The Woman in the Window

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Cast & Crew

Edward G. Robinson
Professor Richard Wanley

Joan Bennett
Alice Reed

Raymond Massey
Frank Lalor, District Attorney

Edmund Breon
Dr. Michael Barkstane

Dan Duryea
Heidt, Tim, the Doorman

Thomas Jackson
Inspector Jackson, Homicide Bureau

Arthur Loft
Claude Mazard, Frank Howard, Charlie the Hatcheck Man

Dorothy Peterson
Mrs. Wanley

Frank Dawson
Collins, the Steward

Bobby Blake
Dickie Wanley (uncredited)

Fritz Lang
Director

Nunnally Johnson
Writer

J.H. Wallis
Writer

Nunnally Johnson
Producer

Arthur Lange
Original Music

Milton R. Krasner
Cinematographer

Gene Fowler Jr.
Film Editor

Duncan Cramer
Art Direction

Julia Heron
Set Decoration

Muriel King
Costume Designer

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Critic Reviews for The Woman in the Window

Audience Reviews for The Woman in the Window

• Dec 22, 2017

  Lang directs this solid film noir with intelligence, building tension without hurry and relying mostly on a clever script full of nuances, an inspired dialogue and great performances, even if he disappoints with a conservative ending that feels more like a cheap cop out.
  Carlos M Super Reviewer
• Jan 05, 2013

  Fritz Lang's "The Woman in the Window" is a reasonably good but second-rate film noir, starring Edward G. Robinson and Joan Bennett. It's hard to believe that the same man directed this and 1927's "Metropolis." "The Woman in the Window" isn't terrible, but it almost completely lacks ingenuity. The cinematography is uninteresting, the sets and costumes run-of-the-mill, and the story rather thin. But it does hold one's interest, and there are moments of real tension. Robinson plays a college professor who specializes in criminal psychology. He gets wrapped up in a murder with a woman (Bennett) he meets on the street late at night. It is fun to watch them try to cover it up. But the twists and turns are pretty much what you'd expect from a B picture. There's also a tremendously lame twist ending built to make the film palatable to a Disney audience. I suppose Lang was pushed by the studio to end it this way. But it's still lame of Lang to have given in. He should have pushed back harder. It seems clear that in this period Lang cared more about earning his salary than making true cinema. From world-famous artist to studio hack in 20 years. What a disappointment. Lang was an Austrian Jew who fled the Nazis and ended up in Hollywood. Another Austrian Jew who did the same was Billy Wilder. While Lang's creative period was over, Wilder's was just beginning. By coincidence, Wilder also directed a film noir in 1944: "Double Indemnity," starring Barbara Stanwyck. If you want to see first-rate film noir, skip Lang's film and watch Wilder's.
  William D Super Reviewer
• Sep 26, 2012

  This is a more intense version of Scarlett Street, and I can't decide which one I like better, but they have such similar plots, I get them mixed up.
  Aj V Super Reviewer
• Aug 31, 2012

  Though "The Woman in the Window" may not be a totally perfect noir, it's a work of considerable significance, and it's enthralling for most of its running length. Despite being slow moving and, at times, contrived, "The Woman in the Window" features some impressive camerawork and a constantly foreboding atmosphere, both of which are the result of Fritz Lang's skilled direction. As well, there are some legitimate thrills to be found, even though some of them are dampened by flat dialogue and incredulous plot points. The ending will no doubt frustrate its viewers, but, if anything, it's an effective, if cheap, way to end an otherwise well-handled noir thriller.
  Stephen E Super Reviewer

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