House of Strangers 1949

imdb-logo 7.3 / 10

House of Strangers

Gino Monetti is a ruthless Italian-American banker who is engaged in a number of criminal activities. Three of his four grown sons refuse to help their father stay out of prison after he's arrested for his questionable business practices. Three of the sons take over the business but kick their father out. Max, a lawyer, is the only son that stays loyal to his father.

Gino Monetti is a ruthless Italian-American banker who is engaged in a number of criminal activities. Three of his four grown sons refuse to help their father stay out of prison after he's arrested for his questionable business practices. Three of the sons take over the business but kick their father out. Max, a lawyer, is the only son that stays loyal to his father.

Videos & Photos

All 1 Videos & 9 Photos

... Gino Monetti

... Irene Bennett

... Max Monetti

... Joe Monetti

... Pietro Monetti

... Tony Monetti

User reviews

See All 1 Reviews

23 Jun 2021 by John Chard

It's still being done you know, outside the jungle. House of Strangers is directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz and adapted to screenplay by Phillip Yordan from Jerome Weidman's novel I'll Never Go There Any More. It stars Edward G. Robinson, Susan Hayward, Richard Conte, Luther Adler, Paul Valentine and Efrem Zimbalist. Plot finds Robinson as Gino Monetti, an Italian American banker who whilst building up the family business has ostracised three of his four sons. When things go belly up for Gino and the bank, the three sons turn against their father, the other, Max (Conte), stays loyal but finds himself set up for a prison stretch. Untimely since he's started to fall in love with tough cookie Irene Bennett (Hayward). Jerome Weidman's novel has proved to be a popular source for film adaptation, after this 20th Century Fox produced picture came the Western version with Broken Lance in 1954 (Yordan again adapting), and then Circus set for The Big Show in 1961. While its influence can be felt in many other, more notable, crime dramas along the way. The divided clan narrative provides good basis for drama and lets the better actors shine on the screen with such material. Such is the case with House of Strangers, which while hardly shaking the roots of film noir technically, does thematically play out as an engrossing, character rich, melodrama. Propelled by a revenge core peppered with hate motives instead of love; and dabbling in moral ethics et al, Mankiewicz spins it out in flashback structure. The primary focus is on Max and Gino, with both given excellent portrayals by Conte and Robinson. Gino is a driven man, very dismissive towards three of his boys (Adler standing out as Joe) who he finds easy to find fault with. But Max is spared the tough love, Gino admires him and sees him very much as an equal, which naturally irks the other brothers something rotten. This all comes to a head for the final quarter where the pace picks up and the tale comes to its prickly, if not completely satisfactory, ending. In the mix of family strife we have been privy to Max's burgeoning relationship with Irene (Hayward sassy), which positively simmers with sexual tension, or maybe even frustration? This in spite of the fact he is engaged to be married to the homely innocent Maria (Debra Paget). So with dad Gino proving to be, well, something of an ungrateful bastard, and Max cheating on his intended, clearly this is not a film about good old family values coming to the fore! Then there's the small matter of brother betrayal and the case of the foolish decision making process, all elements that keep the viewer hooked till the last. 7/10

Producers:

Sol C. Siegel

Release Date:

Jul 01, 1949 (United States)

Run Time:

1hr 41`

MMPA Rating:

NR

Original Language:

English

Production Countries:

United States

Status:

Released

Related Movies To

House of Strangers

Write Review

Found 1 reviews in total

23 Jun 2021 by John Chard

It's still being done you know, outside the jungle. House of Strangers is directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz and adapted to screenplay by Phillip Yordan from Jerome Weidman's novel I'll Never Go There Any More. It stars Edward G. Robinson, Susan Hayward, Richard Conte, Luther Adler, Paul Valentine and Efrem Zimbalist. Plot finds Robinson as Gino Monetti, an Italian American banker who whilst building up the family business has ostracised three of his four sons. When things go belly up for Gino and the bank, the three sons turn against their father, the other, Max (Conte), stays loyal but finds himself set up for a prison stretch. Untimely since he's started to fall in love with tough cookie Irene Bennett (Hayward). Jerome Weidman's novel has proved to be a popular source for film adaptation, after this 20th Century Fox produced picture came the Western version with Broken Lance in 1954 (Yordan again adapting), and then Circus set for The Big Show in 1961. While its influence can be felt in many other, more notable, crime dramas along the way. The divided clan narrative provides good basis for drama and lets the better actors shine on the screen with such material. Such is the case with House of Strangers, which while hardly shaking the roots of film noir technically, does thematically play out as an engrossing, character rich, melodrama. Propelled by a revenge core peppered with hate motives instead of love; and dabbling in moral ethics et al, Mankiewicz spins it out in flashback structure. The primary focus is on Max and Gino, with both given excellent portrayals by Conte and Robinson. Gino is a driven man, very dismissive towards three of his boys (Adler standing out as Joe) who he finds easy to find fault with. But Max is spared the tough love, Gino admires him and sees him very much as an equal, which naturally irks the other brothers something rotten. This all comes to a head for the final quarter where the pace picks up and the tale comes to its prickly, if not completely satisfactory, ending. In the mix of family strife we have been privy to Max's burgeoning relationship with Irene (Hayward sassy), which positively simmers with sexual tension, or maybe even frustration? This in spite of the fact he is engaged to be married to the homely innocent Maria (Debra Paget). So with dad Gino proving to be, well, something of an ungrateful bastard, and Max cheating on his intended, clearly this is not a film about good old family values coming to the fore! Then there's the small matter of brother betrayal and the case of the foolish decision making process, all elements that keep the viewer hooked till the last. 7/10

