The House on Telegraph Hill (Film Noir)

            I’ll be the first to admit that my experience with old films is limited. In fact, I could probably count the number of movies I’ve seen that were made before 1960 on one hand. The House on Telegraph Hill, however, makes me want to change that. The House on Telegraph Hill is a black and white film from 1951 that follows a Polish woman, Victoria, living in a concentration camp in World War II. When her friend, Karin, dies just days before the camp is taken over by Allied forces, Victoria assumes Karin’s identity in hopes of being able to travel to America and meet Karin’s American relatives. Eventually she makes it and starts a new life of wealth and luxury in San Francisco, marrying the guardian of Karin’s son. Unfortunately, everything is not what it seems, and while Victoria struggles to protect her own secret, she begins to wonder if someone is out to get her.

            This film is true to classic film noir style in that it exudes a certain darkness throughout. The black and white film alone makes it a little creepy, and shadows are used very effectively to add to the mystery and darkness. This movie kept me on the edge of my seat, through the use of techniques like over the shoulder shots to prevent the audience from seeing the face of whoever has entered the room. The music was incredible as well—I loved the orchestral soundtrack, which was great at adding to the suspense. Not all shots in this movie were dark, however. There were some great shots of the Bay area, including a magnificent pan over the area toward the beginning of the film.

            Overall, I was surprised by how much I liked this movie. I found it exciting and it left me guessing, and I found the characterization of certain characters, like Margaret, the son’s governess, intriguing. I also appreciated the fact that the film’s lead was a woman, and she was far from a helpless damsel in distress. I’ll definitely have to check out more films like this in the future.

4/5