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'House of Strangers' The Forbidden StreetA 20th Ctntury-Pox picture, produced by Sol C. Siesel, directed by Joseph L Msnkiewicr screenplay by Philip Yordan. hased on a novel by Jerome Wetdman. Now playing at the Paramount TheaterOtno ............... .Edward O. RobinsonIrene Susan HaywardMax *..... RS hard ConteJoe .......... ......„,.. . Luther AdlerA 20th Century-Fosc picture, produoby William Perioerg. directed by lean Neguiesco screenplay bv Ring tardnef Jr., based on the novel, Britannia Mews, by Margery Sharp, Now playing at the State Theater,Henry ____ ______________ Dana AndrewsAdelaide , . ..... Maureen O'HaraThe Sow ....... Dame Sybil ThorndyiceAny way you look at it, “House of Strangers” is a good dramatic picture. Its mood is somber, even depressive, but it is strong drama The light moments are few and far between; so, if you like your pictures frothy, take warning.The story is of an Italian family in New York, Edward G. Robinson, the father, owns a bank on the East Side, having worked his way up into the banking business from a humble start as a barber. He employs three of his sons, Luther Adler, Paul Valentine and Efrem Zimhalist Jr., in various capacities in the bank, at low pay. The fourth son, Richard Conte, is a lawyer, with offices in the bank. Such are Robinsons banking ethics that thegovernment cracks down on himThree of his sons desert him, but Conte sticks, getting into serious trouble in an effort to have his father. He goes to prison for seven years, coming out with a sworn vendetta on his three brothers. Susan Hayward is the gal who tries to veer him from his folly.With such a cast, the performances could hardly be anything but far above the average, Robinson. Conte and Luther Adler are outstanding; but, then, they have the footage and the parts, which, combined with their talents, give themthe advantage.The screenplay and the direction are very smooth, indeed.For the discriminating.Predicated on an improbable situation. this picture has an engaging quality, if you can swallow that situation, one of two unrelated men looking so much alike that one can take the other’s place,Maureen O’Hara, who lives in a fancy 'aouse in front of a squalid street culled Britannia Mews, mai*» ries her drawing teacher, Dana Andrews, who lives there, and goes to live with him.Dana is a drunkard who would rather make puppets than paint, and in a quarrel one night, Maureen accidentally pushes him down some stairs, and he is killed. A repulsive character known as The Sow (Dame Sybil Thorndyke) sees the accident and blackmails Maureen into ataying in the Mews and paying her off regularly. Along comes another man—also Dana Andrews—and the residents think it is the other Dana come back after a stay in a hospital. He moves in with Maureen lt;in a completely pia-tonic relationship), finds the puppets, puts on a successful puppet show, and brings resectability to Britannia Mews. Then Maureen's brother turns up, sees something odd about the relationship of Maureen and Dana, as the occupy separate rooms.Classified AdsValue DescribedClassified advertising is the advertising of the people, by the people and for the people, AI Jennings, display advertising managerThe charm of the picture lies In the reconstruction of Britannia Mews and its characters. And in its naivete. Dame Sybil Thorndyke is made up to look like something that crawled, out of the woodwork fa big hole), and the other characters are fittingly depicted.Much of the atmosphere can he directly attributed to Director Jean Neguiesco. who is an artist of some standing in the world of painting, as well as being a good director.The story is basically light, despite the gross setting in which it is mounted. And. despite its improbabilities, the film holds a goodly share of entertainment
Newspaper Details
Austin American
Austin, Texas, US
Wed, Oct 19, 1949
Page 12
Full Page
Clipped by
Rotten T.
USA 19 Jun 2020
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