Cast & Crew of

House of Strangers

Directors & Credit Writers

Cast

... Gino Monetti

... Irene Bennett

... Max Monetti

... Joe Monetti

... Pietro Monetti

... Tony Monetti

... Maria Domenico

... Helena Domenico

... Theresa Monetti

... Elaine Monetti

... Lucca

... Construction Worker (uncredited)

... Chorus Dancer (uncredited)

... Fight Spectator (uncredited)

... Prosecutor (uncredited)

... Man on Street (uncredited)

... Italian Girl (uncredited)

... Waiter (uncredited)

... Applicant (uncredited)

... Bartender (uncredited)

Produced By

... Producer

Videos & Photos of

House of Strangers

Videos ( 1)

Photos ( 9 )

Related Movies To

House of Strangers

Found 12 Movies in total

poster-A Working Man
A Working Man (2025)

0 /10

Levon Cade left behind a decorated military career in the black ops to live a simple life working construction. But when his boss's daughter, who is like family to him, is taken by human traffickers, his search to bring her home uncovers a world of corruption far greater than he ever could have imagined.

Run Time: 1hr 56` . MMPA: R . Release: 26 Mar 2025

Director: Jack Fontaine , Emily Richardson , Kelly Maracin Krieg

Producer: Kevin King , John Friedberg , David Ayer

Stars: Jason Statham , David Harbour , Michael Peña , Jason Flemyng , Arianna Rivas , Noemi Gonzalez

poster-Tarzan
Tarzan (1999)

7.3 /10

Tarzan was a small orphan who was raised by an ape named Kala since he was a child. He believed that this was his family, but on an expedition Jane Porter is rescued by Tarzan. He then finds out that he's human. Now Tarzan must make the decision as to which family he should belong to...

Run Time: 1hr 28` . MMPA: G . Release: 18 Jun 1999

Director: Johan Klingler , Chung Sup Yoon , Kevin Lima

Producer: Christopher Chase , Mary Hidalgo , Bonnie Arnold

Stars: Tony Goldwyn , Minnie Driver , Glenn Close , Alex D. Linz , Rosie O'Donnell , Brian Blessed

poster-Tin Soldier
Tin Soldier (2025)

0 /10

An ex-special forces operative seeks revenge against a cult leader who has corrupted his former comrades, the Shinjas. This leader, known as The Bokushi, promises veterans a purpose and protection, but is revealed to be a destructive influence. The ex-soldier, Nash Cavanaugh, joins forces with military operative Emmanuel Ashburn to infiltrate the Bokushi's fortress and expose his reign of terror

Run Time: 1hr 27` . MMPA: . Release: 22 May 2025

Director: Brad Furman

Producer: Wayne Barrow , Christina Weiss Lurie , Brad Feinstein

Stars: Jamie Foxx , Scott Eastwood , Robert De Niro , Rita Ora , John Leguizamo , Saïd Taghmaoui

poster-Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning
Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning (2025)

0 /10

Ethan Hunt and the IMF team continue their search for the terrifying AI known as the Entity — which has infiltrated intelligence networks all over the globe — with the world's governments and a mysterious ghost from Ethan's past on their trail. Joined by new allies and armed with the means to shut the Entity down for good, Hunt is in a race against time to prevent the world as we know it from changing forever.

Run Time: 2hr 50` . MMPA: PG-13 . Release: 17 May 2025

Director: Wade Eastwood , Christopher McQuarrie , Tommy Gormley

Producer: Jason Cloth , Mindy Marin , Dave Caplan

Stars: Tom Cruise , Hayley Atwell , Ving Rhames , Simon Pegg , Vanessa Kirby , Henry Czerny

poster-Out of Exile
Out of Exile (2023)

0 /10

Recently paroled thief Gabriel Russell tries to balance his life and mend a troubled family as an FBI agent hunts him down, along with his crew after a botched armored car robbery.

