ThrillerCrime

Among the Living

- What horrible fascination did this monster have for women?

A mentally unstable man, who has been kept in isolation for years, escapes and causes trouble for his identical twin brother.

Release Date : 1941-12-12

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Paramount Pictures

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Character Name : John Raden / Paul Raden

Original Name : Albert Dekker

Gender : Male

Character Name : Millie Pickens

Original Name : Susan Hayward

Gender : Female

Character Name : Dr. Ben Saunders

Original Name : Harry Carey

Gender : Male

Character Name : Elaine Raden

Original Name : Frances Farmer

Gender : Female

Character Name : Bill Oakley

Original Name : Gordon Jones

Gender : Male

Character Name : Peggy Nolan

Original Name : Jean Phillips

Gender : Female

Character Name : Pompey

Original Name : Ernest Whitman

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mrs. Pickens

Original Name : Maude Eburne

Gender : Female

Character Name : Sheriff

Original Name : Frank M. Thomas

Gender : Male

Character Name : Judge

Original Name : Harlan Briggs

Gender : Male

Character Name : Tom Reilly

Original Name : Archie Twitchell

Gender : Male

Character Name : Woman in Cafe

Original Name : Dorothy Sebastian

Gender : Female

Character Name : Minister

Original Name : William Stack

Gender : Male

Character Name :

Original Name : Jane Allen

Gender : Female

Character Name :

Original Name : Rod Cameron

Gender : Male

Character Name :

Original Name : Eddy Chandler

Gender : Male

Character Name :

Original Name : Lane Chandler

Gender : Male

Character Name :

Original Name : Catherine Craig

Gender : Female

Character Name :

Original Name : Jack Curtis

Gender : Male

Character Name :

Original Name : Abe Dinovitch

Gender : Male

Character Name :

Original Name : Mimi Doyle

Gender : Male

Character Name :

Original Name : Jim Farley

Gender : Male

Character Name :

Original Name : Christian J. Frank

Gender : Male

Character Name :

Original Name : Kit Guard

Gender : Male

Character Name :

Original Name : Frank Hagney

Gender : Male

Character Name :

Original Name : Chuck Hamilton

Gender : Male

Character Name :

Original Name : Len Hendry

Gender : Male

Character Name :

Original Name : Ray Hirsch

Gender : Male

Character Name :

Original Name : John Kellogg

Gender : Male

Character Name :

Original Name : Patti Lacey

Gender : Male

Character Name :

Original Name : Ethan Laidlaw

Gender : Male

Character Name :

Original Name : Roy Lester

Gender : Male

Character Name :

Original Name : James Millican

Gender : Male

Character Name :

Original Name : Clarence Muse

Gender : Male

Character Name :

Original Name : Ella Neal

Gender : Male

Character Name :

Original Name : Blanche Payson

Gender : Female

Character Name :

Original Name : Keith Richards

Gender : Male

Character Name :

Original Name : Lee Shumway

Gender : Male

Character Name :

Original Name : Harry Tenbrook

Gender : Male

Character Name :

Original Name : George Turner

Gender : Male

Character Name :

Original Name : Bess Wade

Gender : Male

Character Name :

Original Name : Delmar Watson

Gender : Male

Character Name :

Original Name : Richard Webb

Gender : Male

Reviews

John Chard

@John Chard

2024-05-16

For five thousand dollars, I'm not afraid of anything, not even death! Among the Living is directed by Stuart Heisler and written by Garrett Fort and Lester Cole. It stars Albert Dekker, Susan Hayward, Harry Carey and Frances Farmer. Music is by Gerard Carbonara and cinematography by Theodor Sparkuhl. Dekker plays identical twins, John and Paul Raden. Paul was believed to have died when he was just 10 years old, in reality he had been traumatised and went insane and was locked up in a secret room at the Raden Mansion. When John returns for his father's funeral, he learns of Paul's existence, more so when Paul escapes and is out and about in Radentown... 1941 saw the release of Citizen Kane, The Maltese Falcon, High Sierra and I Wake Up Screaming. Films that mark an important point in the progression of what would become known as film noir, both thematically and as a visual style. Elsewhere there were some horror movies which would stand the test of time as classic productions, films such as The Wolf Man and The Black Cat are still massively popular today. Down in the lesser known file is Among the Living, a picture that blends both horror and noir for considerable rewards. It's a slice of Southern Gothic which nods appreciatively to classic horror conventions from the previous decade (eg: the Frankenstein connection is hard to ignore but handled skillfully), and it even has social commentary bursting forth from its seams, but it's with the photographic style where it becomes a must see for film noir enthusiasts. Heisler (latterly The Glass Key/Storm Warning) and Sparkuhl (also The Glass Key) shoot the picture by way of German Expressionism, where certain scenes and photographic compositions anticipate the noir style before it became the norm. From the feverish and frantic exuberance of a club scene, to a chase scene through menacing shadowed streets that end with murder, there are classy slices of noir before we even get to the crushing finale where Radentown is gripped by its own greed and insanity problems. Dekker is terrific, managing to give each twin their own identity without relying on costuming for the viewers to tell the difference. His man child portrayal of Paul is heartfelt and perfectly troubling, yet always tasteful. Hayward is socko gorgeous as a vampish nymph who latches onto Paul to feather her own nest, while Farmer provides the sort of solid support she was capable of before her own personal problems would derail her potential career. The psychological aspects of the pic are simplistic, of course, while viewing it now it's impossible to not get a sense of it being cliché heavy as regards the "twins" axis of plotting, but this is well paced, very well acted and beautifully photographed. If you can track down a decent print of it, then it's a must see for anyone interested in the influences and subsequent trajectory of film noir. 8/10

John Chard

@John Chard

2024-05-16