kapelusznik18 ***SPOILERS*** By far the most interesting character in the movie about a dysfunctional New York Italian family is older brother Joe Monetti played by Luther Adler who's role was later resurrected some 20 years later in the "Godfather" movies one & two as dark sheep of the Corleone family Fredo Corleone. It's Fredo as the older brother who didn't get respect and was treated like a dummy more or less like Joe was treated by his dad neighbor banker father Gino Monetti, Edward G. "Eddy" Robinson. Then there's also Richard Conte, who was also in the "Godfather", as the smart and pragmatic Max Monetti who like Al Pacino in the "Godfather" movies was the smartest of the Monetti brothers as well had an non Italian girlfriend- Like Al Pacino's Kay Adams in the "Godfather" movies- the Waspy all American girl Irene Bennett, Susan Hayworth, that he threw his Italian hand picked by the family fiancée the much younger and far more prettier Maria Domenico, Debra Paget, under the bus for.It's when Papa Monetti is indited for a number of criminal counts of illegals bank practices it' s Max who sticks his neck out to get him to beat the rap by trying to bribe a number of jurors that, by reporting him to the D.A';s office, backfires on him. Ending up saving a seven year sentence behind bars when during that time his father Gino passed away Max who swore revenge against Joe, for setting him up, is out and ready to bury the hatched with him; As well as check out to San Francisco with his girlfriend Irene. It's now Joe the former lowly $65.00 a week bank teller now bank president who's the big man of the family who still has it in for brother Max and plans to have him murdered to make sure he won't cause him any more trouble in the future.***SPOILERS****Joe uses his two other brothers pretty boy Tony, Efrem Zimbalist Jr, who while Max was behind bars married his ex fiancée Maria as well the brain damaged from taking too may shots in the head in the boxing ring Pietro, Paul Valentine, to do Max in. The final showdown has Pietro beat, under orders from Joe, the living hell out of Max but soon come to his senses. That's when he realizes that what he's doing will not only put him behind bars for life if not in the electric chair but is disrespecting his dead father Gino whom Max took the rap for! Now turning against Joe and about to drop him off a 4th floor baloney Pietro finally realizes just how wrong as well as stupid he is and forgets the whole thing! In the end a battered but still alive and breathing Max rides off into the sunrise with Irene to start a new life with her in far off San Francisco and drop out of the crazy Monetti business ventures altogether!

jarrodmcdonald-1 Edward G. Robinson won the Best Actor award at Cannes for his role in this motion picture from 20th Century Fox. He is cast as the patriarch of a dysfunctional Italian-American family and steals one scene after another. Also in the cast: Richard Conte and Efrem Zimbalist, who play his sons. As the story unfolds, we learn that the boys have been used time and again to carry out nefarious crimes that suit dear old dad's own purposes. It's a complex and multi-layered melodrama, where violence seems to be the only way out. But Conte's character finds an alternative solution, when he strikes up a relationship with a woman played by Susan Hayward. Miss Hayward gives a fascinating performance as the love interest whose own happiness is soon jeopardized by her involvement with this man from a ruthless clan.Hayward and Conte would re-team on screen a few years later in the biopic I'll Cry Tomorrow.

MartinHafer Joseph L. Mankiewicz had an amazing fun in Hollywood during the late 1940s and into the 50s. Aside from his HUGE misfire later in life ("Cleopatra"), he had an incredible string of successes--one brilliant film after another. Just think about it--he directed "A Letter to Three Wives", "House of Strangers", "No Way Out", "All About Eve" and "People Will Talk" all one after the other! Any one of these films would make a director proud--and yet Mank also wrote these films! Wow."House of Strangers" is unusual for me because I rarely watch a movie more than once (this could explain part of how I've reviewed so many movies). But, because I loved it so much the first time, I thought I'd watch it again. The film was remade only a few years later as "Broken Lance"--also a good film but not in the same league as "House of Strangers". It was also remade only a few years after that as "The Big Show". Obviously, it was an awfully good script.The film begins with one son (Richard Conte) arriving at his huge family home. It seems he'd just completed a stretch in prison. Why he went to prison and what's happened in this family unfolds slowly through the course of the film. I really like this style. Instead of telling a straight sequential narrative, this approach increases the suspense greatly.As for the rest of the cast, the film is filled with some great talents. Edward G. Robinson is at his best as a manipulative and dictatorial family patriarch--and proves he was much more than a one-note actor who played gangsters. Luther Adler, Susan Hayward and even a young Efrem Zimbalist Jr. are on hand to round out the cast. And, although I mentioned him earlier, Conte is great--and it's one of his best roles (along with the highly underrated "Thieves' Highway").The bottom line is like the best of Mankiewicz's films, it's all about PEOPLE and ACTING. You don't watch a Mankiewicz film for spectacle or action (thus the failure of "Cleopatra") but for dynamite acting, great characters and dialog--fantastic, fantastic dialog. For example, watch the scene where Hayward and Conte first meet--it's brilliant and memorable. Also, the ending is just great--very tense and very brutal--sort of like a 'family noir' picture!

kenjha An immigrant Italian family squabbles over its banking business in 1930s NYC. Robinson is fabulous as the patriarch of the family, who runs a shady business and alienates three of his sons by showing favoritism towards the fourth. Conte is equally good as the favorite son, a no-nonsense attorney. Hayward completes the trio of stellar performances as Conte's tough girlfriend. The script is excellent, with elements of it foreshadowing "The Godfather." Mankiewicz directs with a sure hand. The dialog is sharp and witty, particularly in rapid-fire exchanges between Conte and Hayward. The film also finds time for humor, including a hilarious steam bath scene.