MovieChat Forums > The House on Telegraph Hill (1951) Discussion > Loved the movie, but for one thing (heav...

Loved the movie, but for one thing (heavy spoilers)

posted 8 years ago by CindyH
7 replies | jump to latest

Warning, heavy spoilers ahead.

I really enjoyed this film. I wasn't sure where it was going to go. I deliberately avoided reading anything about it. I only knew that a woman assumed the identity of another. I thought it was going to be a drama and happily for me, it turned into a suspense, my one true love. I love suspense! I've seen most and had forgotten that this one often shows up on lists. I had yet to see this one so it was a thrill for me.

The thing that bothers me is the whole shed incident. It was never fully explained. Yes, I understand that we're probably to assume that Alan tried to kill Chris via his chemistry set. Was this supposed to be the beginning of the rift between Margaret and Alan? If so, we'll never really know, will we?

Also, I have to wonder why Alan saved Victoria/Karin from falling through the shed floor. It would have solved one of his problems and would have been truly accidental, or at least it may have started that way. Unless he felt that authorities would want to know how the hole came to be in the first place. That would be a problem, wouldn't it?

I don't know. It just felt like a chunk of the film was missing. Then, did Victoria go on as Karin or no? I like neat endings, but not all give us that.

In any case, if you like this film then I have two Hitchcock films to suggest. The first is Suspicion (1941) with the recently passed Joan Fontaine and the second is Notorious (1946) with Ingrid Bergman; both star Cary Grant. These are similar in nature. Incidentally Notorious is also post WWII whereas the former was released only weeks before Pearl Harbor. I highly recommend them, if you enjoyed how this one played out. In fact, I think I'm going to go and watch them right now! 

Random Thoughts: http://goo.gl/eXk3O

[–] activista 8 years ago

@CindyH

Unless he felt that authorities would want to know how the hole came to be in the first place. That would be a problem, wouldn't it?

That makes sense, given that Alan didn't want anyone else to know about the busted shed in the first place. Good, well-made and suspenseful drama,though. Saw both Hitchcock films a long time ago, but wouldn't mind revisiting the first one.

[–] CindyH 8 years ago

Saw both Hitchcock films a long time ago, but wouldn't mind revisiting the first one.

They were great, weren't they?

Random Thoughts: http://goo.gl/eXk3O

[–] jmiller1918 8 years ago

I wondered about that too. Here's my take: at that point, IIRC, Karin had not become so suspicious of Alan; and was not working so closely with Marc. I think Alan was ambivalent about Karin at that point and considered the marriage viable...later, only after confirming his suspicions that she was actively investigating him with Marc did he decide to do her in.

Just a guess.

[–] CindyH 8 years ago

I like your theory. That's kind of what I was thinking, but they never really made it clear.

I mean, it's not big deal but one of those loose ends that nags at me. 

Random Thoughts: http://goo.gl/eXk3O

[–] gladone5 8 years ago

Actually? I think he had murder on his mind until the moment he heard the boy, Chris, calling for his mom. Only then did he seem to change his mind and help her up. It's as though the boy brought in a sudden complication, something he'd have to explain to everyone since Chris was too nearby at the time. Too many questions would have been asked and he'd have looked very guilty, due to the change in situation.

Just a guess.

[–] MsELLERYqueen2 7 years ago

Alan saving his wife: he might have been afraid that someone would say it wasn't an accident. He wanted to murder her in a way that no one could blame it on him.

~~~~~
Jim Hutton (1934-79) & Ellery Queen = 

[–] MsELLERYqueen2 7 years ago

I'm watching it now (first time in several years) and there is something else confusing about the shed business. One minute Karin trusts her hubby, and suddenly she's afraid of him. In other thrillers like this one, the wife generally starts to distrust her hubby little by little. In this movie, it seems to happen quite suddenly.

No big deal to me, though. It's a wonderful movie!

By the way, good question about Karin/Victoria's identity once she winds up with Alan's friend. He's the one who knows her by her real name. On the other hand, she has to go on as Karin otherwise the boy won't understand...

~~~~~
Jim Hutton (1934-79) & Ellery Queen = 