theclassicmoviemuse Happy National Classic Movie Day, lovely readers!
I hope you will be enjoying a cozy flick (and a big piece of chocolate cake) on this momentous day, and maybe even sharing a recommendation with a friend or loved one.
Today, Rick over at Classic Film and TV Cafe is hosting the Four Favorite Film Noirs blogathon in honor of this special occasion. To celebrate, I’m bringing you 4 of my favorite noirs that tend to stay hidden in the shadows of the film noir catalog.
Let’s talk about these films and why they deserve more love.
House of Strangers (1949)
I don’t remember when I first discovered House of Strangers, all I remember is it was love at first watch.
Headed by gripping performances from Richard Conte, Edward G. Robinson, and Susan Hayward, House of Strangers tells a story of love, hate, revenge, and forgiveness which revolves around an Italian-American family in depression era New York City.
The story was adapted twice in following decades, but it is the original with its captivating script by Philip Yordan and an uncredited Joseph Mankiewicz (All About Eve) which sparkles most brilliantly.
Hangover Square (1945)
From the writings of Patrick Hamilton, author of Rope and Gaslight, comes a moody tale brimming with Gothic atmosphere.
A pianist-composer (Laird Cregar) suffering from attacks of amnesia begins to fear he is the murderer plaguing his Edwardian London town.
Linda Darnell’s opportunistic femme fatale keeps Cregar on a tight leash while George Sanders valiantly endeavors to solve the baffling mystery. The striking imagery by Joseph La Shelle (Laura) is enhanced by an appropriately chilling score from future Hitchcock collaborator, Bernard Herrmann.
The Woman on the Beach (1947)
Jean Renoir’s last film made in Hollywood before returning to Europe, although flawed in its execution, leaves a lasting impression due to its psychologically rich themes, brooding, dreamlike atmosphere, and strong performances.
When Scott (Robert Ryan) falls for the beautiful Peggy (Joan Bennett), he suspects her blind husband (Charles Bickford) is faking his infirmity to keep Peggy bound in a loveless marriage.
Though edited mercilessly and unsatisfactorily reassembled, The Woman on the Beach is mesmerizing, suspenseful, and echoes the superb artistry of Renoir.
Lady on a Train (1945)
Charming songstress Deanna Durbin steps into the shadows of film noir with a screwball twist. Amazingly, this film manages to balance the opposing genres, delivering an enjoyable, exciting ride.
Durbin is Nikki Collins, a passenger who witnesses a murder from her train window. After being dismissed by the police, Nikki’s concern and curiosity lead her to investigate the murder with the help of a mystery writer (David Bruce).
Lady on a Train is bolstered by a marvelous cast: Dan Duryea, Ralph Bellamy, Edward Everett Horton, Allen Jenkins, Elizabeth Patterson, to name just a few.
But it is the vivacity which Durbin brought to her role as the spunky titular heroine and the unexpected twists and turns that keep the film fresh and fun upon subsequent viewings.
This post is my contribution to The Four Favorite Noirs Blogathon hosted by Rick at Classic Film and TV Cafe. Click here to get lost in the world of film noir.
And now it’s over to you! What are your favorite Underrated Film Noirs?
…Let me know in the comments below…
Richard Conte is an actor I really enjoy seeing pop up in different films–he’s on my ‘second tier favorite actors’ list, if that makes sense. And I also enjoy mob/mafia-type stories. AND House of Strangers is available for free on YouTube! So I know what I’m going to be watching this week. (I’m interested in the other noirs on this list too.)
I know what you mean about Richard Conte, and I’d rank him exactly the same 🙂 Ooo, I’d love to hear what you think about House of Strangers! Conte is cast perfectly and gives a great performance. Thanks for reading, Eva-Joy!
Well, I finished watching House of Strangers this afternoon! It was SO good. I started watching for Richard Conte (and loved his character’s growth), but it was Edward G. Robinson that really gripped me. What a fantastic performance! And the themes of forgiveness and breaking generational bad habits? Powerful stuff. I’m glad I watched it, and I’m already planning to rewatch it at some point.
Also, were you the blogger who wanted to know what I thought of On the Waterfront whenever I got around to watching it? I think you were! Anyway, I *did* see it a little while ago and enjoyed it. An excellent film! I do think I can only handle Marlon Brando in small doses, but his performance was great.
Ooo fantastic! So glad you enjoyed both films! First, House of Strangers: totally agree with everything you mentioned. All three leads are faves for me so it’s a real treat to see them together and playing off of each other so wonderfully! I believe Robinson won the Cannes Festival Award for his performance. Sadly, he was so underappreciated and overlooked during his lifetime. Can you believe he was never nominated for a competitive Oscar?
