The Woman In The Window (1944) (Blu-ray) (UK Import)

One of legendary director Fritz Lang‘s first noir films, The Woman in the Window is also rightfully considered one of the most important examples of the genre, a landmark movie that became one of the initial representations of noir first singled out by French critics after WWII. A triumph for Lang, legendary writer / producer Nunnally Johnson (The Grapes of Wrath), and leading man Edward G. Robinson (shedding his earlier gangster roles to portray a love-struck obsessive), the film remains a classic American nail-biter.

Robinson is Richard Wanley, a successful psychiatrist biding his time while his wife and children are on vacation when he encounters beautiful Alice (a radiant Joan Bennett), who bears an uncanny resemblance to the subject of a portrait he had just admired. When Richard and Alice retire to her home, her wealthy, jealous boyfriend intrudes, and is killed after a struggle. Alice convinces Richard to cover up the crime, but as Richard’s district attorney friend (Raymond Massey) investigates and the boyfriend’s bodyguard (Dan Duryea) begins to apply pressure to Richard, the walls begin to close in…

With a surprising climax years ahead of its time, The Woman in the Window is suspenseful film noir at its most seductive, while also serving as an excellent companion piece to the following year’s Scarlet Street, which reunited Lang with Robinson, Bennett, and Duryea in strikingly similar roles. For anyone even remotely interested in film noir, The Woman in the Window is mandatory viewing.

Extras

1080p presentation on Blu-ray
LPCM audio (original mono presentation)
Optional English subtitles Brand new and exclusive video essay by critic David Cairns
Feature Length Audio Commentary by Film Historian Imogen Sara Smith, author of In Lonely Places: Film Noir Beyond the City
Original theatrical trailer
A Collector’s booklet featuring new essays by film journalist and writer Amy Simmons; and film writer Samm Deighan; alongside rare archival imagery

Rezensionen

Lexikon des Int.​Films: "Hintergründige Kriminalunterhaltung.​ Mit meisterhafter Beherrschung der formalen Mittel schildert Lang den Einbruch eines unausweichlichen, bösen Schicksals über einen respektablen Bürger.​ Die ironische Schlußpointe des psychologisch austarierten Films gibt ihm noch einmal eine Wende.​"
Mediabiz: "Faszinierendes psychologisches Drama.​"