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The Stranger (1946)

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Average Rating: N/A
Critic Reviews: 3
Fresh: 2 | Rotten: 1

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Average Rating: 3.7/5
User Ratings: 4,616

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Movie Info

The Stranger is often considered Orson Welles' most "traditional" Hollywood-style directorial effort. Welles plays a college professor named Charles Rankin, who lives in a pastoral Connecticut town with his lovely wife Mary (Loretta Young). One afternoon, an extremely nervous German gentleman named Meineke (Konstantin Shayne) arrives in town. Professor Rankin seems disturbed--but not unduly so--by Meineke's presence. He invites the stranger for a walk in the woods, and as they journey farther

Feb 8, 2000

RKO Pictures

Cast

All Critics (21) | Top Critics (3) | Fresh (21) | Rotten (3) | DVD (16)

Orson Welles's 1946 film reproduces his personal themes of self-scrutiny and self-destruction only in outline, though it is an inventive, highly enjoyable thriller.

April 6, 2007 Full Review Source: Chicago Reader | Comment
Chicago Reader
Top Critic IconTop Critic

The Stranger is socko melodrama, spinning an intriguing web of thrills and chills.

April 6, 2007 Full Review Source: Variety | Comment
Variety
Top Critic IconTop Critic

The whole film, produced by S. P. Eagle, comes off a bloodless, manufactured show.

March 25, 2006 Full Review Source: New York Times | Comment
New York Times
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Orson Welles's feverish, politically uneasy noir remains an outstanding achievement; would that the same could be said about Film Chest's barely sufficient transfer of the film.

March 9, 2011 Full Review Source: Slant Magazine | Comment
Slant Magazine

Cinematographer Russell Metty ("Touch of Evil") uses the whole film noir bag of tricks, liberal use of shadows for mood, deep focus and extreme closeups to enhance drama and suspense.

February 10, 2011 Full Review Source: Laramie Movie Scope | Comment
Laramie Movie Scope

Welles is so technically proficient that even his second-tier works are well worth seeking out, and The Stranger belongs to this category.

February 15, 2010 Full Review Source: Film and Felt | Comment
Film and Felt

Excellent post-war thriller, via Orson Welles.

July 11, 2008 Full Review Source: Film Threat | Comment
Film Threat

Full of bizarre shots and fascinating little moments.

August 9, 2007 Full Review Source: Combustible Celluloid | Comment
Combustible Celluloid

Welles's underrated third effort gets no love in this DVD version, but it's still a virtuosic, fascinating work.

July 22, 2007 Full Review Source: Slant Magazine | Comment
Slant Magazine

As distinctively Wellesian as Citizen Kane.

July 22, 2007 Full Review Source: Slant Magazine | Comment
Slant Magazine

One of Welles' most conventional films: His fans don't like it because it's too plot-driven and linear but that was his goal, wishing to prove that he could make a mainstream film after the brilliant but failures, Citizen Kane and Magnificent Ambersons.

February 9, 2007 Full Review Source: EmanuelLevy.Com | Comment

The most restrained and conventional of Welles's films, but still a thrilling entertainment.

August 29, 2006 Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide | Comment
TV Guide's Movie Guide

Atmospheric thriller-noir has Welles, Robinson pluses.

June 1, 2006 Comment
Dispatch-Tribune Newspapers

Welles' third film, often described as his worst, but still a hugely enjoyable thriller.

February 9, 2006 Full Review Source: Time Out | Comment

Fine baroque thriller from Welles.

February 3, 2005 Comment
Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

Comes up short as far as believability due to the lame script.

January 6, 2005 Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews | Comment
Ozus' World Movie Reviews

a solid piece of postwar genre work about a Nazi hiding in bucolic small-town America

March 16, 2004 Full Review Source: Q Network Film Desk | Comment
Q Network Film Desk
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Audience Reviews for The Stranger

Welles is so technically proficient that even his second-tier works are a clinic in form, camera blocking, and mise-en-scene. Like Bergman, he isn't afraid to use dramatic closeups to communication the emotional tics of his characters, and he always strays clear of the conventional route when it comes to his direction.

February 18, 2011
JonathanHutchings
Jonathan Hutchings

Super Reviewer

The Stranger or I Married a Nazi (just kidding). A small town is unaware that one of their citizens was a Nazi in WWII, and he lives a normal life until someone comes looking for him. A good movie, with good actors and an interesting story.

September 5, 2010
ajv2688

Super Reviewer

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Foreign Titles

  • The Stranger (1946) (DE)
  • The Stranger (1946) (UK)
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