The House on Telegraph Hill
Encyclopedia
The House on Telegraph Hill (1951
) is a film noir
starring Richard Basehart
, Valentina Cortese, and William Lundigan
, directed by Robert Wise
, and released by Twentieth Century Fox. Parts of the film were filmed on location in the Telegraph Hill
area of San Francisco. Exterior filming of the front of the house used studio made sets erected in front of Julius' Castle, 1541 Montgomery Street.
It was nominated an Academy Award for Best Art Direction
(Lyle Wheeler, John DeCuir
, Thomas Little
, Paul S. Fox
).
Having found her way to New York she tracks down her family ties to a house in the rich area of San Francisco known as Telegraph Hill
. On discussing her background with the family lawyer, Alan Spender, he is at first suspicious but then accepts her as Karin. He proceeds to wine and dine her... then marry her. Her son has been looked after by Margaret, who clearly also has a thing for Spender but is allowed to stay. The four of them live together in the house.
Victoria (now Karin) bumps into the major who is a friend of her new husband, at a party at her House On Telegraph Hill and befriends him. He is clearly in love with her too.
Tensions grow between Karin and Margaret and Margaret is dismissed after an argument.
However, it then becomes clearer that it is Alan Spender who seeks to get rid of her, not Margaret. The car's brakes fail, almost killing Karin. At first Margaret is suspected, but this changes when it becomes clear that Karin's son was also meant to be in the car.
Motives become clearer, and Karin reports various findings to the major. Margaret is forgiven and readmitted to the house.
One night Karin is sure her orange juice has been poisoned. Alan has indeed poisoned it, and is fixing the phones so calls cannot be made to a doctor. He returns to the bedroom and drinks his own glass of orange juice. He then explains his plot. Karin, who clearly still has feelings for him, tells him he has poisoned himself because she switched the glasses. She tries to call a doctor but can't get through. Alan explains how to sort the phones and it is left to Margaret to call. However she selects not to call. Alan dies. The police accept the sequence of events but Margaret is taken away to be potentially charged for not calling a doctor.
Karin, having by now revealed her true identity to the major, declares her love for him and he declares his for her. But they can no longer live in the house on Telegraph Hill.
1951 in film
The year 1951 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* Sweden - May Britt is scouted by Italian film-makers Carlo Ponti and Mario Soldati-Top grossing films : After theatrical re-issue- Awards :Academy Awards:...
) is a film noir
Film noir
Film noir is a cinematic term used primarily to describe stylish Hollywood crime dramas, particularly those that emphasize cynical attitudes and sexual motivations. Hollywood's classic film noir period is generally regarded as extending from the early 1940s to the late 1950s...
starring Richard Basehart
Richard Basehart
John Richard Basehart was an American actor. He starred in the 1960s television science fiction drama Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, in the role of Admiral Harriman Nelson.-Career:...
, Valentina Cortese, and William Lundigan
William Lundigan
William Lundigan was an American film actor. His films include Dodge City , The Fighting 69th , The Sea Hawk , Santa Fe Trail , Dishonored Lady , Pinky , Love Nest with Marilyn Monroe, The House on Telegraph Hill , I'd Climb the Highest Mountain and Inferno...
, directed by Robert Wise
Robert Wise
Robert Earl Wise was an American sound effects editor, film editor, film producer and director...
, and released by Twentieth Century Fox. Parts of the film were filmed on location in the Telegraph Hill
Telegraph Hill, San Francisco
Telegraph Hill refers to a neighborhood in San Francisco, California. It is one of San Francisco's 44 hills, and one of its original "Seven Hills."-Location:...
area of San Francisco. Exterior filming of the front of the house used studio made sets erected in front of Julius' Castle, 1541 Montgomery Street.
It was nominated an Academy Award for Best Art Direction
Academy Award for Best Art Direction
The Academy Awards are the oldest awards ceremony for achievements in motion pictures. The Academy Award for Best Art Direction recognizes achievement in art direction on a film. The films below are listed with their production year, so the Oscar 2000 for best art direction went to a film from 1999...
(Lyle Wheeler, John DeCuir
John DeCuir
John DeCuir was a Hollywood art director.He studied at the Chouinard Art School, joined Universal in the late 1930s, and by the mid-1940s was designing sets. In 1949, he signed with 20th Century Fox where he worked on productions noted for their elaborate sets...
, Thomas Little
Thomas Little
Thomas Little was a United States set decorator on more than 450 Hollywood movies between 1932 and 1953. He won a total of 6 Oscars for art direction and received 21 nominations in the same category...
