IMDb RATING
6.1/10
2.8K
YOUR RATING
In 1950s America, an FBI agent and a blacklist victim uncover a plot to smuggle Nazi war criminals into the country.In 1950s America, an FBI agent and a blacklist victim uncover a plot to smuggle Nazi war criminals into the country.In 1950s America, an FBI agent and a blacklist victim uncover a plot to smuggle Nazi war criminals into the country.
- Awards
- 1 win
Kenneth Welsh
- Hackett
- (as Ken Welsh)
Christopher Buchholz
- Stefan
- (as Christopher Rhode)
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaDuring the scene in the used book store while Emily is talking to Stefan in the shelf behind her one can clearly identify three volumes of Negley Farson's autobiography "The Way of a Transgressor". Farson, after having been expelled from Andover, became a foreign correspondent and actually met Hitler in person. This should not be taken as a coincidence for Emily is kind of a transgressor herself, and the Nazis play quite a role in the movie.
- GoofsIn one scene, Emily overhears The Women in the House character (who is off-screen) speaking to one of the Russians through an interpreter. The Woman is telling the Russian that they will leave for Chicago "tomorrow." The interpreter mistakenly says "tomorrow" in English and then corrects himself mid-word to the correct Russian word "zaftra."
- Crazy creditsAfter the usual "all incidents are fictional" disclaimer, it states "In particular, the producers do not intend to imply that Life Magazine dismissed any of its employees for their political beliefs or activities. The producers appreciate that Life Magazine recognizes the right of its employees to pursue their own political choices."
- SoundtracksExcerpts from A Woman Called Fancy
By Frank Yerby
Featured review
"A rock through a window should do the trick"
Much has been made of films which use past decades to set their stories in, but much less praise has been directed at those which emulate the style originally employed in that period. There has, of course, been many failures to replicate the successful Alfred Hitchcock formula. "The House on Carroll Street" is not one of those. It falls into neither common failing of such films - there is no attempt to graft an anachronistic approach to an older style, nor to bring that older style into a modern decade. This film understands that such a style cannot be separated from the emotions and perceptions of the time.
Peter Yates, a director who generally creates for the present time, does an unexpectedly excellent job at recreating this lost world. He uses cinematographer Michael Ballhaus (who went on to photograph "Quiz Show", another 1950s recreation) to wonderful effect, letting him capture his scenes in a manner that never once strays from the older approach. Yates shows us how thrilling the suspense and big set-pieces can be when not buried in special effects and quick cuts. Yates proves why he's one of the great overlooked talents.
Jeff Daniels and Kelly McGillis have very much that 'star chemistry' valued for this sort of picture. McGillis, especially, brings a lightness and intensity most modern actresses could only pretend at. Patinkin is appropriately menacing. Jessica Tandy was my favorite performance, a tiny role nonetheless brightened by the nuances she brings to it. Christopher Buchholz provides an engaging, fearful, yet somehow innocent performance to the character of Stefan.
Imagining that "The House on Carroll Street" were somehow released during the era in which it is set, I have little doubt it would be considered one of the great classics. Films such as "North By Northwest" have all the same limitations and plot implausibilities, yet are no more or less thrilling than this one. I see nothing of lower quality to be found here, only a picture made in a period where it couldn't be recognized. If you love the classic thrillers, you should certainly love this one as well.
Peter Yates, a director who generally creates for the present time, does an unexpectedly excellent job at recreating this lost world. He uses cinematographer Michael Ballhaus (who went on to photograph "Quiz Show", another 1950s recreation) to wonderful effect, letting him capture his scenes in a manner that never once strays from the older approach. Yates shows us how thrilling the suspense and big set-pieces can be when not buried in special effects and quick cuts. Yates proves why he's one of the great overlooked talents.
Jeff Daniels and Kelly McGillis have very much that 'star chemistry' valued for this sort of picture. McGillis, especially, brings a lightness and intensity most modern actresses could only pretend at. Patinkin is appropriately menacing. Jessica Tandy was my favorite performance, a tiny role nonetheless brightened by the nuances she brings to it. Christopher Buchholz provides an engaging, fearful, yet somehow innocent performance to the character of Stefan.
Imagining that "The House on Carroll Street" were somehow released during the era in which it is set, I have little doubt it would be considered one of the great classics. Films such as "North By Northwest" have all the same limitations and plot implausibilities, yet are no more or less thrilling than this one. I see nothing of lower quality to be found here, only a picture made in a period where it couldn't be recognized. If you love the classic thrillers, you should certainly love this one as well.
helpful•160
- SteveSkafte
- Apr 25, 2010
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Details
Box office
- Budget
- $14,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $459,824
- Gross worldwide
- $459,824
- Runtime1 hour 41 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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Top Gap
By what name was The House on Carroll Street (1988) officially released in Canada in English?
Answer