House of Strangers

Director: Joseph L. Mankiewicz Joseph L. Mankiewicz

Overview

In this film, Edward G. Robinson plays an Italian-American banker who runs roughshod over his four grown sons. When the ruthless Robinson is arrested for illegal business practices, three of his sons attempt to take over the business. Only son Richard Conte remains loyal to his father.

Product Details

Release Date:	12/13/2016
UPC:	0024543315582
Original Release:	1949
Rating:	NR
Source:	ALLIED VAUGHN
Language:	English
Time:	1:41:00
Sales rank:	38,720

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Edward G. Robinson	Gino Monetti
Susan Hayward	Irene Bennett
Richard Conte	Max Monetti
Luther Adler	Joe Monetti
Paul Valentine	Pietro Monetti
Efrem Zimbalist Jr.	Tony
Debra Paget	Maria Domenico
Hope Emerson	Helena Domenico
Esther Minciotti	Theresa Monetti,Actor
Diana Douglas	Elaine Monetti
Tito Vuolo	Lucca
Alberto Morin	Victoro
Sid Tomack	Waiter
Thomas Browne Henry	Judge
David Wolfe	Prosecutor
John Kellogg	Danny
Ann Morrison	Woman Juror
Dolores Parker	Nightclub Singer
Mario Siletti	Man
Lawrence Tibbett	Voice on Recording
Tommy Garland	Man
Maurice Samuels	Man
Frank Jaquet	Man
Charles Flynn	Guard
Howard Mitchell	Guard
Phil Tully	Guard
Joseph Mazzuca	Bat Boy
John Pedrini	Cop
Charles McClelland	Cop
James Little	Cop
Scott Landers	Detective
Fred Hillebrand	Detective
Argentina Brunetti	Woman
Rhoda Williams	Woman
Donna La Tour	Chorus Dancer
Maxine Ardell	Chorus Dancer
Sally Yarnell	Chorus Dancer
Jeri Jordan	Chorus Dancer
Marjorie Holliday	Chorus Dancer
Bob Castro	Preliminary Fighter
Eddie Saenz	Preliminary Fighter
Herb Vigran	Neighbor
Mushy Callahan	Referee
George Spaulding	Doorman
John Kullers	Taxi Driver
Daniele Amfitheatrof	Composer

Technical Credits

Jerome Weidman

Joseph L. Mankiewicz	Director
Fred Sersen	Special Effects
Sol C. Siegel	Producer
Jerome Weidman	Screenwriter
Roger Heman	Sound/Sound Designer

Editorial Reviews

House of Strangers is a stylish, powerful but ultimately unsatisfying family drama that benefits from a quartet of top-notch performers and from Joseph L. Mankiewicz's stylish and assured direction. Although Mankiewicz is not credited as a writer, the screenplay for Strangers bears a number of Mankiewicz touches, including an extended flashback (started, as in A Letter to Three Wives, by an aural cue); incisive, character-defining dialogue; and a slight tendency toward over-explaining. It's the last characteristic that tends to hurt Strangers, especially at the end. This is exacerbated by the fact that the climactic change of heart by the lead character comes from nowhere; he goes over territory that he has clearly been over hundreds of times before, but for some reason, this particular time it causes him to do a complete about-face. Of course, the fact that his girlfriend is now involved is a factor, but he has earlier dismissed that element so thoroughly that something more is needed. Fortunately, Edward G. Robinson's commanding presence, Richard Conte's smoothness and strength, Susan Hayward's complex and richly shaded characterization, and Luther Adler's oily opportunism help to overcome the flaws in the script and make Strangers a good, if not great, film.