"The Stranger" was one of the first films to deal with post war WWII. It was directed by Orson Welles who considered it one of his lesser efforts (I strongly disagree).
The War Crimes Commission want to capture notorious Nazi commander Franz Kindler (Welles) who has erased all traces of his identity and fled to the United States under an assumed name. Wilson (Edward G. Robinson) is assigned the task of tracking down the fugitive. He arranges for one of Kindler's associates Konrad Meinike (Konstantin Shayne) to be released from prison. Wilson trails Meinike to the small New England town of Harper, Connecticut where it is believed that Kindler is hiding.
Kindler has assumed the identity of College Professor Charles Rankin and is planning to marry local socialite Mary Longstreet (Loretta Young) the daughter of a prominent judge (Philip Merivale). Meinike, meanwhile contacts Rankin aka Kindler and the two predict the rise of a Fourth Reich. When Meinike exhibits a "pray to the Lord for forgiveness" attitude, Kindler kills him and buries the body in a nearby shallow grave.
Wilson suspects Rankin but is unable to prove his suspicions. Wilson aligns with Mary's brother Noah (Richard Long) to keep an eye on Rankin. Rankin has an interest in an old clock situated in an abandoned church tower which Wilson plans to exploit.
Mary, meantime, refuses to believe the allegations against her now husband. Rankin becomes fearful that Mary will expose him and arranges for her to have an "accident" while climbing a steep ladder leading to the clock tower. Faithful servant Sara (Martha Wentworth) foils the plan by feigning a heart attack. Mary is now convinced that Rankin is indeed Kindler.
Wilson corners Rankin/Kindler in the clock tower and.............................................................
The studio reportedly had about 20 minutes cut from the film which infuriated Welles. Nevertheless the finished film is still an engaging thriller replete with many of the Welles touches such as the creepy dark interior of the church with it's long foreboding ladder.
Edward G. Robinson is great as always as is Loretta Young as the disbelieving wife. Welles himself also turns in a convincing portrayal as the Nazi on the run. It's a little baffling however, how the fictional Kindler a supposedly senior Nazi officer, was able to erase all traces of his identity before fleeing.
Not Welles best but any Welles film is worth a look.
The War Crimes Commission want to capture notorious Nazi commander Franz Kindler (Welles) who has erased all traces of his identity and fled to the United States under an assumed name. Wilson (Edward G. Robinson) is assigned the task of tracking down the fugitive. He arranges for one of Kindler's associates Konrad Meinike (Konstantin Shayne) to be released from prison. Wilson trails Meinike to the small New England town of Harper, Connecticut where it is believed that Kindler is hiding.
Kindler has assumed the identity of College Professor Charles Rankin and is planning to marry local socialite Mary Longstreet (Loretta Young) the daughter of a prominent judge (Philip Merivale). Meinike, meanwhile contacts Rankin aka Kindler and the two predict the rise of a Fourth Reich. When Meinike exhibits a "pray to the Lord for forgiveness" attitude, Kindler kills him and buries the body in a nearby shallow grave.
Wilson suspects Rankin but is unable to prove his suspicions. Wilson aligns with Mary's brother Noah (Richard Long) to keep an eye on Rankin. Rankin has an interest in an old clock situated in an abandoned church tower which Wilson plans to exploit.
Mary, meantime, refuses to believe the allegations against her now husband. Rankin becomes fearful that Mary will expose him and arranges for her to have an "accident" while climbing a steep ladder leading to the clock tower. Faithful servant Sara (Martha Wentworth) foils the plan by feigning a heart attack. Mary is now convinced that Rankin is indeed Kindler.
Wilson corners Rankin/Kindler in the clock tower and.............................................................
The studio reportedly had about 20 minutes cut from the film which infuriated Welles. Nevertheless the finished film is still an engaging thriller replete with many of the Welles touches such as the creepy dark interior of the church with it's long foreboding ladder.
Edward G. Robinson is great as always as is Loretta Young as the disbelieving wife. Welles himself also turns in a convincing portrayal as the Nazi on the run. It's a little baffling however, how the fictional Kindler a supposedly senior Nazi officer, was able to erase all traces of his identity before fleeing.
Not Welles best but any Welles film is worth a look.