THE RED HOUSE

US, 1947, 100 minutes, Black and white.
Edward G Robinson, Lon Mc Callister, Judith Anderson, Julie London, Rory Calhoun, Allene Roberts, Ona Munson.
Directed by Delmer Daves.

The Red House seems a contemporary story of 1947. As it opens, the war is over, the youngsters of the period (seemingly like many of the youngsters of later decades go to school, graduate later because most of them have jobs which keeps them busy, travelling on the bus, all things seemingly normal.

Edward G Robinson has a very good role as a farmer, Pete, injured in an accident, limping with a stick, who lives with his devoted sister played in a very kindly and subdued way by Judith Anderson, a long way from Mrs Danvers. They have a young girl living with them, Meg, played by Allene Roberts. She is rather fond of a young man at school, played by Lon Mc Callister. The older couple are persuaded to take on Mc Callister to help with the farm work.

The film begins to become darker when Pete warns Nathan not to go into the woods, that he will get lost, that he would hear screams. His curiosity is roused as well as that of Meg and they go searching in the woods. Ultimately, there is a revelation about Pete's and his infatuation with the young woman who lived in the Red House, his anger at her marriage and the birth of the child, his anger at her husband, his wanting her to go away with him but his smothering her against calling out. Peter and his sister take care of the little girl.

There are some complications with Rory Calhoun as a gun-toting employee to keep the woods safe but who is involved in some reckless shooting. Julie London is the rich girl of the town who sets her sights on Nathan, who resists her, but is also involved with Calhoun.

The film has aspects of the film noir of the period. The truths are gradually revealed. and there is tragedy.

Writer Delmer Daves had begun to direct dramas and melodramas during the 1940s and was to move, significantly, into many westerns in the 1950s, including the ground-breaking Broken Arrow and 3:10 to Yuma. During the 1960s he made several popular romances like A Summer Place.

1. The film of the mid 1940s, a variation on the film noir? The film that goes from brightness to darkness? Its reputation?

2. The location photography, the American countryside, the valley and woods, the farm, the red house, farm, school, bus, shops? The musical score?

3. The title, for a film in black-and-white? The title and evocation? The revelation of what happened in the red house?

4. The opening explanation, youngsters in the town, going to school, having jobs, later graduation, their needs?

5. The school, the bus, Nathan, the bond with Meg, travelling on the bus, Meg bringing him home and asking Pete for a job?

6. The focus on Meg, age, adopted, her life and style, Pete and Ellen adopting her, her going to school”, the attraction to Nathan, the domestic life, hearing about the red house, the puzzle, encouraged by Nathan to be curious, going into the woods, the search? Pete and his reaction, the mystery of the identity of Jenny? Meg finding the house, Teller and his shooting at her? Her fall, breaking her leg, the visit of the doctor? Recovery, Nathan leaving going to work for the other family? His return, intentions, Pete’s death? Her future?

7. Nathan, pleasant, his work, the rich girl and her flirting, Pete and Ellen and accepting him, his work, the warning about walking through the woods, getting lost, the house, the screams? His going into the wood, becoming lost, the sense of the screaming? The return? Hospitality, Ellen and the breakfasts? With Meg, with the rich girl, his leaving to do other work? His mother? The return, saving Meg? His attitude inventions?

8. Pete and Ellen, brother and sister, pleasant, the farm, the limpiong, his character, love for Meg? Accepting Nathan, the warning about the woods? Forbidding Meg to go into the woods? The gradual revelation of his story, from light to darkness, the back story, infatuation with Jenny, her husband and the marriage, Peter and his anger, the birth of the baby, Pete not wanting Jenny to cry out, smothering her? Pete and his mental collapse? With Meg, the obsession with the house, calling her Jenny? Ellen, the support, her going out, then shot, her death? His going to the house, reliving the experience with Jenny, the threat to make, the icehouse, his fall and his death?

9. Ellen, pleasant, not having her own life, the missed opportunity of marriage to the doctor? His continued visits for Meg and her leg?

10. Teller, his role, shooting, his relationship with the flirting girl, firing the shots Meg, the death of Ellen? His talking the girl, getting the car, her driving, the crash? His wanting to escape?

11. The blend of Gothic storytelling with the elements of tragedy?