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Rating: 
Summary: Symbolic Warning
Review: This 1946 film seems to use high-speed (and high-contrast) film, which results in a stark effect. It is also a low-budget film, comparable to some 'film noir' of the 1940s. It is about the search for a Nazi war criminal, hiding in plain sight. Franz speaks American without an accent, and shows up as a new teacher in a rural college. He romances and marries the no longer young daughter of an important man (Chief Justice). But another war criminal, who got religion, searches for Franz. Franz realizes that Meineke is being followed, and kills him to keep his secret. Meineke is also a problem since he has got religion; and religion (or personal ideals) is always a threat to any secular system whether Fascism, Communism, or Plutocracy.
Nazi hunter Edward G. Robinson arrives, posing as an antique dealer. His comments on old silver shows he has studied his cover story. There is also a clue to Franz: an obsession with clocks (symbolizing a devotion to man-made mechanical devices, like social systems). Little by little the facts come out to point to Franz. Franz tries to kill his new wife, since she knows too much about him! This symbolizes his self-destructive philosophy, which leads to his fall from the top. Can anyone hide in a small town?
This film was an unheeded warning. It would be over thirty years later before we learned about "Operation Paper Clip" and other schemes to harbor Nazis in America. It wasn't just rocket scientists. The film also records a more innocent time, when college students ran through the woods as a pastime.
Rating:
Summary: A Welles Sleeper
Review: This DVD contains both "The Stranger" and a 30 minute documentary about Welles' life and career.Being an inexpensive disc, the quality of the print they used is so-so. An annoying logo pops up every now and then in the corner, reminding you that you got a cheap-o product. The documentary on the other hand, is pretty good for 30 minutes. It includes the trailer to "Citizen Kane" among other things. Overall, the bio was quite comprehensive with good production values. As for the film itself, "The Stranger" has always been one of my favorites. While not nearly as low-budget as Welles' later project "MacBeth", the film shows all of the master's craftiness that a limited budget would allow. There are several striking themes in the picture, including clocks, avenging angels, falling from grace, time running out, snow, and others depending upon what you want to read into the film. A wonderful small-town feel with everyday small-town citizens is created very effectively by Welles, taking the already established script and bringing it to new heights. Truly a classic example of what a good director can do with a weak script and small budget, "The Stranger" should be required viewing in film class.
Rating:
Summary: A Welles Sleeper
Review: This DVD contains both "The Stranger" and a 30 minute documentary about Welles' life and career. Being an inexpensive disc, the quality of the print they used is so-so. An annoying logo pops up every now and then in the corner, reminding you that you got a cheap-o product. The documentary on the other hand, is pretty good for 30 minutes. It includes the trailer to "Citizen Kane" among other things. Overall, the bio was quite comprehensive with good production values. As for the film itself, "The Stranger" has always been one of my favorites. While not nearly as low-budget as Welles' later project "MacBeth", the film shows all of the master's craftiness that a limited budget would allow. There are several striking themes in the picture, including clocks, avenging angels, falling from grace, time running out, snow, and others depending upon what you want to read into the film. A wonderful small-town feel with everyday small-town citizens is created very effectively by Welles, taking the already established script and bringing it to new heights. Truly a classic example of what a good director can do with a weak script and small budget, "The Stranger" should be required viewing in film class.
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