House of Strangers

Genre: family drama (in black and white)

With: Edward G. Robinson (Gino Monetti), Richard Conte (Max, his favourite son), Luther Adler. Paul Valentine and Efrem Zimbalist Jr. (Gino’s three other sons, Joe, Pietro and Tony, respectively), Susan Hayward (Irene Bennett), Debra Paget (Maria Domenico, Max’s fiancée), Hope Emerson (Maria’s mother, Helena Domenico)

Director: Joseph L. Mankiewicz

Screenplay: Philip Yordan (with help from Joseph L. Mankiewicz), based on a novel by Jerome Weidman  

Release: 1949

Studio: Twentieth Century Fox

Rating: PG

MBiS score: 8.4/10

  

A Family in Name Only  

QuickView

Story-line: when Max Monetti returns to his father’s bank, which is now managed by his brothers Joe, Tony and Pietro, he’s in no mood to fraternize. He wants compensation for his seven years in jail… and it’s not Monetti money that will make him forgive and forget.     

Pluses: memorable performances by Richard Conte, Edward G. Robinson, Susan Hayward (what a great actress!) and a sturdy cast, a perceptive screenplay peppered with snappy and sometimes hilarious dialogues, tight direction by a renowned helmer, impeccable production values and a musical theme both ominous and sexy.

Minuses: none really.

Comments: the highlight of this busy, engrossing and powerful drama is the fiery, almost perverse relationship between Irene and Max, who is already engaged to Maria; every time those two face each other, they talk tough and enjoy every minute of it. Simply put, HOUSE OF STRANGERS is old-time moviemaking at its best; it shows heart, intelligence and lots of craftsmanship instead of the gimmicks, superheroes and defective plots that Hollywood often dishes out today. Catch this one, movie buffs. You’ll thank me for it!    

MBiS

© 2020 – All rights reserved