House by the River *** (1950, Louis Hayward, Jane Wyatt, Lee Bowman) – Classic Movie Review 2806

Fritz Lang directs this tense, moody, intriguing and atmospheric 1950 film noir thriller based on the A P Herbert source novel’s story of death, betrayal and obsession.

Louis Hayward stars as deranged, unsuccessful author Stephen Byrne, married to Marjorie (Jane Wyatt), who accidentally kills their maid Emily Gaunt (Dorothy Patrick) while trying to seduce her. He then involves his handicapped brother John (Lee Bowman) to help him in hiding the body, which they dump in the river near the house. But the body is found by the police and John is accused of murder.

The mystery thriller is carefully crafted by Lang, who builds a disturbing, gothic feeling of tension and claustrophobia. He masterfully overcomes the difficulties of filming in the low-budget Republic Studios, with the help of Edward Cronjager’s distinguished eye-catching noir images.

But, though Hayward is suitably creepy and deranged seeming, some of the acting is less distinguished, while Mel Dinelli’s scripting is sometimes lacklustre and even deficient. Alas the movie ends up being not from the great Lang’s top drawer but it is still enjoyable, rewarding and welcome none the less.

Also in the cast are Ann Shoemaker, Kathleen Freeman, Jody Gilbert, Peter Brocco, Will Wright, Howland Chamberlain, Margaret Seddon, Leslie Kimmell, Effie Laird and Sarah Padden.

© Derek Winnert 2015 Classic Movie Review 2806

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Fritz Lang (1890–1976)

Jane Wyatt (1910–2006)