"The Stranger" Review

 

by Daniel White

Ideally, the perfect film to view in honor of Orson Welles' birthday a few days ago would have been Touch of Evil. After all, May 6 is also the day that Marlene Dietrich, who co-starred in that memorable flick, gave up the ghost, presumably assuming to Valhalla. Alas and alack, Welles' classic film noir was nowhere to be found, so I settled on ANOTHER noir the former boy genius helmed, 1946's The Stranger. It may not be quite as twitchy as the brilliant Touch, but it's a damn good film, a solid crowd-pleaser. Directed by Orson, who also had a hand in the screenplay, it's an engrossing yarn.

He plays Charles Rankin/Franz Kindler, a teacher at a boys school in idyllic Harper, Connecticut (heralding from the Nutmeg State myself, the set designer, Paul Ferguson, did a bang-up job. Hard to believe there was no on location filming). An escaped Nazi cooling his heels until the next fuhrer shows up, he's solidified his reputation by marrying Loretta Young, daughter of a supreme court justice.

Young, as Mary, has the most challenging role. Going from adoring to disbelieving to homicidal is no easy feat, but Miss Young handles it with aplomb. The always reliable Edgar G. Robinson turns up as Wilson, an avenging angel from the war department. Hot on the trail of Kindler, he arrives in Harper, tracking a former colleague of the unrepentant mass-murderer, hoping he'll lead Wilson to him.

Though Welles disavowed the finished product, The Stranger is a crackerjack movie, well told, beautifully lit (Russell Metty), and superbly acted. Kept on a tight leash, the talented, if exasperating, filmmaker, finished it, not only early, but under budget. It's the only film of his to turn a profit on its initial release. It wasn't what he wanted (Agnes Moorehead in the Edward G Robinson role. What!), but I appreciate it for what it is: a stellar piece of film work that keeps the audience engaged from start to finish.

The Stranger was produced by International Pictures, their last undertaking before joining up with Universal. RKO did the distribution. With Victor Trivas nabbing a nomination for best original screenplay, Richard Long as Loretta's kid brother, and Konstantin Shayne as a hunted and haunted ex Nazi, The Stranger is available on YouTube.