Red House

Director: Delmer Daves Delmer Daves

Overview

"Delmer Daves directs the noirish thriller The Red House, based on the novel by George Agnew Chamberlain. Edward G. Robinson plays Pete Morgan, a farmer who harbors dark secrets and refuses to let anyone near the red house in the woods behind the house. In order to fend off trespassers, he hires Teller (Rory Calhoun) to stand guard. He lives with his sister, Ellen (Judith Anderson), and his adopted daughter Meg (Allene Roberts). When they hire Meg's friend Nath Storm (Lon McCallister) to help out on the farm, the two kids start to wonder about the mysterious red house. Features an eerie original score by Miklós Rózsa."

Product Details

Release Date:	04/15/2003
UPC:	0089218414090
Original Release:	1947
Rating:	NR
Source:	Alpha Video
Presentation:	[B&W]
Language:	English
Time:	1:40:00
Sales rank:	56,944

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Edward G. Robinson	Pete Morgan
Allene Roberts	Meg Morgan
Lon McCallister	Nath Storm
Judith Anderson	Ellen Morgan
Julie London	Tibby
Rory Calhoun	Teller
Ona Munson	Mrs. Storm
Harry Shannon	Dr. Byrne
Arthur Space	Officer
Walter Sande	Don Brent
Pat Flaherty	Cop

Technical Credits

Delmer Daves	Director
Sol Lesser	Producer

Editorial Reviews

If The Red House falls a little short of being a totally successful noirish thriller, it's not for lack of trying. Indeed, director Delmer Daves pulls out every trick in his considerable bag and exhibits extraordinary determination to draw the audience into this dangerous house. As a matter of fact, he exhibits a bit too much determination, with the effort showing unduly. The viewer watches impressed at Daves' technique and commitment, marveling at the expert use of sound and shadow; yet, it ultimately comes across as a little too much, and that "too much" keeps viewers from becoming as engrossed as they could be. And when they're not totally engrossed, it gives them the opportunity to notice some cracks in the story itself and to notice that, despite all of Daves' resolve, the climax holds too few surprises to really work and the inclusion of the elopement of secondary characters does nothing except divert from the underdeveloped ending. The casting of Lon McCallister in the pivotal role of Nath is also problematic. He's an amiable enough actor, but he doesn't seem to understand the depths of the character. As a result, the complexities of Nath make no sense to the audience. Fortunately, the rest of the casting brings no such problems to House. Edward G. Robinson is in magnificent form; few actors could combine toughness and vulnerability in the manner Robinson did, and his performance is crucial to House. Judith Anderson, if a bit too refined in voice, is also a prime asset, and there's also fine work from a sensuous Julie London. The Red House has other assets, including an unusual rural setting for a noir-esque film; if all the assets don't push the movie into the winner's circle, they come close.