FeistyUpper If you don't like this, we can't be friends.

Beanbioca As Good As It Gets

Erica Derrick By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

Bob This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

dougdoepke An unscrupulous writer murders his comely maid, then shifts blame onto his crippled brother, all under the watchful glow of a river that seemingly never forgets.Republic goes noir! Well, it is 1949, and the genre is at its Hollywood peak. Still, pairing Republic with dark shadows is almost like pairing Roy Rogers with Sam Spade. But the studio was clearly serious, hiring one of the masters of noir, Fritz Lang. In fact, those shots of a darkly glistening river stretching out to infinity made me re-think the whole idea of swimming. And what about a slimy Louis Hayward as the unscrupulous Stephen. He's the kind of guy who would pat your back, smile, and then slip a letter opener into your gut. He's sure a long way from his usual swashbuckling hero. But my money's on portly Jody Gilbert who steals the movie as the truculent housekeeper. Gilbert's usually a comedic figure, but you'd never know it here. Frankly, though, the lengthy courtroom scene breaks up the noirish spell of the river and the shadowy bankside mansion. It should have been re-thought. Then there's the symbolism of the rippling gown and a flowing river, suggesting that justice and time, respectively, never forget. These shots are some of the most striking b&w photography I've seen. Of course, the producers couldn't have known at the time, but the wholesome Jane Wyatt made me think Robert Young and the kids would arrive any moment. Nonetheless, she's right for the sweet wife's part. Overall, the narrative may be flawed, but some truly memorable scenes remain. Maybe that's why the film's only occasionally included among Lang's best.

evening1 I enjoyed this thriller about a psychopathic writer who accidentally kills his sexy maid and then tries to pin it on his crippled brother.Louis Hayward overacts a bit as Stephen, the failed scribe who rejects his attractive and classy wife, Marjorie (Jane Wyatt), in favor of his tease of a housekeeper.I enjoyed the performance of Lee Bowman as Stephen's brother John, who, out of family loyalty, allows himself to be dangerously manipulated. He too harbors a forbidden love -- for his brother's wife -- but has the integrity not to act on it. Descending into alcoholism, he'd rather flee than make love with his sister-in-law.In a film that is much less ambitious than a classic such as "M," Fritz Lang creates scenes of satisfying creepiness on a river that is central to the plot. In addition, a courtroom scene is quite entertaining.My only quibble with this movie is its facile ending. It all ties up just a little too neatly. I expected more from this famed director.

Petri Pelkonen Author Stephen Byrne surprises his maid Emily as she comes from the bath.He tries to do a dishonorable deed to her, but he ends up killing her.His limping brother John arrives just after the deed is done, and he ends up helping Stephen in hiding the body.They dump the body in a nearby river.Soon Stephen's wife Marjorie comes back and realizes something is wrong with her husband.House by the River (1950) is directed by the Austrian-American great Fritz Lang.It's based on A.P. Herbert's 1921 novel.There's a great line of actors there.Louis Hayward plays Stephen Byrne.Jane Wyatt is his wife Marjorie.Lee Bowman plays John Byrne.The role of Emily Gaunt is played by Dorothy Patrick.Ann Shoemaker is Mrs. Ambrose.Jody Gilbert is Flora Bantam.Kathleen Freeman is seen as Effie Ferguson- Party Guest.Also Our Gang's Carl 'Alfalfa' Switzer is seen there playing Walter Herbert.I watched this movie on Sunday two days ago with my mother, and we both liked it.The movie doesn't lack of great scenes.Like the killing scene is really memorable.And the ending is very impressive.And I really liked the way Marjorie sympathized with the better brother.

broadway_melody_girl ...is one of the creepiest lines I have heard from a movie. That single name, uttered snidely in the dark by Louis Hayward will make your skin crawl.I've seen House by the River at least 6 times. I don't know why I like it so much. It's a wonderfully well-done film but it creeps the heck out of me every time I watch it. Louis Hayward in the performance of his life plays a psychopathic wastrel of a writer in the late 1800's who tries to rape the housemaid while his wife is away, but accidentally strangles her. He cons his brother into helping him get rid of the body. He gets inspiration from this for a book, and his book is a success. But when certain people get in the way of his success, he turns the whole thing around in the most diabolical way possible.Out of all Fritz Lang's sound films, yes, even M, House by the River is my favorite. The Gothic atmosphere is so intense... the photography, the music, and acting all fit together perfectly. It might not be Lang's best American film but I think it's one of his most unique.