The House Across the Bay
The House Across the Bay is a 1940 film directed by Archie Mayo, starring George Raft and Joan Bennett, produced by Walter Wanger, written by Myles Connolly and Kathryn Scola, and released by United Artists. The supporting cast features Lloyd Nolan, Walter Pidgeon and Gladys George.
The House Across the Bay | |
---|---|
Directed by | Archie Mayo Alfred Hitchcock (uncredited) |
Produced by | Walter Wanger |
Written by | Myles Connolly Kathryn Scola |
Starring | George Raft Joan Bennett Lloyd Nolan Walter Pidgeon |
Music by | Werner Janssen |
Production company | United Artists |
Distributed by | United Artists |
Release date |
|
Running time | 88 min. |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Budget | $713,965[1] |
Box office | $684,374[1] |
Plot
A singer (Bennett) waits for an imprisoned gangster (Raft) to be released from Alcatraz.
Cast
- George Raft as Steve Larwitt
- Joan Bennett as Brenda Bentley
- Lloyd Nolan as Slant Kolma
- Walter Pidgeon as Tim Nolan
- Gladys George as Mary Bogel
- Peggy Shannon as Alice
- June Knight as Bebe
- Max Wagner as Jim
- Joe Sawyer as Charley
- Cy Kendall as Crawley
- Joseph Crehan as Federal Man
- Edward Fielding as Judge
- James Craig as Brenda's Friend (uncredited)
- James Farley as Prison Guard (uncredited)
Production
The film was based on an original story by Myles Connolly. In 1939 it was reported Warner Bros were considering buying it as a vehicle for James Cagney and Marlene Dietrich.[2] They could not come to an agreement and Walter Wanger bought the rights.[3] Wanger made the film as part of what was meant to be a slate of six films for United Artists. Filming was pushed back so Wanger could make Foreign Correspondent.[4]
George Raft was loaned by Warner Bros, dropping out of It All Came True, in which he was replaced by Humphrey Bogart.[5][6] Walter Pidgeon was borrowed from MGM. Director Archie Mayo was borrowed from Sam Goldwyn. Bennett was under contract to Wanger.[7]
Filming started 16 October 1939.
Some scenes of Pidgeon and Bennett in an airplane were filmed by Alfred Hitchcock as a favor to Wanger, who directed Foreign Correspondent for Wanger the same year.[7]
Bennett and Wanger married after filming completed.[8]
Reception
References
- Matthew Bernstein, Walter Wagner: Hollywood Independent, Minnesota Press, 2000 p440
- Schallert, E. (Feb 23, 1939). "MacMurray, carroll together in 'air raid'". Los Angeles Times. ProQuest 164926062.
- "SCREEN NEWS HERE AND IN HOLLYWOOD". New York Times. Mar 16, 1939 – via ProQuest.
- "32 FILMS ON LIST OF UNITED ARTISTS". New York Times. May 8, 1939. ProQuest 102950621.
- Schallert, E. (Oct 25, 1939). "SCREEN". Los Angeles Times. ProQuest 165071252.
- Vagg, Stephen (February 9, 2020). "Why Stars Stop Being Stars: George Raft". Filmink.
- "The House Across the Bay". Turner Classic Movies.
- "JOAN BENNETT WED TO WALTER WANGER". New York Times. Jan 13, 1940. ProQuest 105202154.
- Everett Aaker, The Films of George Raft, McFarland & Company, 2013 p 91
- "THE SCREEN IN REVIEW; 'House Across the Bay,' With George Raft, Joan Bennett and Walter Pidgeon, Opens at Loew's State--'Black Friday' and 'Viva Cisco Kid' Here". New York Times. March 22, 1940.
- Scheuer, P. K. (Feb 27, 1940). "Alcatraz 'break' depicted". Los Angeles Times. ProQuest 165030364.