House by the River
Directed by Fritz Lang
Written by Mel Dinelli from a novel by A.P. Herbert
1950/USA
Fidelity Pictures Corporation
First viewing/Netflix rental
[box] In my opinion, there were only two directors in Hollywood who made films without regard to box-office success: Von Stroheim and myself. – Fritz Lang[/box]
Fritz Lang made the most of a shoestring budget in this Gothic thriller.
Stephen Byrne (Louis Hayward) is an unsuccessful writer and a bit of a pig. He seems to spend most of his time drinking and womanizing to the distress of his beautiful wife Marjorie (Jane Wyatt). One day, he decides to have his way with her maid and kills her in the struggle. His lame brother John (Lee Bowman) arrives in the immediate aftermath of the crime and Stephen persuades him to assist in dumping the body in the river to avoid hurting Marjorie, whom Stephen says is expecting their baby. They then report that the maid has disappeared, taking Jane’s jewelry with her.
Stephen talks to reporters and the publicity boosts sales of his novel. He has been told that he should write about what he knows and begins writing his masterpiece “The River.” At the same time, he becomes becomes obsessed that the body or some other incriminating evidence will surface and starts spending long drunken nights on the river. He also starts treating Marjorie worse than ever and is driving her straight into the arms of John.
Without seeing the credits, I doubt that anyone one could guess that this was filmed at Republic studios. The set decoration looks lavish and, of course, Lang fills his frames with many great Expressionist touches. Louis Hayward may not be much of a romantic leading man but he certainly did make a vile villain!
Clip – the murder – cinematography by Edward Cronjager
