masercot Okay, this was an interesting movie; but, despite having top billing, Peter Lorre barely shows up in this very short flick. He definitely doesn't stick around long enough to have a performance.The story revolves around a news reporter who has to testify in a trial, and a secretary, who is the man's fiancée. The woman has doubts about the trial's verdict and blames the reporter. The reporter feels no guilt about the situation. Circumstances seem to prove the defendants guilt.Until he ends up in exactly the same situation as the defendant. A mysterious stranger is the murderer, but no one will believe the reporter.A short movie. Definitely not the best of Peter Lorre's films.

PWNYCNY If IMDb.com would allow it, I would summarize this movie in two words, Peter Lorre, and leave it at that. This movie is driven by the Lorre's presence, which is both menacing and endearing. What a wonderful actor and he proves it in this movie. This movie, although only 64 minutes long, has it all: suspense, romance, crisp cinematography, emotive music and a great story. The rest of cast, which includes John McGuire, also is excellent. The film noir style perfectly sets the mood and the dialog is snappy, upbeat and and comprehensible. The movie tells a story and tells it well, with no frills and no distractions and when the movie ends, the audience can feel that it was time well spent.

gamay9 This is a very good film noir but TCM airs it so often that it is becoming a nuisance to me. Same goes for 'Shop Around The Corner' which is set in Budapest but most of the cast speaks an American version of English, especially Margaret Sullivan and James Stewart, neither of which could ever employ a foreign accent nor act their way out of a paper bag.William Wyler was married to Margaret Sullivan before Margaret Tallichet. He has the same preferences as myself; endeared to wholesome, but good looking actresses. Sullivan and Tallichet do not resemble each other but they both look like the 'girl next store.' As 'actresses,' they didn't have stunning careers and one can see why. Tallichet's career was cut short, but her marriage to Wyler was long.My review is not as much about the film as it is Ms. Tallichet. It may be the script she was given (certainly not her acting) but I couldn't take my eyes off her because she is so cute.The screenplay is good, especially the dream scene. Peter Lorre just goes through the motions, while Elijah Cook, Jr. is excellent as he is in all of the 'thousands' of films in which he had character roles. Did he ever play a leading man? I wouldn't place this film in my top 1,000 but it is interesting as a one-time view. I think TCM should be more diversified. They should air 'Montenegro' which is #1 on my list of best movies, all time.

Emilyjkwin The style of Strangers on the Third Floor is striking, defined by the film noir style it was made in, however perhaps not as interesting as I had expected. The plot is fulfilling in general, however the film feels as if suspense should build in not knowing who the murderer is, yet we know all along. That said, Peter Lorry genuinely creeps me out. Lorry's performance leaves you wondering which is creepier: the fact that he is a murderer and is creeping around in the lives of the other residents, Mike and Jane, or the fact that the character is so eerily aware of his crime, and psychologically warped in this way. Nonetheless, the film is most enjoyable in its display of noir characteristics such as the main character's stream of consciousness. For example, as the character Mike trails along the street and we hear the stream of thoughts going through Mike's head, we can see where the style often spoofed in cartoons and the like was born. The character walks along side the local diner and you begin to wonder if this concept was more ground breaking at its induction, as now it is often used within the bounds of comedy. In the long run the film was a little mediocre as the female lead is constantly whining helplessly as the plot thickens. Made only a year after Hollywood's most famous year in film, Stranger on the Third Floor leaves you feeling as if something is missing. The gritty style of the film is quite interesting, and overall it is quite entertaining, although maybe not a favorite. What gives the film this feel isn't obvious. The film suggests that although one man may be the killer, perhaps hate for a person can be just as powerful as the main character considers the fact that he once threatened the victim quite harshly. By the end though, the man who we knew, and the characters knew, was the murderer ended up still being the murderer despite the feeling that perhaps there would be a surprise in the outcome.