Overview
A relentless investigator hunts down a master of deception hiding in plain sight.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- ominous
- paranoid
- suspenseful
- classic cinema night
- film noir evening
What critics said
Critics broadly regard it as a taut, expertly photographed film noir thriller with strong performances and suspenseful direction, despite some reservations about its contrived premise.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Franz Kindler presents himself as Professor Charles Rankin while Wilson investigates his hidden Nazi past.
Welles uses black-and-white photography, ominous compositions, and the clock-tower climax to intensify the threat.
Federal Agent Wilson of the War Crimes Commission tracks a Nazi mastermind hiding in Connecticut.
The quiet college town of Harper becomes the setting for an international manhunt and domestic deception.
Films like The Stranger, and why
Shadow of a Doubt
shared film noir atmosphere, fugitive identity, and investigation of hidden criminality
The Third Man
shared postwar paranoia, morally compromised characters, and noir suspense
The Big Sleep
shared noir investigation, concealed identity, and mounting psychological threat
Movie Details
- Director
- Orson Welles
- Release Date
- 1946-06-02
- Runtime
- 95 min
- Rating
- 7.2 / 10 (661)
Cast
- Edward G. Robinson
- Loretta Young
- Orson Welles
- Philip Merivale
- Richard Long
- Konstantin Shayne
- Byron Keith
- Billy House
- Martha Wentworth
- David Bond
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Philo, Brew, MGM Plus, Starz Amazon Channel, Fandor Amazon Channel, FlixFling, IndieFlix, Starz, Troma NOW, Dove Amazon Channel, IndieFlix Shorts Amazon Channel, Bloodstream, Artiflix
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Stranger about?
- A War Crimes Commission investigator closes in on a Nazi mastermind hiding behind the respectable identity of a Connecticut professor.
- What is The Stranger like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Stranger as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is The Stranger violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in The Stranger as mild.
- What did critics think of The Stranger?
- Critics broadly regard it as a taut, expertly photographed film noir thriller with strong performances and suspenseful direction, despite some reservations about its contrived premise.
- Which films are like The Stranger?
- Films with a similar feel include Shadow of a Doubt, The Third Man, and The Big Sleep.
- How long is The Stranger?
- The Stranger runs 95 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Stranger?
- In United States, The Stranger streams on fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Philo, Brew, MGM Plus, Starz Amazon Channel, Fandor Amazon Channel, FlixFling, IndieFlix, Starz, Troma NOW, Dove Amazon Channel, IndieFlix Shorts Amazon Channel, Bloodstream, Artiflix.