You’re right about powerful stuff. It’s quite unique among films I find.
Yes, that was me 🙂 Brando is not quite Guy Masterson in Waterfront but he does have that innate vulnerability that makes him so compelling to watch. The glove scene in Waterfront…my goodness! According to Eva Marie Saint, that was improv by Brando and it ended up being just what the scene needed to hint at the budding attraction and intimacy between the two. Just brilliant.
Thanks for reporting back, Eva-Joy! I enjoyed hearing your thoughts!
That’s annoying, that Robinson was never nominated for a competitive Oscar! He’s such a good/entertaining actor–he enlivens every film he’s a part of and always seems like he’s having such fun. =)
Marlon Brando was such a brilliant actor. Even when I don’t like a film or character of his, I can’t take my eyes off him!
I would love to see Renoir’s original cut of The Woman on the Beach. His French films include some of my faves (The Rules of the Game, The Crime of Monsieur Lange). He never seemed to feel comfortable making movies in Hollywood–unlike Fritz Lang. Still, his Hollywood movies are interesting. As for Lady on a Train, I echo the joy of seeing its great cast, especially the incomparable Edward Everett Horton.
Yes, that would be amazing! I look forward to exploring more of his filmography. And I’m with you on Edward Everett Horton – every movie is better when he’s in it. He adds his own special brand of spice to every production. Thank you for hosting this, Rick! It was a lot of fun.
Love your post. It’s funny – I have seen all films and admire them so much – and yet never thought of them as noirs. But after reading this, I now see the light (and dark).
Fantastic to hear that you love these films too, Flickchick! I guess they are rather unconventional noirs. Thank you for stopping by!
I love these picks, especially House of Strangers — everyone is just so good in this. The only one I haven’t seen is Woman on the Beach. I will be on the lookout for it now!
Yes! House of Strangers is terrific, and the 3 leads happen to be some of my favorites. I hope you enjoy Woman on the Beach. It’s offbeat in the best possible way 😉 Thank you for your comment, Shadowsandsatin!
Wow! I love these picks. They’re all so different, but I think they fit the underrated category quite well as they all have their individual unique strengths. Hopefully, they receive more of their due. Well done!
Thank you for your comment, 4StarFilmFan! I’m glad you’re a fan of these 4, too. Oh yes, wouldn’t that be great?
I was only familiar with House of Strangers and Woman on the Beach from your list there Muse, but the other two definitely look like worthy Noirs to be in anyone’s top 10 or 20. I’ll need to check out Hangover Street for sure because star Laird Cregar was from my old hometown of Philly PA.
Oh yes, absolutely! Cregar gives a terrific performance in Hangover Square, the last before his tragic passing. Not to be missed. Thanks for reading, Moviefanman!
Good to see another Bernard Herrmann score on your list, I love his soundtracks now thanks to discovering the man behind the music in your blogathon. Now added another to this list…
This comment made me smile; and you have great taste, my friend 😉 Hangover Square is an intense, unforgettable movie. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.
Sigh. I haven’t seen any of these yet! But Lady on a Train has been on my want-to-see list for a long time. Adding Hangover Square to that list now 😉
Awesome, I hope you enjoy both of them! 🙂 Thank you for stopping by!
Great list! I keep trying to leave a comment but WP is having problems, so if you see duplicates that’s why.
Thank you, Rebecca! Your comments are coming through, thankfully. Are you getting error messages on your end?
Yeah, sometimes–it’s happened on several blogs. WP’s been buggy lately.
I went with much more mainstream picks but I adore yours especially the last two. Hangover Square is new-to-me so I am jotting it down to visit soon. I thoroughly enjoyed your picks. Thank you.
Aurora
I’m glad Hangover Square caught your eye, Aurora, and I do hope you enjoy it. The performances are quite good, especially Laird Cregar. Thank you for visiting!
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Hangover Square sounds so thrilling, shifty, and mysterious! I need to get back into noir films, as I think the last ones I saw were in July of 2020! The Dark Mirror is probably my favorite I’ve come across. Your descriptions of all of these are delicious!
Hangover Square is all three of those things! I haven’t seen The Dark Mirror yet, adding that one to my list now. Thank you for reading and sharing, Chloe! 🙂
[…] family’s wretched generational cycle…but will they? This was a recommendation from The Classic Movie Muse, and it was great. I spent most of the movie disliking Richard Conte’s character (which was […]