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Cast

Peter Lorre
as The Stranger

Margaret Tallichet
as Jane

John McGuire
as Michael 'Mike' Ward

Charles Waldron
as District Attorney

Elisha Cook Jr.
as Joe Briggs

Charles Halton
as Meng

Ethel Griffies
as Mrs. Kane

Cliff Clark
as Martin

Oscar O'Shea
as Judge

Alec Craig
as Defense attorney

Otto Hoffman
as Police surgeon

Charles Judels
as Nick

Lee Bonnell

Frank Yaconelli
as Jack

Frank Hammond

Paul McVey
as Lt. Jones

Max Hoffman Jr.

Robert Dudley
as Postman

Harry C. Bradley
as Court Clerk

Greta Granstedt
as Chambermaid

Lynton Brent
as Cabdriver

Katherine Wallace
as Woman

Jack Cheatham
as Detective

Bud Osborne
as Bartender

Broderick O'Farrell
as Minister

Henry Roquemore
as Boss McLean

Jane Keckley
as Landlady

William Edmunds
as Gardener

Bessie Wade
as Charwoman

Jim Farley
as Policeman

Ralph Sanford
as Truck driver

Betty Farrington
as Stout Woman

Dell Henderson
as Detective

Ray Cooke
as Drug Store Attendant

Bobby Barber
as Giuseppe

Gladden James
as Reporter

Donald Kerr
as Lunch Counter Seat Man

Don Kelly
as Policeman

Frank O'Connor
as Policeman

Emory Parnell
as Detective

Lee Phelps
as Cabdriver

Herb Vigran
as Reporter

Robert Weldon
as Reporter

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Critic Reviews for Stranger on the Third Floor

Audience Reviews for Stranger on the Third Floor

• Apr 24, 2010

  In "Stranger on the Third Floor," Michael Ward(John McGuire), a reporter, is the chief witness for the prosection in the murder trial of Joe Briggs(Elisha Cook Jr.), a drifter. During the trial, Michael's fiancee Jane(Margaret Tallichet) comes by to lend moral support. After Briggs is convicted of first degree murder and is likely to be sentenced to death, Michael starts to have second thoughts, especially after this strange dude(Peter Lorre) puts in an appearance. "Stranger on the Third Floor" is a dark little number with a very cool nightmare sequence. The movie is about how often appearances can be deceiving while taking a shot at the strict moral code of the time and this is an important lesson for Michael if he is to be a success at his chosen profession. However, the movie wraps a little too neatly and quickly, as more could have been done with the premise.
  Walter M Super Reviewer
• Aug 13, 2008

  so it's a bit contrived and the lead actress is quite bad but this highly stylized film is considered the first noir with good reason: stunning art direction, especially the remarkable dream sequence, and great expressionist cinematography by nicolas musuraca. makes a powerful anti-death penalty statement as well
  Stella D Super Reviewer
• Jan 08, 2008

  A good little B-movie about a journalist whose eyewitness testimony convicts a potentially innocent man of murder. The journalist himself then becomes a victim of circumstantial evidence after his despised neighbour is murdered. The plot is contrived and overuses both flashback and voice-over, but there's an excellent expressionist dream sequence in the middle. John McGuire makes a dull hero but Peter Lorre walks away with the movie with his 10 minute contribution.
  Stephen M Super Reviewer
• Dec 01, 2007

  In some circles, the first film noir movie. The story is nothing special as Maguire plays a reporter who made the big time because of a mistaken identity murder which he later becomes involved in. There are some greatly-lit scenes which became a staple in film noir, but that dream sequence is worth it alone. Peter Lorre is as freakish as ever and Elisha Cook, jr. plays the classic sap perfectly. The story's a little uneven, but if you're a film noir fan Stranger on the Third Floor is a must.
  Michael G Super Reviewer

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