end breaks free from the wall (1:08:49-1:08:50) the cables can be seen attached to that end that were used to pull it free.

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Quotes

[last lines]
Tommy: [Tommy and his parents are in the back of a police car on the way to the police station] And that's all the truth.
Police Officer: That was some jump, son.
Tommy: Yeah, but I know one thing. I'm never gonna be a fireman. I don't like jumpin' in those nets.
Ed Woodry: I'm proud of you, Tommy. And from now on, I promise I'll believe you.
Tommy: I'm glad, Pop. And from now on, I promise I'll never make up another story.
Mary Woodry: That'll make us all happy.
Ed Woodry: I'll bet when we get down to the station, a lot guys are going to point at me and say, ...
[...]

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Crazy Credits

The role of "Tommy" played by BOBBY DRISCOLL by special arrangement with WALT DISNEY

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Connections

Version of Cloak & Dagger (1984)

User Reviews

Crying Wolf has never been so deadly...or as entertaining!!

While this film noir is listed as unavailable on DVD, I took a chance and purchased a "collector's" DVD copy on ebay, something I didn't condone until I realized that some of these old films will never be released and only exist as public domain property in 16mm prints. That being said, I watched "The Window" on an unlabeled DVD-R copy and was very impressed with the quality of both the audio and video. I've purchased other "legit" releases only to find the packaging far superior in quality to the program. "The Window" features a very plausible plot set in a run down urban neighborhood full of tenements and condemned buildings. A nine-year old boy with a vivid imagination and a reputation for telling tall tales, witnesses a murder by his upstairs neighbors while sleeping on the fire escape one sweltering summer night. After going to his dismissing parents, then to the police without their consent, he is sent on his way into a nightmarish experience. The suspenseful sequences are masterfully paced, and there really isn't a slow moment in the film. I would definitely buy this film if, one day, it's released in commercial packaging. Tense, taut and brilliantly done on the obviously low budget.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

May 1949 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Boy Cried Murder

Filming Locations:

Third Avenue El, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$210,000 (estimated)

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