A Stranger Saturday Night Cinema

Tonight’s feature: The Stranger Edward G Robinson, Orson Welles, Loretta Young Directed by Orson Welles. And while it’s not The Magnificent Ambersons – it is Welles and Robinson. And I love everything Welles did – even those wine commericals.

Many Welles supporters complain that The Stranger lacks the overt stylistic flourishes of his more celebrated efforts, such as The Lady from Shanghai (1947) and Othello (1952). While it is true that his trademark style is more restrained in The Stranger,
it is still recognisable as a Welles film. For example, the opening
sequence – where Meinike is released from prison – features the use of
German Expressionistic lighting (in particular, the use of silhouettes)
that Welles used so effectively in Citizen Kane (1941). After
Meinike and Wilson arrive in Connecticut, Welles uses a swooping
high-angle establishing shot to give a God’s-eye-view that anticipates
a similar shot at the beginning of Touch of Evil (both films were shot by Russell Metty). Welles also utilises low-angle shots (used effectively in Kane) in a school gymnasium when Meinike gets the upper hand on Wilson.

Story continues below advertisement

Welles’ love of long-takes is also evident in The Stranger
during a four-minute scene between Meinike and Kindler in the woods.
This leads into one of the best sequences of the film, in which Kindler
frantically covers up a dead body in the woods, while several of his
students are participating in a paper-chase nearby. The use of dramatic
music and Welles’ panicked, paranoid facial expressions create palpable
tension in this scene as the teacher is almost caught by his pupils. More here.

The Truth Must be Told

Your contribution supports independent journalism

Please take a moment to consider this. Now, more than ever, people are reading Geller Report for news they won't get anywhere else. But advertising revenues have all but disappeared. Google Adsense is the online advertising monopoly and they have banned us. Social media giants like Facebook and Twitter have blocked and shadow-banned our accounts. But we won't put up a paywall. Because never has the free world needed independent journalism more.

Everyone who reads our reporting knows the Geller Report covers the news the media won't. We cannot do our ground-breaking report without your support. We must continue to report on the global jihad and the left's war on freedom. Our readers’ contributions make that possible.

Geller Report's independent, investigative journalism takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce. But we do it because we believe our work is critical in the fight for freedom and because it is your fight, too.

Please contribute here.

or

Make a monthly commitment to support The Geller Report – choose the option that suits you best.

• $25.00 here
• $50.00 here
• $75.00 here
• $100.00 here
• $250.00 here