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(More customer reviews)Too much is often made of the fact that Welles helmed this thriller to convince the studios he could make a commercially successful film without the costly overruns associated with his other projects. Getting lost in the debate over whether he should have given in and made it, or whether it falls short of the genius he was capable of, is just what a fantastic film he did make. The Stranger is, in fact, one of the best suspense thrillers made during the 1940's. Set after WWII in a small Connecticut town where everyone knows everyone else, Victor Trivis' story is told with flair by director Welles. Rather than surrounding himself with familiar faces from his Mercury days, beautiful Loretta Young and Edward G. Robinson round out this engrossing and suspenseful tale of wartime evil waiting for its chance to rise again.
Robinson is brilliant as the easygoing Washington agent who allows a Nazi war criminal who has found God, loose, in order to track him to Franz Kindler; one of the most notorious Nazis of all. Wilson (Robinson) loses him in sleepy Harper, Connecticut. He suspects he has been murdered by Kindler, but since no pictures of the mass murderer exist, he must stick around and play detective. Robinson underplays the part of Wilson, giving him humor and determination, his easygoing easygoing manner closer to Harper than Washington. His checker games with the town clerk are fun to watch.
Welles takes his cue from Robinson, portraying Professor Charles Rankin (Kindler) with style, but not the brooding focus he might have otherwise. Rankin is about to marry the beautiful daughter of a Supreme Court Justice on the day Wilson and his old pal arrives in Harper. Loretta Young is at her most stunning as Rankin's wife, Mary. Mary loves her husband, who has her completely fooled. Wilson also nearly dismisses him as a suspect after a grand speech at the dinner table about ridding the world of evil. But that changes once he realizes Kindler has made a slip! What follows is a tense, escalating game of cat and mouse between two film giants. Richard Long, who would go on to play Jarrod in The Big Valley on television is good as Mary's caring brother, Noah.
Charles spins a web of convincing lies to Mary, but Wilson finally manages to plant the seed of doubt. He knows once Kindler senses weakness, it is only a matter of time until he makes his move. But it is a dangerous plan which could cost Mary her life. An atmospheric score by Bronislaw Kaper and some nice noir touches from cinematographer Russell Metty add up to a fabulous time at the movies. While it may not have been cinematically innovative, this thriller about evil residing in sleepy surroundings while good desperately tried to weed it is grand entertainment. A fine film in the genre.
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