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The Red House

The Red House

List Price: $9.98
Your Price: $9.98
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: GREAT MOOD PIECE
Review: This is a fascinating thriller. Robinson is superb as the disturbed man hiding a great secret and the ending is unforgettable.

McCallister is equally fine as the youth who sets out to discover the "secret" and with his turned up grin and cute features....it is a mystery to me why this guy never achieved major stardom. He is a fine actor.

The VHS version has many flaws...technically....the sound...the picture quality is at times poor.....but the movie is arresting and effective, nonetheless.

This is one which should be digitally remastered and restored. It is a forgotten film of the 1940s but it is a great movie!!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: stylish, moody, overlooked
Review: This is a terrific movie no one has ever heard of. Like the book it is based on, The Red House was popular in its day but since 1947 it has fallen into obscurity. Dark and noirish, this melodrama sports an Oscar winning score and game performances, including huge, nearly operatic turns by the brilliant Edward G. Robinson and Judith Anderson as a tortured farmer with a horrible secret and his longsuffering sister. Featuring Lon McCallister - also popular in his day but widely forgotton - Julie London and Rory Calhoun.

This movie is very much of its time but if you appreciate old movies, over the top performances and classic melodrama, you'll want to check it out.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: the great edward g robinson in a preposterous dud
Review: This must be Robinson's worst movie ----a great actor in a preposterous plot.The film tries for suspence---and ridiculous and unbelievable things happen --Avoid at all cost--Even the great Judith Anderson has a non part

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Should be restored but...
Review: This review refers to the Alpha Video (Gotham) DVD.

Overall Quality of DVD: ** /**** Sound: *1/2 /**** Plot: *** /**** Acting: ***/**** Cinematography: ***/**** Direction: **1/2 /****

This is not a great film but very eerie, strange, nearly on par with something like "Carnival Of Souls" or "Incubus".

Rory Calhoun and Lon McCallister are solid in their roles. Arlene Roberts is good but does not come close to the sexiness of Julie London. Edward G. Robinson creates the mystery and suspense while his sister (in the film), Judith Anderson (Mrs. Danvers in "REBECCA") enhances and intensifies Robinson's esoteric character.

Granted, the film transfer is quite soft and glowing and the sound hisses throughout, however, it is still quite interesting to view and, due to the digital transfer process, the sound is stabilized.

Until/if a restoration is ever available this is the best we'll see but, in my opinion, is worth the low asking price - if you are expecting the quality of a Criterion Collection DVD you will be disappointed.


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