The Red House
Directed by Delmer Daves
Written by Delmer Daves from a novel by George Agnew Chamberlin
1947/USA
Sol Lesser Productions
First viewing/Amazon Instant
[box] Pete Morgan: Don’t put such a high price on courage, it’s an over-rated virtue.[/box]
This one seems to have slipped into the public domain with a corresponding deterioration in print quality. Despite this, Edward G. Robinson’s fantastic performance is easily discernible.
The Morgan farm is hidden away near some woods. Only a circuitous back road leads there. The shortest way from town is through the woods but Pete Morgan (Robinson) has made these strictly off-limits to trespassers. Pete has a wooden leg and is getting on in years so the womenfolk, spinster sister Ellen (Judith Anderson) and adopted daughter Meg, persuade him to hire high schooler Nath Storm to help out. Meg has a crush on her classmate but he is dating sexpot Tibby (Julie London).
Meg has been forbidden to enter the woods all her life. On his first day, Nath wants to return home by the shortcut after dark but Pete tells him a tale about screams emanating from a red house in the woods to scare him off. He is unsuccessful but when Nath is physically attacked there on his way home he must return to the farm to spend the night.
Nath and Meg form a bond while trying to discover the secret of the red house and Meg’s crush develops to full fledged love. Pete becomes increasingly hostile to the boy and almost insane with anxiety about Meg. With Rory Calhoun as the town bad boy.
This movie revealed the mystery a bit too early but was so atmospheric and well-acted that I didn’t care. The film really deserves a restoration so that we can all fully appreciate Bert Glennon’s cinematography and Miklos Rosca’s score. If you are as big a Ronbinson fan as I am, definitely check it out. It is currently available in multiple versions on YouTube and on Internet Archive.
Clip – opening
