The Woman in the Window (1944)

"Classic Fritz Lang Noir"

Eureka have just released Fritz Lang's landmark film noir on Blu-ray.

Mild mannered professor Richard Wanley (Edward G Robinson) kisses his wife and children goodbye as they go off on vacation, and then elects to spend the evening at his club with some friends. Outside the club is an art gallery and Wanley is taken by the portrait of a woman in the window. His friends agree she is spellbinding.

Late that night and on his own, Richard finds himself staring at the painting once more, only to come face to face with the model (Joan Bennett) in the flesh. She tells him she has more of the artist's work ("only sketches, and all of me") back at her place. 

Richard goes there for a drink. A man bursts in and attacks him. Richard gets handed some scissors with which he stabs his assailant - to death, it seems. In an act of the most naive chivalry, Richard says he will get rid of the body if the girl cleans up the flat, which she agrees to. Needless to say, neither the body's disposal, nor the days which follow, are filled with anything other than creeping dread. 

Considered one of the best film noirs of all time, THE WOMAN IN THE WINDOW boasts a number of engaging set-pieces, the most atmospheric of which probably comes at the end of the first act. Lang piles on the rain and wind and ratchets up the tension as Robinson (very much cast against type here) tries to drive his car to the most remote spot he can think of. The boy scout who discovers the corpse is a nice interjection of humour, too. I won't say any more in case you haven't seen it, but hopefully needless to say the climax provides a most satisfying surprise as to what's actually been going on. 

Eureka's transfer has a few scratches on the print, but it's still in pretty good shape. Extras include an audio commentary by Sara Smith and a new video essay by David Cairns. There's also a booklet with new writing on the film from Amy Simmons and Samm Deighan as well as archival materials.

Fritz Lang's THE WOMAN IN THE WINDOW is out on Blu-ray from Eureka now.