GUEST IN THE HOUSE
US, 1944, 101 minutes, Black-and-white.
Anne Baxter, Ralph Bellamy, Aline Mac Mahon, Ruth Warrick, Scott Mc Kay, Marie Mc Donald, Jerome Cowan, Margaret Hamilton, Percy Kilbride, Connie Laird.
Directed by John Brahm.
Guest in the House is one of the earliest films for Anne Baxter who had a strong career during the 1940s and 50s, winning an Oscar for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for The Razor’s Edge in 1946.
The film is based on a play and most of the film takes place within a house. The family living there are presented as lively and enjoying each other’s company, Ralph Bellamy as the commercial artist husband, Ruth Warrick as his devoted wife, Connie Laird as the little daughter. There is also the maiden aunt, Martha, Aline Mac Mahon. There is a friend visiting, Jerome Cowan, as well as the model for the artist, Marie Mc Donald. There are two servants, Hilda played by Margaret Hamilton after being the Wicked Witch of the West, and John played by Percy Kilbride before he became P Kettle.
Anne Baxter is Evelyn, invalid, seemingly sweetness and light with everybody trying to do the best for her. However, she is soon revealed to be self-absorbed, calculating, with her ambitions, likes and dislikes. Gradually, she insinuates relationship between the husband and his model, with the servant couple, very Christian in their beliefs, repeating the insinuations, disturbing the wife, affecting the husband and his drinking as well as his trying to portray Evelyn as St Cecilia in a painting for the church.
Eventually, she goes too far, has sent her fiance away, sets her sights on the husband, trying to control him. The ending is rather melodramatic but probably most audiences will like Evelyn getting her comeuppance.
1. The title? Films with mysterious strangers entering a house, transforming the lives of those in the house, for the worse?
2. The film based on a play, the film quite stage bound, some sequences outside the house? Yet the strength of the dialogue, the characters, the interactions? The dramatic musical score?
3. The strong cast, introducing Anne Baxter, character actors?
4. The credibility of the situation, the Proctor family, Doug and his commercial artwork, Anne at home, looking after Lee? Aunt Martha and her presence? The visit from Ernest? The presence of Miriam as model? Yet the cheerful household? The bond between Doug and Anne? The scene of their dancing in the dark without their shoes? The establishing of the characters and their interactions and relationships?
5. The promise to take Evelyn? Dan and his love for Evelyn? Her illness, heart condition, the relationship with her father? The preparation for her arrival, anticipation? Her coming to the door, wanting to keep the scene in her memory, approaching each of the characters and her happy response to them? Her illness, weakness, going to her room? Everybody concerned about her?
6. Hilda and John, the role of servants, working in the house, prim, Christians? Their liking Evelyn?
7. Evelyn, her diary, her wanting to control, her self-absorption? Capitalising on her character, on her illness, and people being kind? Her attitude towards Dan, as hef doctor, as potential husband? Her coveting the house, the attraction to Doug, confiding this to her diary? Her acting on her convictions, the insinuations about the relationship between Doug and Miriam, eventually driving Miriam away? Anne and her suspicions, comments, Hilda looking at the keyhole, upsetting Anne? And in their attitude towards Doug, suspicions? Lee, liking Evelyn, imitating her in her weakness and illness? Looking through the window and seeing Doug massaging Miriam? Evelyn and her ability to catch everyone and turn them against each other? Her sending Dan away?
8. Doug, genial, his character, love for Anne, for Lee, working with Miriam, the commercial art, the possible suggestive situations? Going to the beach with her, out late, drinking? Massaging Miriam and Lee seeing it? Everybody turning against him? His further drinking? Yet his complete sympathy for Evelyn? Her eventual revelation, his shock, going to the station, reconciliation with Anne? Wanting Evelyn to go, Dan and his arrival, Evelyn making her diary available, making Doug read out loud?
9. Anne, her bewilderment, antagonism towards Doug, believing Evelyn? Hearing the truth, sending her away? Taking the lead, not getting on the train? Her reliance on Ernest, his visit, worry about her letter and the PS, wanting her job back?
10. Miriam, glamour, posing, friendship, place in the household, suspicions, her leaving?
11. Ernest, friend of the family, friend of Anne, her former job, his return and concern?
12. Evelyn and her posing for the picture of St Cecilia? Doug with the picture – recognising the evil in Evelyn and his failure with the picture?
13. Lee, the bird, Evelyn’s fear of birds, rustling leaves like birds, Doug reassuring her? Lee and the death of her pet, burying it in the garden? The empty cage, Martha and Evelyn together, Evelyn’s fears, the phobia and Martha’s explanation of phobia to Lee? Evelyn getting more frantic, Martha fostering the delusion, Evelyn rushing outside, Martha letting her go, Evelyn’s death? Martha and her hand over her face?
14. The resolution, the happy family again? Miriam returning, the work?
