San Francisco The Setting For Mystery

20th Fox's The House On Telegraph Hill (1951)

Polish prisoner in a concentration camp switches identities with a dying woman and refugees to America for presumed wealth/position. A spun web of devices from Rebecca, Dragonwyck, other woman gothics done less after WWII, and confused by directing Robert Wise as to emphasis (are we about the ID deception or a sinister new husband and household?). Not a starry cast --- Valentina Cortese had done few American films, none notable, and Richard Basehart was mostly a character man. That could be why NBC passed on Telegraph's inclusion among Fox features showcased on the network's Saturday Night At The Movies beginning September 1961 (it went direct to syndication via Seven Arts in 6/63). Suspense is perked by San Francisco locations, virtually all of outdoors shot on site; these streets would later host Vertigo and Bullitt to even stronger effect. Never mind that the story stumbles --- there's enough visually to please, especially if caught on recent Netflix HD stream. That richer view can and does push average pics into higher category just by approaching 35mm richness first-runners enjoyed. How many more critical reps will be enhanced as HD access widens?