Fritz Lang made a lot of great films over his career, mostly in his native Germany; but he certainly made a lot of worthwhile films in the USA, and House by the River is definitely one of them! This thriller revels in its lush Gothic atmosphere, and this is brilliantly complimented by the dark themes of the story and a strong overture courtesy of George Antheil. The film takes place, as you would expect, in a house by a river. Director Fritz Lang makes excellent use of both of these central locations, as the house always looks dark and foreboding; while the river is deep and dark, and provides an excellent setting for a macabre story of murder. The plot focuses on two brothers, one of which is an unsuccessful writer that lives with his wife and two maids. After making advances towards the younger and more attractive maid and being turned down, our main protagonist finds himself in a predicament when she dies in his arms. He then recruits his brother to help him rid himself of the body in the nearby lake, and the publicity of the disappearance gives him a welcome boost to his writing career...
This film has been thrown in with the film noir movement that took place in the forties and fifties; but if you ask me, it's not really a part of it. The film does feature dashes of mystery, common of film noir - but the focus is really on the suspense, dark plot and settings, thus making it more of a straight thriller. The story itself is strong and works because of its well defined characters. The ensemble cast is good overall, with Louis Hayward impressing in the lead role and receiving good feedback from Lee Bowman and Jane Wyatt in support. The main reason why the film works so well is clearly down to the atmosphere, and the director always ensures that the film takes place in absolute darkness, which helps the macabre plot no end. Lang uses props such as dead animals and hallucination to maximum effect, and all help to make the film what it is. The House by the River boils down to a suitable dreary climax, which bodes well and gives credence to everything that has gone before it. Overall, this is a lovely little movie and undoubtedly one of the best that Lang made in America. Highly recommended!
This film has been thrown in with the film noir movement that took place in the forties and fifties; but if you ask me, it's not really a part of it. The film does feature dashes of mystery, common of film noir - but the focus is really on the suspense, dark plot and settings, thus making it more of a straight thriller. The story itself is strong and works because of its well defined characters. The ensemble cast is good overall, with Louis Hayward impressing in the lead role and receiving good feedback from Lee Bowman and Jane Wyatt in support. The main reason why the film works so well is clearly down to the atmosphere, and the director always ensures that the film takes place in absolute darkness, which helps the macabre plot no end. Lang uses props such as dead animals and hallucination to maximum effect, and all help to make the film what it is. The House by the River boils down to a suitable dreary climax, which bodes well and gives credence to everything that has gone before it. Overall, this is a lovely little movie and undoubtedly one of the best that Lang made in America. Highly recommended!