Love From a Stranger

Director: Rowland V. Lee Rowland V. Lee

Overview

Love From a Stranger was adapted from a play by Frank Vosper--which, in turn, was based on a story by Agatha Christie (though you'd never know it from the print ads for this film, which reproduced Ms. Christie's name in microscopic typeset). Ann Harding plays a lovely but somewhat naive young woman who goes on a European vacation after winning a lottery. Swept off her feet by charming Basil Rathbone, Harding finds herself married before she is fully able to grasp the situation. Slowly but surely, Rathbone's loving veneer crumbles; when he casually asks Harding to sign a document turning her entire fortune over to him, she deduces that her days are numbered. Desperately trying to keep one step ahead of the homicidal Rathbone (without his catching on), Harding foils all of his clever schemes to put her out of the way. The flustered Rathbone finally tips his hand, but by now the tables are turned. Filmed in England, Love From a Stranger would be remade in Hollywood in 1947, with Sylvia Sidney and John Hodiak in the leading roles.

Product Details

Release Date:	07/09/2015
UPC:	0644827290529
Original Release:	1937
Source:	Reel Vault
Language:	English
Sales rank:	50,282

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Basil Rathbone	Gerald Lovell
Ann Harding	Carol Howard
Binnie Hale	Kate Meadows
Bruce Seton	Ronald Bruce
Jean Cadell	Aunt Lou
Bryan Powley	Dr. Gribble
Joan Hickson	Emmy
Donald Calthrop	Hobson
Eugene Leahy	Mr. Tuttle

Technical Credits

Rowland V. Lee	Director
Max Schach	Producer

Editorial Reviews

Love From a Stranger is an imperfect but very engaging little thriller. Adapted from an Agatha Christie story, it has many of the hallmarks associated with the writer, although it lacks a central detective character in Poirot or Marple manner. But the screenplay is a lovely little game of cat-and-mouse, with cat and mouse changing roles frequently and to great effect. There's little depth to the goings-on, either in terms of character or theme, which damages the film somewhat, and the first half is somewhat slow going. While this tendency to drag is almost built into the story, director Rowland V. Lee could still have employed a few tricks to alleviate the sluggishness; however, once things get moving they really move, and the last half is enormous fun. Ann Harding and Basil Rathbone are a total delight, with Rathbone especially relishing the chance in the latter part of the film to let go; rarely does one get to witness such an over-the-top performance that still works beautifully. Fans of Rathbone and/or thrillers will have a great time; even non-fans should enjoy themselves if they stick with the film through the first half.

All Movie Guide - Craig Butler