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CrimeDramaRomance

Walk Softly, Stranger

- A Strange Lie! A Strange Love!

A petty crook moves to an Ohio town and courts a factory owner's disabled daughter.

Release Date : 1950-10-14

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Dore Schary ProductionsRKO Radio PicturesVanguard Films

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Joseph Cotten

Character Name : Chris Hale aka Steve

Original Name : Joseph Cotten

Gender : Male

Alida Valli

Character Name : Elaine Corelli

Original Name : Alida Valli

Gender : Female

Spring Byington

Character Name : Mrs. Brentman

Original Name : Spring Byington

Gender : Female

Paul Stewart

Character Name : Whitey Lake

Original Name : Paul Stewart

Gender : Male

Jack Paar

Character Name : Ray Healy

Original Name : Jack Paar

Gender : Male

Jeff Donnell

Character Name : Gwen

Original Name : Jeff Donnell

Gender : Female

John McIntire

Character Name : Morgan

Original Name : John McIntire

Gender : Male

Howard Petrie

Character Name : Bowen

Original Name : Howard Petrie

Gender : Male

Frank Puglia

Character Name : A.J. Corelli

Original Name : Frank Puglia

Gender : Male

Esther Dale

Character Name : Miss Thompson

Original Name : Esther Dale

Gender : Female

Marlo Dwyer

Character Name : Mabel

Original Name : Marlo Dwyer

Gender : Female

Robert Ellis

Character Name : Skating Boy

Original Name : Robert Ellis

Gender : Male

George Barrows

Character Name : Man at Bar (uncredited)

Original Name : George Barrows

Gender : Male

Ruth Brady

Character Name : Tobacco Clerk (uncredited)

Original Name : Ruth Brady

Gender : Female

Wheaton Chambers

Character Name : Tobacco Clerk (uncredited)

Original Name : Wheaton Chambers

Gender : Male

Frank Clarke

Character Name : Plane Pilot (uncredited)

Original Name : Frank Clarke

Gender : Male

James Conaty

Character Name : New Year's Eve Celebrant (uncredited)

Original Name : James Conaty

Gender : Male

Johnny Duncan

Character Name : Office Messenger (uncredited)

Original Name : Johnny Duncan

Gender : Male

Art Dupuis

Character Name : Bowen's Henchman (uncredited)

Original Name : Art Dupuis

Gender : Male

Bess Flowers

Character Name : New Year's Celebrant (uncredited)

Original Name : Bess Flowers

Gender : Female

Joel Fluellen

Character Name : Florist (uncredited)

Original Name : Joel Fluellen

Gender : Male

Joe Gilbert

Character Name : Gambler (uncredited)

Original Name : Joe Gilbert

Gender : Male

Kit Guard

Character Name : Worker (uncredited)

Original Name : Kit Guard

Gender : Male

Jimmie Horan

Character Name : Worker (uncredited)

Original Name : Jimmie Horan

Gender : Male

Perc Launders

Character Name : Detective Taking Chris to Prison (uncredited)

Original Name : Perc Launders

Gender : Male

Bert LeBaron

Character Name : Gambler (uncredited)

Original Name : Bert LeBaron

Gender : Male

John Merton

Character Name : Bowen's Henchman (uncredited)

Original Name : John Merton

Gender : Male

John Miljan

Character Name : Old Man (uncredited)

Original Name : John Miljan

Gender : Male

Lillian Nicholson

Character Name : Minor Role (uncredited)

Original Name : Lillian Nicholson

Gender : Male

Jack Perry

Character Name : Worker in Pay Line (uncredited)

Original Name : Jack Perry

Gender : Male

Harry 'Snub' Pollard

Character Name : Custodian on Stairway (uncredited)

Original Name : Harry 'Snub' Pollard

Gender : Male

Dick Ryan

Character Name : Poker Player (uncredited)

Original Name : Dick Ryan

Gender : Male

Syd Saylor

Character Name : Poker Player (uncredited)

Original Name : Syd Saylor

Gender : Male

Jack Shea

Character Name : Policeman (uncredited)

Original Name : Jack Shea

Gender : Male

Charles Sherlock

Character Name : Bowen Employee (uncredited)

Original Name : Charles Sherlock

Gender : Male

Brick Sullivan

Character Name : Policeman (uncredited)

Original Name : Brick Sullivan

Gender : Male

Florence Wix

Character Name : New Year's Celebrant (uncredited)

Original Name : Florence Wix

Gender : Female

Mel Wixon

Character Name : Policeman (uncredited)

Original Name : Mel Wixon

Gender : Male

Barbara Woodell

Character Name : Secretary (uncredited)

Original Name : Barbara Woodell

Gender : Male

Will Wright

Character Name : Jake, Poker Player (uncredited)

Original Name : Will Wright

Gender : Male

Reviews

J

John Chard

@John Chard

2024-05-16

You Are Now Entering The Little Big City. Ashton. Walk Softly, Stranger is directed by Robert Stevenson and written by Frank Fenton. It stars Joseph Cotton, Alida Valli, Spring Byington, Paul Stewart and Jack Paar. Music is by Frederick Hollander and cinematography by Harry J. Wild. Chris Hale (Cotton) arrives in Ashton, Ohio, with manipulation and a robbery on his mind. But when he meets wheelchair bound Elaine Corelli (Valli), it alters the course of his future plans… It’s the other Cotton and Valli movie, the one that isn’t The Third Man. It’s also the movie that marked the wind of change at RKO as Howard Hughes breezed into the studio and promptly set about putting his own stamp on things, badly as it happens. Walk Softly, Stranger sat on the shelf for two years and subsequently got released in 1950, no doubt due in part to the success of The Third Man the year previously. It’s a strange blend of romantic melodrama – cum thriller – with some film noir edginess, something which doesn’t all together work. It’s very slowly paced and settles into a mood approaching disquiet, a femme fatale of sorts is nicely set up, and the whole “just one last job” vibe keeps interest in the story high. Acting from Cotton and Valli is strong, Paul Stewart is as usual good value when playing a twitchy loser bad guy type, and Byington almost steals the film from the leads with an ebullient show as the widow Brentman. Unfortunately, come the final third the picture fails to deliver on its moody promise, choosing instead to rely on one action set-piece and a waft of optimism for pic’s closure. It’s not the pay off required or hoped for, a shame because as a production in general it’s of good quality. 6/10