:
Richard Basehart,
Richard Basehart,
Valentina Cortese,
more...
:
Robert Wise,
Robert Wise
see all cast/crew...
: Not Rated
: 20th Century Fox
: Classics, Film Noir
: 93 min.
: English, Spanish
: English, Spanish
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After surviving the hell of a Nazi death camp, a refugee faces even greater dangers in America in this tale of murder, deceit, and assumed identities. Victoria Kopwelska (Valentina Cortese) is a Polish woman imprisoned in a Nazi concentration camp near the end of World War II. Desperate to survive, Victoria learns that her best friend has family in the United States, and if they are ever freed, she pledges to take Victoria to America with her. Victoria's friend, however, is killed shortly before American troops can liberate the camp. With nowhere to go, Victoria steals her friend's papers and sails to America, where she is accepted as her friend by her family. Victoria learns that she is now the godmother to a young boy, as well as the heir to a sizable fortune, following the death of her "aunt." Alan Spender (Richard Basehart), the boy's guardian, has been making secret plans to get his hands on the money, and Victoria's arrival causes him to draft a new scheme. Alan begins wooing Victoria, hoping to take her hand in marriage and then murder her, gaining her estate in the process. However, after several accidents befall the youngster, Victoria begins to believe that her new sweetheart is up to no good. The House on Telegraph Hill was directed by Robert Wise, who went on to helm such blockbusters as West Side Story and The Sound of Music. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
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| This movie was good because it was set in San Francisco...
by GSutton
July 3, 2008 - 11:25 AM PDT
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1 out of 1 members found this review helpful
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| ..., but that's about it. The ending of this movie is a bit inventive, but the rest of the movie is horrid. Ya know how horrible screenwriters/directors use narration to make up for the things they can't figure out how to visualize. This whole film is filled with cheesy narrative that seem to really want to give you perspective in to a shallow selfish woman, whom you respect less and less, especially because you know what she is thinking. If you are thinking about watching this movie, you should probably just spend 93 minutes at the DMV instead. At least after 93 minutes at the DMV you will have met some interesting people and maybe even gotten a car or boat registered with the state. |
| Early Hollywood Holocaust Hooey
by talltale
March 29, 2006 - 8:38 PM PST
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2 out of 2 members found this review helpful
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| Relatively early Robert Wise and not bad (though not especially good, either), THE HOUSE ON TELEGRAPH HILL tackles the theme of Jewish Holocaust survivors in just about the way you'd imagine Hollywood would handle it circa 1951. Which means pussyfootingly and melodramatically. Valentina Cortese (who was much better in Jules Dassin's much better "Thieves Highway") is the heroine, with Richard Basehart and William Lundigan in support. The San Francisco locations are fun, and the film is short so it doesn't outstay its welcome. Well, not by too much, at least, because it did take moviemakers an awfully long while to score their points back then. Compare this one with Wise's amazing "The Set-Up" to see what kind of crisp, pointed, no-nonsense filmmaking this guy could REALLY provide. |
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GreenCine Member Rating
(Average 7.08)
12 Votes
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