The Window (1949).
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
The Window(1949). Film noir, based on the short story "The Boy Cried Murder" by Cornell Woolrich. The film was directed by Ted Tetzlaff, who worked as a cinematographer on another suspense film, Alfred Hitchcock's, Notorious (1946). Cast: Bobby Driscoll, Barbara Hale, Arthur Kennedy, Ruth Roman and Paul Stewart.
After Tommy, falsely brags about moving to Texas, the landlord of the building has a young couple come up to look at their apartment, in hopes that they will be the new tenants. Tommy, is told by his parents if you "cry wolf", once too often and no one will believe you when you're telling the truth" and sends him to bed.
Tommy, too hot to sleep, decides to take the fire escape on the top floor of his apartment building. There he can see into Joe and Jean Kellersons' apartment. Tommy, watches while Joe searches through the pockets of an unconscious man, who comes to and starts a fight. After.. Joe stabs and kills him, Tommy rushes to his mother and tells her about the murder. Mary, believes that it was only a nightmare and sends him back to bed. Tommy, then remembers that he left his pillow on the fire escape and when he goes to retrieve it sees the Kellersons getting rid of the body.
The next morning, when his father gets home from working the night shift, Tommy tells his father about the Kellersons. Frustrated, His father tells him to stop making up stories.
Tommy, sneaks out of the apartment and goes to the police station. There he tells detectives about the murder. One of the detectives, decides to check out Tommy's story, but first talks to his mother. Mary, tells the detective that Tommy had only a nightmare. The detective decides to go ahead and check out the Kellersons. Posing as a repair estimator, Ross looks around the rundown apartment, but finds nothing suspicious. Mary takes Tommy upstairs to apologize to the Kellersons'.
That evening, Mary receives a telegram from her brother-in-law, informing her that her ill sister needs her. Believing the Kellersons sent the telegram, Tommy begs his mother to take him with her. Tommy, scared and angry writes a goodbye note and is headed out the door when his father unexpectedly returns and locks him in his bedroom.
As soon as Ed leaves, Joe breaks into the Woodrys' apartment, where Tommy blurts out everything he knows and is forced into an alley by the Kellersons. Will Tommy escape with his life?
Child star Bobby Driscoll,(March 3, 1937 – March 1968) gives a perfect performance, in this very chilling movie about a 9 year old boy who has to live with his fears. I did not recognize him at first as a child actor known for work in cinema and TV performances from 1943 to 1960. He starred in some of The Walt Disney's popular films: Song of the South (1946), So Dear to My Heart (1948), and Treasure Island (1950). He served as animation model and provided the voice for the title role in, Peter Pan (1953). In 1950, he received an Academy Juvenile Award for outstanding performance in feature films.
Labels:
the 40s,
the window(1949)
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