“The Woman in the Window” (1944) directed by Fritz Lang, starring Edward G. Robinson, Joan Bennett, Raymond Massey and Dan Duryea / Z-View

The Woman in the Window (1944)

Director:  Fritz Lang

Screenplay:  Nunnally Johnson based on ONCE OFF GUARD by J. H. Wallis

Stars: Edward G. Robinson, Joan Bennett, Raymond Massey, Dan Duryea, Edmund Breon, Thomas E. Jackson, Dorothy Peterson, Arthur Loft, Iris Adrian, George “Spanky” McFarland and Robert Blake.

Tagline: It was the look in her eyes that made him think of murder.

The Plot…

Richard Wanley is a mild-mannered, middle-aged college professor.  While his wife and kids are away, Wanley decides to meet some friends at a club.  In the store window next to the club is a large painting of a beautiful woman.  Wanley stops to admire it before heading into the club.

During a conversation with his friends, the painting is brought up.  All of the men agree that the woman is beautiful.  At the end of the evening as Wanley leaves the club, he decides to look at the painting one more time.  The woman IS beautiful.  Wanley is surprised to see a woman watching him stare at the portrait.  He is even more surprised to see it is the woman from the painting.  Her name is Alice Reed (Bennett).

Wanley and Alice engage in small talk.  She invites Wanley to her place for a nightcap.  Wanley agrees.  As they are talking, a man bursts into the room.  The intruder is Alice’s lover who believes Alice is cheating.  The man attacks Wanley.  In the struggle Wanley kills the man in self-defense.

Wanley and Alice decide the best thing is to dispose of the body and act like nothing ever happened.  Of course neither Wanley nor Alice are professional criminals.  They make mistakes and leave behind clues.  As the police begin to close in, a crooked ex-cop sees an opportunity for blackmail.

Wanley has no idea how to escape this nightmare.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The Woman in the Window was nominated for one Academy Award: Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture – Hugo Friedhofer, Arthur Lange

Director Fritz Lang and three of his stars (Edward G. Robinson, Dan Duryea, and Joan Bennett) from The Woman in the Window reteamed in Lang’s next film: Scarlet Street.

George Spanky McFarland and Robert Blake (both former child stars of the Our Gang series) have uncredited cameos.  McFarland would not appear in another film until 1986’s The Aurora Encounter (which was his last film appearance).

The original film ending was very bleak.  Director Fritz Lang came up with the new ending and the inventive way it was shot.

The Woman in the Window (1944) rates 5 of 5 stars.