Run Time: 1hr 47` . MMPA: R . Release: 20 Jan 2023

Director: Kyle Kauwika Harris

Producer: Jacob Snovel , Karrie Cox , Kelley Gann

Stars: Adam Hampton , Karrie Cox , Kyle Jacob Henry , Ryan Merriman , Peter Greene , Hayley McFarland

poster-Crypto Legacy
Crypto Legacy (2020)

2.5 /10

Troy Morgan doesn't like his family's farm. The place creeps him out. After spotting some strange lights one evening, Troy and his little sister Carrie go to investigate the creepy barn.

Run Time: 1hr 11` . MMPA: . Release: 01 Oct 2020

Director: Charles Townsend

Producer: Charles Townsend

Stars: Sheri Gill Dixon , Brian Kunz , Brandon Young , Nathaniel Barton , Linzi Gray , Thalia Reynolds

poster-Conjuring the Cult
Conjuring the Cult (2024)

0 /10

After discovering his blood-soaked daughter dead in the bathtub, David Bryson attends a self-help group to help save him from his ghostly nightmares. But when a group of mysterious cult-like women offer to help him resurrect his daughter. David's choices will not just decide his fate... but the fate of his dead daughter's SOUL.

Run Time: 1hr 33` . MMPA: . Release: 01 Oct 2024

Director: Calvin Morie McCarthy

Producer:

Stars: Neil Green , Elissa Dowling , Chynna Rae Shurts , BJ Mezek , Jason Brooks , Brad Littlefield

poster-Remnant
Remnant (2024)

0 /10

Grace is a young woman whose life has been turned upside down by tragedy. When she returns home to the family farm to rebuild her shattered life, her world begins to unravel as a series of strange events haunt her, pushing Grace to the edge of madness. A mysterious figure lurks in the shadows and a ghostly woman appears in the darkness of night. Is Grace imagining these apparitions, or are they a warning of a nightmare still to come?

Run Time: 1hr 52` . MMPA: . Release: 30 Jun 2024

Director: Mike Horan

Producer:

Stars: Nicole Pritchard , Shaun Robert Foley , Tsu Shan Chambers , Remi Webster , Megan Bell , Martin Ashley Jones

poster-The Siege
The Siege (2023)

3.4 /10

International assassin Walker is compromised during a mission and sent to a reassignment center for a new identity. During his stay at the facility, a ruthless assault team storms the compound searching for someone their boss has lost. Walker begrudgingly falls in with skilled hitwoman Elda and her mysterious ward Juliet in order to survive the night.

Run Time: 1hr 37` . MMPA: R . Release: 10 Mar 2023

Director: Brad Watson

Producer: Alan Latham

Stars: Daniel Stisen , Lauren Okadigbo , Yennis Cheung , Byron Gibson , Steven Blades , Samantha Schnitzler

poster-Wicked Minds
Wicked Minds (2003)

5.3 /10

Holden returns home from college and is surprised to find his overpowering competitive father married to a much younger woman Lana. Holden quickly falls for the beauty and charisma of his step mother. A passionate affair begins between son and stepmother.

Run Time: 1hr 33` . MMPA: PG-13 . Release: 01 Mar 2003

Director: Jason Hreno

Producer: Vera Miller , Josée Mauffette , Nadia Rona

Stars: Angie Everhart , Andrew W. Walker , Winston Rekert , Amy Sloan , Frank Schorpion , Ellen David

poster-Captain America: Brave New World
Captain America: Brave New World (2025)

0 /10

After meeting with newly elected U.S. President Thaddeus Ross, Sam finds himself in the middle of an international incident. He must discover the reason behind a nefarious global plot before the true mastermind has the entire world seeing red.

Run Time: 1hr 59` . MMPA: PG-13 . Release: 12 Feb 2025

Director: Jessica Taylor Galmor , James Young , Robert Alonzo

Producer: Jacqueline Gallagher , Mitchell Bell , Anthony Mackie

Stars: Anthony Mackie , Danny Ramirez , Tim Blake Nelson , Liv Tyler , Carl Lumbly , Shira Haas

poster-Front of the Class
Front of the Class (2008)

8.1 /10

A boy with Tourette's syndrome overcomes criticism and discrimination to achieve his dream of becoming a teacher.

Run Time: 1hr 35` . MMPA: . Release: 07 Dec 2008

Director: Peter Werner

Producer: Andrew Gottlieb

Stars: James Wolk , Treat Williams , Dominic Scott Kay , Sarah Drew , Kathleen York , Joe Chrest