Product Details

• Actors: Lon Mccallister, Edward G. Robinson
• Directors: Delmer Daves
• Format: Black & White, Dolby, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region A/1 (Read more about DVD/Blu-ray formats.)
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 2
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: HD Cinema Classics
• DVD Release Date: April 24, 2012
• Run Time: 100 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (62 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B006OT0ST4
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #27,708 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Lovers of Film Noir have long treasured this eerie gem, produced during what has come to be regarded as Hollywood s classic noir period (early-1940s to late-1950s). It is now available for the first time in stunning high-definition Blu-Ray. Edward G. Robinson plays an aging farmer with a dark secret he s trying to keep hidden. He and his sister Ellen (Judith Anderson) have raised Meg (Allene Roberts) since she was a little girl, after her parents mysteriously disappeared. But now Meg is coming of age, and bringing a male friend from high school around to help with chores on the farm. The teens are warned against wandering into the nearby woods, where terrifying screams have been heard in the night emanating from an abandoned red house. But curiosity threatens to get the better of them. Director Delmer Daves enjoyed a successful, 35-year career in Hollywood as a producer, director and writer (he adapted this particular story from a novel first serialized in The Saturday Evening Post in 1945). Better-known for tough westerns and war movies (including 3:10 To Yuma, Broken Arrow and Destination Tokyo), this film was an interesting diversion for him. But credit is also due to cinematographer Bert Glannon, a veteran of numerous noir/crime titles (not to mention work with such acclaimed directors as John Ford and Cecil B DeMille), who was responsible for executing the sort of unexpected camera angles and shadowy lighting that would become the signature of a good Film Noir. Meanwhile, viewers will also want to watch for a young Julie London, appearing in one of her earliest film roles.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

78 of 82 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Neglected Masterpiece! June 15, 2001

By R. Gawlitta

Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase

I first saw this film on the late show back in the 50's when I was a mere child. It scared the pants off me then, and pretty much does the same now. This is what I call staying power. Too bad more people aren't aware of this film. The sad thing about the presentation of this film (I have both the VHS & DVD) is that the sound recording needs definite restorative work. This would really be disturbing if the film itself wasn't so compelling. The production values as well as the production team are all A-List, from the fine direction of Delmer Daves to the outstanding mood-setting score of Max Steiner to the casting of pro stars like Edward G. Robinson & Judith Anderson sharing the screen with teen magazine heart-throbs Rory Calhoun and Julie London. Lon McCallister is fine in what is really the lead role, and a very fine performance by young Allene Roberts (whatever happened to her!). The DVD is pretty much of the bargain-bin variety, though there are a couple of little extras on it...most notably explaining that Robinson's career came to a standstill after this film because of the Hollywood blacklist. The suspense factor is among the highest I can recall (EVER!); the script is literate and clever; characters are well-defined; and the creepy mood is consistant. See this film and tell all your friends; you will NOT be disappointed.

49 of 55 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars See this with the lights off April 27, 2000

By Ian Muldoon

Format:VHS Tape

An underrated psychological mood piece directed with great skill by Delmer Daves, it is best watched in the dark with no interruptions so that its full power can be realised. I did not go down in the woods for quite a while after watching this film and gained an added appreciation for the work of Edward G. Robinson and that great actor Judith Anderson (see also Hitchcock's REBECCA). From one of the greatest periods of Hollywood movie making.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Blu-Ray: Best Image Available. Commentary: AWFUL! April 25, 2012

By Robert A. Klimowski

Format:Blu-ray|Amazon Verified Purchase

The Blu-Ray is the edition to snag for this fine psychological thriller. There are so many poor public-domain transfers of The Red House out there that it is a relief to finally see the film in a decent presentation. The downside to this purchase is the commentary by William Hare. He may be a fine author (he is listed as having written several film books), but this is undoubtedly the worst film commentary I've ever heard. Hare's commentary is "scene-specific," but he merely restates what is happening on the screen. When I choose to listen to a commentary, I expect to learn something beyond what I've already observed, not to be provided a verbal summary of what is happening on the screen. I found the commentary insulting to the viewer's intelligence and suspect that Mr. Hare simply "didn't do his homework." This is a real shame because there's a lot of meat in this film to dig into. The Miklos Rozsa score alone is a marvel, to say nothing of Edward G's outstanding performance. A real missed opportunity in the commentary department, but certainly worth the purchase for the much-improved image.