Stranger on the Third Floor (1940)

Excellent, a Must See

The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one

It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

Excellent and certainly provocative... If nothing else, the film is a real conversation starter.

This is a very good film noir but TCM airs it so often that it is becoming a nuisance to me. Same goes for 'Shop Around The Corner' which is set in Budapest but most of the cast speaks an American version of English, especially Margaret Sullivan and James Stewart, neither of which could ever employ a foreign accent nor act their way out of a paper bag.William Wyler was married to Margaret Sullivan before Margaret Tallichet. He has the same preferences as myself; endeared to wholesome, but good looking actresses. Sullivan and Tallichet do not resemble each other but they both look like the 'girl next store.' As 'actresses,' they didn't have stunning careers and one can see why. Tallichet's career was cut short, but her marriage to Wyler was long.My review is not as much about the film as it is Ms. Tallichet. It may be the script she was given (certainly not her acting) but I couldn't take my eyes off her because she is so cute.The screenplay is good, especially the dream scene. Peter Lorre just goes through the motions, while Elijah Cook, Jr. is excellent as he is in all of the 'thousands' of films in which he had character roles. Did he ever play a leading man? I wouldn't place this film in my top 1,000 but it is interesting as a one-time view. I think TCM should be more diversified. They should air 'Montenegro' which is #1 on my list of best movies, all time.

In the span of an hour, a new film genre was born. Elements of these chilling tales of the subtle destruction of society's morals had been around since the silent era, but with this neat minor little B feature, the rise of film noir began. By 1944, there came more than a dozen of them each year. This tale surrounds the pathetic cries of innocence from a man convicted of murder. A reporter doesn't believe him at first until odd things begin to happen. A bizarre dream sequence gives him all the motivation he needs to check out the truth. Top billed Peter Lorre has barely a cameo but is integral to the plot. Elisha Cook Jr starts off his film noir career nicely as the pathetic accused man. With unknown actors in the actual leads, a sense of realism is added. Broadway veteran Ethel Griffies is memorable as a nasty landlady.

Stranger on the Third Floor is directed by Boris Ingster and co-written by Frank Partos and Nathanael West. It stars Peter Lorre, John McGuire, Margaret Tallichet and Elisha Cook Jr. Music is by Roy Webb and cinematography by Nicholas Musuraca. Michael Ward is a news reporter who is the key witness in a murder trial. His evidence, circumstantial at best, is instrumental in getting a guilty verdict delivered on suspect Joe Briggs (Cook Jr.). When his girlfriend Jane (Tallichet) casts doubt over Briggs' guilt, and his part in the evidence, Michael becomes haunted by the fact he may have sent an innocent man to death row. Things further compound his troubled mind as a sinister stranger is lurking around his rooming house building……Often referred to as the first true film noir picture, Stranger on the Third Floor hardly set the cinematic world alight upon its release. With Lorre the draw card barely in it and its production value no more than that of a B movie programmer, it's not hard to envisage some of those 1940's critics stroking their beards and pondering how to write about such a film. Aesthetically the film caused some consternation, too, while the snarky aside to the legal system, and the people involved in such, adds some intrigue into the narrative mix. For a film running at just over an hour, it was doing well to make a mark: favourably or otherwise!The truth is is that at its core, Ingster's film is no more than a capably acted crime thriller, but what cloaks that core are hugely impressive visuals that paint a skew whiff world of a paranoid mind at work. The script, while light as spoken, does indeed carry cynicism, but this aspect only impacts because of the expressionistic visuals and baroque like imagery. Characters, and the actors playing them, ultimately are playing second fiddle to style over substance, but in this instance it's OK. With Musuraca weaving his photographic magic around heavy shadows, stilted angles and high contrast framing, film contains one of the greatest dream/nightmare sequences to have ever graced/dominated film noir. This alone makes the film essential viewing for noir enthusiasts. The ending is all too swift and contrived, distastefully accompanied by the jolly old music that opened up the piece. But again this is forgiven in light of what has gone before it, for now, nothing can be seen in quite the same way. A most interesting and sneaky little picture this one. 7.5/10

Hey, looking for a good black and white movie? Check this one out. This is a nice suspenseful love story that you will not regret sitting down to watch. There are a lot of old black and white movies that have lost their luster over the years and would probably not be able to entertain today's audience. But take my word for it. I am a college teen that loves having fun goofing off and playing video games and yet I managed to actually enjoy this aged film. The characters are very well played. You can easily fall in love with the 2 main protagonist which is very vital in this type of film. I cared about their relationship. I wanted them to live happily ever after. I wanted them just to live! I won't give away the story I promise because you should really watch this yourself. The story is not only engaging but has you anticipating each scene as it plays. The filming techniques are superb and seem to be the most appropriate position for each shot. No thriller is complete without music. And this movie has just the touch needed to add that extra filler in the background to keep you on your toes. The sound quality is actually not that bad considering how old of a movie it is.The ongoing lesson or moral of the story is well represented and portrayed. There really is nothing bad about this movie. It has Peter Lorre in it for heaven's sake. If you don't know who that is then watch this movie just to find out. You'll love him. He is classic in this movie. Overall this is just a great movie that you should sit down with your family one night and watch together. I would watch it again right now if I wasn't in college.