, Paul S. Fox
Paul S. Fox
Paul S. Fox was an American set decorator. He won three Academy Awards and was nominated for ten more in the category Best Art Direction.-Selected filmography:Fox won three Academy Awards for Best Art Direction and was nominated for ten more:Won...
).
Synopsis
The film begins in Belsen where Victoria Kowelska reflects on the destruction of her house and family by the Nazis. Her best friend Karin tells her of her son in America and her life there. Karin dies shortly before liberation and Victoria decides to take her identity (she has her papers to help this). The major interviewing her is at first suspicious, but clearly he is attracted to her. He does not know they will later meet...Having found her way to New York she tracks down her family ties to a house in the rich area of San Francisco known as Telegraph Hill
Telegraph Hill, San Francisco
Telegraph Hill refers to a neighborhood in San Francisco, California. It is one of San Francisco's 44 hills, and one of its original "Seven Hills."-Location:...
. On discussing her background with the family lawyer, Alan Spender, he is at first suspicious but then accepts her as Karin. He proceeds to wine and dine her... then marry her. Her son has been looked after by Margaret, who clearly also has a thing for Spender but is allowed to stay. The four of them live together in the house.
Victoria (now Karin) bumps into the major who is a friend of her new husband, at a party at her House On Telegraph Hill and befriends him. He is clearly in love with her too.
Tensions grow between Karin and Margaret and Margaret is dismissed after an argument.
However, it then becomes clearer that it is Alan Spender who seeks to get rid of her, not Margaret. The car's brakes fail, almost killing Karin. At first Margaret is suspected, but this changes when it becomes clear that Karin's son was also meant to be in the car.
Motives become clearer, and Karin reports various findings to the major. Margaret is forgiven and readmitted to the house.
One night Karin is sure her orange juice has been poisoned. Alan has indeed poisoned it, and is fixing the phones so calls cannot be made to a doctor. He returns to the bedroom and drinks his own glass of orange juice. He then explains his plot. Karin, who clearly still has feelings for him, tells him he has poisoned himself because she switched the glasses. She tries to call a doctor but can't get through. Alan explains how to sort the phones and it is left to Margaret to call. However she selects not to call. Alan dies. The police accept the sequence of events but Margaret is taken away to be potentially charged for not calling a doctor.
Karin, having by now revealed her true identity to the major, declares her love for him and he declares his for her. But they can no longer live in the house on Telegraph Hill.
Cast
- Richard BasehartRichard BasehartJohn Richard Basehart was an American actor. He starred in the 1960s television science fiction drama Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, in the role of Admiral Harriman Nelson.-Career:...
- Alan Spender - Valentina Cortese - Victoria Kowelska (as Karin Dernakova)
- William LundiganWilliam LundiganWilliam Lundigan was an American film actor. His films include Dodge City , The Fighting 69th , The Sea Hawk , Santa Fe Trail , Dishonored Lady , Pinky , Love Nest with Marilyn Monroe, The House on Telegraph Hill , I'd Climb the Highest Mountain and Inferno...
- Major Marc Bennett - Fay BakerFay BakerFay Baker was an American stage, film and television actress, and a successful author under the pen name Beth Holmes. Her novel, , made the Los Angeles Times bestseller list in 1978...
- Margaret - Gordon GebertGordon GebertGordon Alan Gebert was a child actor who is predominantly known for having smaller roles, in such films as Holiday Affair. He later turned away from acting and became a college professor.-Biography:...
- Christopher - Steven GeraySteven GeraySteven Geray, born Istvan Gyergyay on November 10, 1904 and died aged 69 on December 26, 1973 in Los Angeles, California. He was a film actor who appeared in over 100 films and dozens of television programs...
- Dr. Burkhardt - Herbert Butterfield - Joseph C. Callahan
- Kei Thin Chung - Kei - Houseboy
- John Burton - Mr. Whitmore
- Katherine Meskill - Mrs. Whitmore
- Mario Siletti - Tony, the Grocer
- Charles Wagenheim - Man At Accident
- David ClarkeDavid Clarke (actor)David Clarke was an American Broadway and motion picture actor.A native of Chicago and graduate of Butler University, Clarke was most well known for his film noir roles as a character actor....
- Mechanic - Tamara Schee - Maria
- Natasha LytessNatasha LytessNatasha Lytess was acting coach of Marilyn Monroe from 1948-1955. Former student of Max Reinhardt. She is portrayed by Lindsay Crouse in Norma Jean & Marilyn .-References:...
- Karin Dernakova