This week’s mystery movie was the 1950 Republic film House by the River, with Louis Hayward, Lee Bowman, Jane Wyatt, Dorothy Patrick, Ann Shoemaker, Jody Gilbert, Peter Brocco, Howland Chamberlin, Margaret Seddon, Sarah Padden, Kathleen Freeman, Will Wright, Leslie Kimmell and Effie Laird.
Screenplay by Mel Dinelli from a novel by A.P. Herbert.
Associate producer Robert Peters.
Music by George Antheil.
Photography by Edward Cronjager. Art direction by Boris Leven.
Orchestration by R. Dale Butts. Edited by Arthur D. Hilton. Sound by Dick Tyler and Howard Wilson.
Costumes by Adele Palmer. Set decorations by John McCarthy Jr. and Charles Thompson.
Special effects by Howard and Theodore Lydecker. Makeup by Bob Mark. Hairstyles by Peggy Gray. Optical effects by Consolidated Film Industries.
Produced by Howard Welsch.
Directed by Fritz Lang.
More on the history of House by the River is available from the AFI catalog.
House by the River is available on DVD from Critics’ Choice Videos.
::
I chose House by the River after seeing a comment by Farran Smith Nehme, one of my favorite film writers. It’s a good movie, despite the review from Harrison’s Reports. The film has a number of fans who have uploaded lots of screen shots, so this finding usable images this week was a challenge.
I’m going to guess that Bosley Crowther reviewed and hated it.
Yes, it was Bosley, writing May 2, 1950 (spoiler alert – he didn’t approve of such goings-on):
For those who might care to be enlightened as to how an unprincipled young man secretly murdered a woman and then almost — but not quite — shifts the blame upon his innocent brother, there is Fritz Lang’s new film, titled House by the River, which came to the Mayfair yesterday. Full of Victorian adornments, shadowy lighting and morbid moods, it is a desperate attempt to raise gooseflesh with a standard horror-psychological plot.
But we fear that neither the enlightenment nor the excitement that a customer might expect in such a flickering melodrama is provided by this film.
For Monday, we have a mysterious couple. And, incredibly enough, they do not approve of such goings-on.
This is Effie Laird and Leslie Kimmell.
For Tuesday, we have a mystery leg. We’ll see the rest of our mystery guest later this week.
Update: This is Dorothy Patrick in a key scene from the film.
For “Hm Wednesday,” we have a mystery woman. You can probably guess how she feels about such goings-on.
Update: This is Jody Gilbert.
Brain Trust roll call: Jenny M. (mystery movie and the owner of Tuesday’s mystery leg).
Sylvia: You’re quite observant! Good for you!
For “Aha Thursday,” we have a mystery woman.
Update: This is a better view of Dorothy Patrick.
We also have this mystery woman and a mystery scarecrow.
Update: This is Ann Shoemaker.
Brain Trust roll call: B.J. Merholz (mystery movie and Wednesday’s mystery woman), Mike Hawks (mystery movie and Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s mysterious women), Patrick (Wednesday’s mystery woman), Jenny M. (Wednesday’s mystery woman) and Sheila (mystery movie and Wednesday’s mystery woman).
For Friday, we have this mysterious gentleman.
Update: This is Lee Bowman.
Then we have this mysterious woman. She does not approve of such goings-on.
Update: This is Jane Wyatt.
And then there’s this fellow. I don’t need to tell you what he thinks of such goings-on.
Update: This is Louis Hayward having a moment.
Brain Trust roll call: Mary Mallory (mystery movie, Monday’s, Wednesday’s and Thursday’s mystery guests) and Mike Hawks (Thursday’s mystery guests).
ladailymirror.com 
American Gothic.
LikeLike
I’m getting John Ford vibes. The Man Who Shot Liberty Valience?
LikeLike
Interesting guess. But that’s probably a little too well-known to ever be a mystery movie….
LikeLike
Edna Best
LikeLike
Interesting guess, but alas….
LikeLike
Dorothy Patrick in House by the River.
LikeLike
It’s Tuesday and as usual, I have no guess. But, also as usual, my mind takes off with the juxtaposition of images you come up with.
Monday has two very serious courtroom observers, one of whom is very Victorian in mindset. They’re hearing about a ‘very serious crime’. The woman has already decided – Guilty – though she’s not a juror so it doesn’t matter.
Tuesday looks like a flashback to whatever ‘very serious crime’ Monday’s observers are learning about. The lady’s robe seems to match the wallpaper – is that a hint???
Just “mind surfing” on your screenshots. I have no clue. Looking forward to the image(s) Wednesday brings.
LikeLike
Mystery leg? Don’t know so will take a wild guess: Joan Bennett?
LikeLike
An interesting Guess. But alas….
LikeLike
When she swatted a countertop fly, W.C Fields told Jody Gilbert that killers like her gave the west a bad name. He didn’t live to see what she was doing at a House by the River.. .
LikeLike
When she once swatted a countertop fly, W.C. Fields told Jody Gilbert that killers like her gave the west a bad name. He didn’t live long enough to know what she was doing in a House by the River.
LikeLike
Is this “Night of the Hunter”?
LikeLike
A great movie! But alas, no LOVE/HATE this time around.
LikeLike
Dorothy “legs” Patrick and Jody Gilbert in HOUSE BY THE RIVER.
LikeLike
Jody Gilbert on Wednesday.
LikeLike
Wednesday: Jody Gilbert.
LikeLike
Jody Gilbert for Wednesday, ‘House by the River’?
LikeLike
IVY with Joan Fontaine.
LikeLike
An excellent guess, but alas….
LikeLike
HOUSE BY THE RIVER. Effie Laird and Leslie Kimmell Monday, Jane Wyatt’s leg on Tuesday, Jody Gilbert on Wednesday, and Dorothy Patrick and Anne Shoemaker today.
LikeLike
Dorothy Patrick and Ann Shoemaker.
LikeLike
Wed: Raymond Burr, we hardly knew ya
Thurs: Ginger Rogers?!
LikeLike
Lee Bowman, Jane Wyatt, and Louis Hayward. Dorothy Patrick Tuesday. How did people get her on Tuesday if they couldn’t on Thursday?
LikeLike
Thurs #2 – Ann Shoemaker
Thurs #1 – Dorothy. Patrick
Film is the 1950 Fritz Lang, House by the River
LikeLike
Fri #1 is Lee Bowman
Fri #2 is Jane Wyatt
Fri #3 is Louis Hayward
LikeLike
Wed – Jody Gilbert
LikeLike
Tues – legs of Dorothy Patrick
LikeLike
Mon – Effie Laird and Leslie Kimmell
LikeLike
I think my post re Thurs actors and title of film with director went to spam. I never saw it again after I sent to publish.
LikeLike
Lee Bowman, Jane Wyatt and Louis Hayward.
LikeLike
HMM. Friday. A wild guess…The Luckiest Girl in the world.
LikeLike
The House on the River 1950
Director – Fritz Lang
Weds – Jody Gilbert
Thur – lady with the scarecrow is Ann Shoemaker
Friday – Lee Bowman, Jane Wyatt and “Mr Scoundrel” Louis Hayward
Not sure enough on the others. Kathleen Freeman is listed in the cast, but if she’s appeared I didn’t recognize her.
Looking forward to Saturday’s breakdown. What a tale!
LikeLike
Jane Wyatt and Louis Hayward in House by the River from 1950.
LikeLike