A seemingly charming man with an evil agenda, a vulnerable woman who starts to fear for her life and a creepy-looking mansion became three of the most recognisable components of a whole series of 1940s Gothic film noirs that included "Rebecca" (1940) and "Gaslight" (1944). "The House On Telegraph Hill" (1951) was based on Dana Lyon's 1948 novel "The Frightened Child" and although it incorporates many of the characteristics of its predecessors, its story of deception, murder and avarice includes enough suspense and interesting plot twists to keep it totally gripping and entertaining throughout.
During the Nazi invasion of Poland in World War 11, Victoria Kowelska (Valentina Cortese) loses her family and her home before being imprisoned in Belsen concentration camp. There she befriends a frail-looking woman who, if she survives, wants to go to the United States because, before the war, her infant son Chris (Gordon Gebert) had been sent there to live with his wealthy Aunt Sophie. Sadly, her compatriot dies just days before the camp is liberated and knowing that there's nothing left for her in Poland, Victoria decides to take her friend's identity papers in the hope that she can use them to seek a better life in the United States.
Victoria (now known as Karin) successfully adopts her friend's identity and after spending some time in a displaced persons' camp, travels on a refugee ship to America. In New York, she visits the firm of lawyers who had earlier notified her of Aunt Sophie's death and is informed that the old lady's estate has been left to Chris and that a man called Alan Spender (Richard Basehart) has been appointed as the estate's trustee and Chris' guardian. As she gets to know Alan better, it becomes clear that he's attracted to her and so, realising the benefits it could bring her, she agrees to marry him and the couple go to San Francisco to live in the aunt's mansion. She settles in quickly and after being introduced to Chris as his mother, gets to know him as they play ball together.
Victoria's surprised when Marc Bennett (William Lundigan) visits her new home as a family friend and a member of Aunt Sophie's legal firm because they'd met previously when, as a Major in the U.S. Army, he'd interviewed her at Belsen immediately after the camp had been liberated. He's very friendly which is in stark contrast to Chris' governess Margaret (Fay Baker) who's extremely frosty and clearly resents Victoria's presence.
A couple of terrifying incidents follow when Victoria comes close to falling to her death down a steep embankment after she tumbles through a hole in Chris' playhouse and then later crashes the family car after the brakes fail. The circumstances lead her to believe that Alan and Margaret are trying to kill both her and Chris and then, when she discovers some documents that point to Alan's involvement in Aunt Sophie's death, she shares her suspicions with Marc, but this doesn't bring an end to her ordeal.
This movie's story is narrated in flashback by Victoria who's an extremely sympathetic character but also an impostor and identity thief who practises a deception in order to acquire wealth and a lifestyle to which she isn't entitled. These shades of grey in her character distinguish her from the usual women-in-danger in the preceding melodramas of this kind who were typically innocent victims. Fortunately, Valentina Cortese, in a very capable performance, brings out all of her character's subtleties and conveys her fear without ever going over-the-top. Richard Basehart is also very convincing in displaying the various facets of Alan's nature as he vacillates between charming, devious, sinister, psychopathic and just plain acquisitive. The remaining members of the cast, with he quality of their performances. also contribute fully to the success of this worthwhile and very atmospheric movie.
During the Nazi invasion of Poland in World War 11, Victoria Kowelska (Valentina Cortese) loses her family and her home before being imprisoned in Belsen concentration camp. There she befriends a frail-looking woman who, if she survives, wants to go to the United States because, before the war, her infant son Chris (Gordon Gebert) had been sent there to live with his wealthy Aunt Sophie. Sadly, her compatriot dies just days before the camp is liberated and knowing that there's nothing left for her in Poland, Victoria decides to take her friend's identity papers in the hope that she can use them to seek a better life in the United States.
Victoria (now known as Karin) successfully adopts her friend's identity and after spending some time in a displaced persons' camp, travels on a refugee ship to America. In New York, she visits the firm of lawyers who had earlier notified her of Aunt Sophie's death and is informed that the old lady's estate has been left to Chris and that a man called Alan Spender (Richard Basehart) has been appointed as the estate's trustee and Chris' guardian. As she gets to know Alan better, it becomes clear that he's attracted to her and so, realising the benefits it could bring her, she agrees to marry him and the couple go to San Francisco to live in the aunt's mansion. She settles in quickly and after being introduced to Chris as his mother, gets to know him as they play ball together.
Victoria's surprised when Marc Bennett (William Lundigan) visits her new home as a family friend and a member of Aunt Sophie's legal firm because they'd met previously when, as a Major in the U.S. Army, he'd interviewed her at Belsen immediately after the camp had been liberated. He's very friendly which is in stark contrast to Chris' governess Margaret (Fay Baker) who's extremely frosty and clearly resents Victoria's presence.
A couple of terrifying incidents follow when Victoria comes close to falling to her death down a steep embankment after she tumbles through a hole in Chris' playhouse and then later crashes the family car after the brakes fail. The circumstances lead her to believe that Alan and Margaret are trying to kill both her and Chris and then, when she discovers some documents that point to Alan's involvement in Aunt Sophie's death, she shares her suspicions with Marc, but this doesn't bring an end to her ordeal.
This movie's story is narrated in flashback by Victoria who's an extremely sympathetic character but also an impostor and identity thief who practises a deception in order to acquire wealth and a lifestyle to which she isn't entitled. These shades of grey in her character distinguish her from the usual women-in-danger in the preceding melodramas of this kind who were typically innocent victims. Fortunately, Valentina Cortese, in a very capable performance, brings out all of her character's subtleties and conveys her fear without ever going over-the-top. Richard Basehart is also very convincing in displaying the various facets of Alan's nature as he vacillates between charming, devious, sinister, psychopathic and just plain acquisitive. The remaining members of the cast, with he quality of their performances. also contribute fully to the success of this worthwhile and very atmospheric movie.